Glenfarclas 2008, 15 Year Old, A Marriage of Casks Spring/Summer 2023 for Japan, 50.5% ABV

Nose: Cookie dough, malt, hazelnut, pears, tangerines.

Palate: Medium texture, a bit thin but acceptable for ABV and summer drinking. Malt, hazelnut, clover honey, hint of magnolia and lavender near the end. Water brings out the malt and nuts more.

Finish: Macademia nut, olive oil cake, tangerines again, hint of apricot.

Score: 86

A malt bomb, with the beautiful oily Glenfarclas character on display while sherry plays a supporting role. This was a vatting of four 3rd-fill sherry butts, and represents a much more accessible way of accessing the world of good refill sherry Glenfarclas than Family Casks, which can be exceptional at higher ages due to slow-growth old oak that has been nursed for decades. The florals, pastries and apricot are a pleasant departure from the typical berries and earthiness of first-fill Glenfarclas but need to be more assertive. Palate was also on the thin side.

H.Y.