This is the second time J & G Grant have released an older expression of the iconinc cask strength Glenfarclas 105 – the first was in 2008 when a 40 Year Old 105 was released to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the first bottling of 105. The new version is 20 years old and bottled at 60%, in a limited release of 4000 bottles.

Glenfarclas 105 20yo
(60%, OB 2012, 4000 btl.)

Nose: pretty wide. There’s a big top note of oranges, tangerines, fresh mint and glue, but also a deep note of chocolate and smoke. A slightly gunpowdery smoke but far from dirty. Elegant and fairly dry. Figs and cocoa in the middle, but it’s mostly the minty freshness that stands out instead of a thick fruitiness, if you know what I mean. Demerara sugar. Some nuts. A bit of pepper. Mouth: powerful. Oranges again, dates and caramelized apple, but on the whole rather dry. Nice hints of cocoa and coffee. Burnt wood. After Eight. Softly bitter liquorice. A little nervous. Mouth: long, strong, with a dry and peppery sherry theme as well as citrus sourness.

A nice but slightly rough high-strength variation, with plenty of punch of course. Interesting how it goes from dryness to smokiness and sweetness. The dryness wins in the end. Around € 200.

Score: 89/100