brisbane
12-26-2012, 03:48 AM
I ordered a bottle of Glenfarclas 30 from an online distributor last week. Technically, they're not supposed to ship to where I live but it got through customs anyways. I've never had a Glenfarclas as I rarely if ever see it here but had heard great things about the 30yo.
Frankly, I'm not very impressed with it given how highly regarded it is and am wondering if it is what it is or if there's something "off" (and no, I've never had an "off" scotch, ever). I was expecting something heavily sherried and syrupy; instead, the mouthfeel is thinner than I anticipated and so is the flavour -- it reminds me more of a bourbon than anything. It's somewhat sweet, but tastes almost watered down and is not as smooth as I'd have thought I'm by no means a connoisseur, but I've had my share of scotch. For reference, my mainstream preferred taste profiles are: Cragganmore 12, Oban 14, Longmorn 16, Lagavulin 16, Highland Park 18, Macallan 18 and Talisker 25. (I've had many more scotches than those, however.) All else being equal, I generally prefer cask-strength (though I realize many of those are not), and brighter malts, though I'm open to smokier/peatier ones like the Lagavulin and Talisker. (Though I still can't stomach Laphroaig, and maybe never will.)
Long story short, does this sound plausible or is there something wrong with the bottle? For full disclosure, it arrived with a broken cap (the cork was intact but separated from the top) and I've since replaced with the cork from the also-sherry-cask-aged GlenDronach Allardice 18. That said, I doubt either of those factors should affect the bottle?
Appreciate the input.
Frankly, I'm not very impressed with it given how highly regarded it is and am wondering if it is what it is or if there's something "off" (and no, I've never had an "off" scotch, ever). I was expecting something heavily sherried and syrupy; instead, the mouthfeel is thinner than I anticipated and so is the flavour -- it reminds me more of a bourbon than anything. It's somewhat sweet, but tastes almost watered down and is not as smooth as I'd have thought I'm by no means a connoisseur, but I've had my share of scotch. For reference, my mainstream preferred taste profiles are: Cragganmore 12, Oban 14, Longmorn 16, Lagavulin 16, Highland Park 18, Macallan 18 and Talisker 25. (I've had many more scotches than those, however.) All else being equal, I generally prefer cask-strength (though I realize many of those are not), and brighter malts, though I'm open to smokier/peatier ones like the Lagavulin and Talisker. (Though I still can't stomach Laphroaig, and maybe never will.)
Long story short, does this sound plausible or is there something wrong with the bottle? For full disclosure, it arrived with a broken cap (the cork was intact but separated from the top) and I've since replaced with the cork from the also-sherry-cask-aged GlenDronach Allardice 18. That said, I doubt either of those factors should affect the bottle?
Appreciate the input.