So I'm going to start off this blog with an unusual scotch: The Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength. This was my first experience with Glenfarclas and I had high hopes. I had read a few reviews of other Glenfarclas scotches and I think I had a misconception of this one. At 60% alcohol this is very strong drink. It's overpowering, to be honest, and reviews I've read that have said it has a alcohol nose, pallet and finish are true, if you don't mix enough water into it. I found with 1 shot to 1.5 shots of water allows all the flavour to come out. At this level you can really taste and smell the subtleties; the pear and apple nose, with a toffee undertone. Some oak and sweetness. The palate has a building smokiness. It's actually pretty impressive in its smoothness for such a high alcohol content.
At first I tried this scotch with not enough water and found it too intense. Once you mix it down, then you can experience all the underlying flavours while at the same time feeling the gradual overwhelming experience of the alcohol content.
