Glenfarclas 105 The Hourglass Limited Edition

I had the opportunity to taste this whisky at Whisky Live. A solid, standard whisky with no off-notes. In my opinion, it's a very nice whisky for beginners who want to practice diluting with water. It has a pleasant mouthfeel, and you can also taste caramel, fruit, and a pleasant distillery character. At prices well under €100, it's quite good. Of course, this bottling is less suitable for Glenfarclas fans looking for something special. But they probably aren't interested in the standard whiskies anyway. Overall, I see the two extra years of maturation compared to the 10-year-old 105 as a positive. I'm wondering whether one should use this 12-year-old with its 60% ABV to increase the alcohol content of the whiskies bottled at a mere 43% in the standard range, and whether this would be beneficial in terms of taste.

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Intense, powerful, and truly quite beautiful. I had expected less. The bottling is definitely worth spending some time with. It's also a welcome change from the NAS 105, but it's far too expensive for me to buy.

Cask strands Glenfarclas - very powerful, high-quality and simple

I am very excited about this new bottling, as I really liked the young and also very high-proof Family Casks 1503 and 1504. This bottling was also convincing in the first step: strong aromas, well-integrated alcohol, typical style, without any flaws.

I am absolutely agreeing with LeChiffre and dapoinbua here to be on the lower side of the ratings. Modern, characterless, shallow Sherry whisky. Missing depth, complexity and intensity of flavors. There are almost no fruit notes detectable. Just a boring combination of woody, chocolaty, and spicy flavors that are quite interchangeable. The alcohol is poorly integrated. A huge disappointment for me here... PS: I honestly do not see value for money in the newer (bottled 2020 or later) Glenfarclas official bottlings anymore. Maybe it is the right time to opt out from buying whiskies from this distillery. Similarly as I did with modern officially bottled Glendronachs, Macallans, Ardbegs, Dalmores, and partially also with Taliskers and Glenmorangies.

A very refined and elegant continuation of the standard 105, a completely different level, very carefully assembled, I would even say too much for the Glenfarclas style.

I am comparing the 22-year-old 105 from 2018 against the current 12-year-old 105 from 2025 (and previously had a fantastic 15-year-old Glenfarclas, 46% from the 80s, WB ID 14941, which I rated at 91.5 points). The old 15-year-old wins by a landslide, the 22-year-old a few points behind, and the current 105-year-old (special edition 12 years old) is a distant second. Although I am convinced that, objectively speaking, the 105 has been one of the "best" standards in the sherry category in terms of price and performance for decades, I have never really warmed to this range and cannot recall a 105 that has positively surprised me.

Очень выверенное и элегантное продолжение стандартного 105-го, совершенно другой уровень, очень аккуратно собран, я бы даже сказал, слишком для стиля Glenfarclas.

Aroma-Moderate；Palate-85/100; Aftertaste-Medium ；

Not bad, tasty, but nothing more

the Whisky looks young and alcoholic. For 12 years and 90 € Not a Good Deal.

I cannot understand some of the high ratings. For me, unfortunately, an example of the interchangeable and characterless modern sherry cask maturations. Modern, interchangeable, and aromatically boring, sherry cask maturation. Young/fresh wood, rather artificial sherry aromas, which are evident from the presumably rather brief seasoning of the casks with sherry of presumably subpar quality. These are the bottlings that, in my opinion, the whisky world doesn't really need—especially in the €100 range. And I say that as a Glenfarclas fan, unfortunately. Of course, it's not bad and very solid, but unfortunately, I'm getting bored of that sort of thing these days (and I don't want that from Glenfarclas), hence the perhaps somewhat harsh words.

Not so often we can get a decent regular release from Glenfarclas, but in this case I'm pleasantly surprised. Especially if not adding the water. Sherry is not overpowering. I would guess the majority of casks are american oak, as sweetness prevails over spices.

Compared to the standard 105 na, it has a more intense nose. I can barely distinguish the taste, if at all. There are only nuances, even compared to the 105 10y. Great dram, but €99 is quite a lot. The 105 na is enough for me at half the price. 2. Comparison tasting follows.

Candid fruits, stone fruits, apple, chocolate, rich acidity and sulfur, powerful but thin body and layers, a strong identity of Farclas these days, and miscellaneous spices.

5cl Sample: Nose: Initially closed. Fresh, polished notes, but without developing much depth. Fresh wood, little sherry. With water: Slightly rounder, still polished, but sherry also emerges somewhat, in the form of a gentle orange note. The always somewhat "dirty" distillery character of Glenfarclas is present. In my opinion, this works better with older whiskies. On the palate, even with water, very robust, but pleasant. The initial taste and the first moments of development are the most interesting. Here, a nice mix of distillery character, spice, and some sherry fruit emerges. A pleasant aftertaste lingers, with a touch of orange and fresh oak. A decent whisky, but not a standout for me. Some speak of modern sherry aromas, but honestly, even among "modern" sherry whiskies, there are many far more interesting bottlings, for example, just any 100 Proof "Exceptional Cask" from Signatory. Edit: On the second tasting, I suddenly like it much better. The sherry comes through more clearly and with greater complexity; it also develops more depth, has a lot of caramel, and the polished leather notes are convincing. 87 points on the second tasting > Average = 86 points.

I actually like Glenfarclas, but this isn't a bottling I'd need a whole bottle of. It's not a disappointment, but it doesn't exactly fill me with joy either.

Beautiful sherry fruit with subtle wood spice. The alcohol is very well integrated, and water isn't really necessary. The finish is medium-long with a hint of bitter wood spice.

It needs a lot of water. With approximately 46-50% ABV. 87, originally with 60% ABV. 82.

I'm so, so glad there's no sourdough or Duchesse pear here. It's already a pleasure to work and deal with this 105th! It's certainly not a 20-year-old or an old 105, but it's decent! You could use a little water! 22 21 22 21

Not bad, quite drinkable. Water does it good. But not exactly a quantum leap compared to the "normal" 105.