Glenfarclas 15 vs 17 vs 21

[Jason0142]

I Was wondering, what is the difference between the Glenfarclas 15, 17 and 21 year old expressions? I have tried the 15 year old and thought it was lovely I was wondering what the 17 and 21 are like compared to it?

Thanks.

[pkt77242]

I have never had the 15, so I can't compare it to the 17 and 21. I have both the 17 and 21 and if you would like on Wed. I could pour a little of each and post notes on them.

[Ganga]

15 is not released to the US. I haven't had it in years. From the late 90s though, the 17 was a fiery nutty expression. It was my favorite of the three. Today the 17 is now more herbal.

[pkt77242]

Glenfarclas 17

N: Nuts, herbs, and a little honey. A touch of cinnamon and oak.
P: very similar to the nose. Starts on a big herbal note, then some honey and nuts. A little oak with a touch of sherry sweetness.
F: Medium length on herbs, nuts and oak. getting a little bitter at the very end.

A rather nice whisky.

[pkt77242]

Glenfarclas 21yo

N: Nuts, hints of oranges, sherry, and oak. A little more reserved.
P: Starts on nuts and sherry then some big oranges and oak. A little cinnamon and nutmeg in the background.
F: Medium-short that starts on oranges and nuts but adds some sawdust and pencil shavings. Gets rather dry on the finish.

I prefer this to the 17 and I think this is a very good whisky but it does get really dry on the finish so if you don't enjoy very dry whiskies then you should avoid.

[dramtastic]

Well never had the 17 but truth be told I'd take the 15 over the 21 anytime. It's a beautifully balanced sherried whisky.

[rogerdodger]

While all three are great whiskies, I would choose the 15 if push came to shove. It somehow has a bit more character than the other two. And it's great value for money. My favorite standard sherried whisky.

[The Third Dram]

...the 15... It's a beautifully balanced sherried whisky.

Yes, the 15-year old did go through what some might consider a bit of a 'patchy period' a while back, when the whisky seemed less impacted by Sherry oak, more herbal in character and a tad unbalanced toward the spirity extreme of the flavour spectrum (around the same time the packaging changed to the newer bottle/tube design).

But that's history now, and I wouldn't hesitate to try any of the current releases. Love the 46%ABV bottling strength, too.

Best 15-year old Glenfarclas's I've ever had? Undoubtedly the ones that came in those old square, dumpy bottles (boxed, not tubed) back in the 1980s. Just SO richly sherried!

[corbuso]

From the standard bottlings, my preferences goes for the lighter 21 YO compared to the heavier 17 YO. The 15 and 17 YO are rather close in terms of flavours. From what I recall, the 15 YO was slightly less sherried than the 17 YO and slightly less complex.

[Novice Scotch Fan]

...the 15... It's a beautifully balanced sherried whisky.

Yes, the 15-year old did go through what some might consider a bit of a 'patchy period' a while back, when the whisky seemed less impacted by Sherry oak, more herbal in character and a tad unbalanced toward the spirity extreme of the flavour spectrum (around the same time the packaging changed to the newer bottle/tube design).

But that's history now, and I wouldn't hesitate to try any of the current releases. Love the 46%ABV bottling strength, too.

Best 15-year old Glenfarclas's I've ever had? Undoubtedly the ones that came in those old square, dumpy bottles (boxed, not tubed) back in the 1980s. Just SO richly sherried!

I dunno. I just picked up a new bottle of the 15 and it is spirity and not the concentrated sherry of old.

[Whiskytaster]

I personally find the 21 a bit too sherried, and prefer the 17 as to my taste it is slightly better balanced.

but it is all personal taste...