Budget-friendly sherry bomb banger? | Glenfarclas 105 REVIEW

[@yanksrule311]

I don’t understand why this channel doesn’t have way more subscribers. Geoff’s dry humor and whisk(e)y knowledge is very enjoyable.

[@Gwhisky]

Blushing... 🤭

[@Lovemelikeareptile]

Since I'm Canadian I have to be careful when choosing a new bottle due to insane prices. The Glenfarclas 105 is an eye watering $145.... Before the taxman takes his cut... Thanks to your review I think I will forego this one in favour of the A'Bunadh. I'll still be late on rent, but hey. Priorities. On a side note, I've gotten into the habit of slowing playback speed when you review higher ABV bottles. Sounding a bit drunk is a testament to your dedication. Cheers from Vancouver!

[@franco2739]

Thank a Liberal.

[@jasonwest9425]

Get it in AB for $80

[@Cole-lebout723]

@@jasonwest9425damn I’ve never seen it for that price here in southern Alberta. Lowest I’ve found around is $99 on sale. Seems to be $104 average in most places near me

[@jasonwest9425]

@@Cole-lebout723 I'm in Edmonton my last bottle was for that at Olympia (I think they have calgary locations), but it has been a while and may be going up like everything.

[@keegan1728]

Hello fellow Canadian. I picked it up on offer in Ontario (still paid too much), and was disappointed. Go for the A’bunadh…. It’s miles ahead.

[@pillcozby431]

Best Sherry Cask Strength I've had in a while are the Glen Garioch 15 and the Hazelburn 15. If you can reviews those... do it do it do it. Lol. Good review as always.

[@welshtoro3256]

That would be nice. Pray, tell me where one can buy a bottle of Hazelburn 15? I'd love to know.

[@ursoouindio]

I totally agree, I use the 105 as a spice for other things. It does make quite an explosive old fashioned as well.

[@alexbone98]

Yes!

[@mendipfox1650]

I’ve got a few bottles of the 105 22yo from 2018. Amazing dram. 👌🏻

[@qrf199]

This is my new favorite whisky, surprisingly I drink it neat, and it feels so smooth, got it for 56$, I ordered an additional bottle just in case. I think a mistake most people do is that they try to drink whisky and not sip it! Makes a whole lot of difference.

[@sandrofazzolari8833]

😂Geoff 😂… please no relationship channel lol😂 and the milk 🥛 line was spot on. I actually have gone through two one litre bottles and liked them both and yes with a full teaspoon of water. I also enjoy their 12 and 15 yo. Glenfarclas is a fine distillery IMO. As for Aberlour… I like the 48% 12 yo nonchilled filter version. Thanks 🙏 S.

[@lvds5910]

Wow, reading through the comments it's insane how much the prices are different. I went to Helgoland recently (an island off the coast of Germany) and we found it there for 26 euro for 1L.

[@xxacidmv]

Love those tasting notes

[@garysusick1653]

Locally in Quebec - Glenfarclas 105 = $105 CDN , Aberlour A’bunadh = $115.50 CDN - had both, definitely preferred the A’bunadh !

[@DaronMGL]

For Ontario comparison: - Glenfarclas 105 out of stock, was $125.90 CAD when it was available maybe about a year ago? - Aberlour A’bunadh = $139.95 CAD Yay LCBO for the privilege of paying more for less selection

[@log0log]

One of my favourite budget whisky! Bought the one about a year ago for 29 euro. Adding water just simplifies it, so I prefer sipping it neat. In blind tasting no one could spot its high abv

[@MrMonkfiish]

i bought a bottle of Glenfarclas 12 year old Cask Strength (49.6%) a few years ago and when the bottle was first opened it had that roughness and hotness you describe, but now a couple of years down the line it's really mellowed into a spectacular Sherrybomb. There are the red berry jam type notes and the gingerbread christmas spices but also a kinda funky red wine note.

[@jamescostigan3721]

I've always been perplexed when I've seen this described as "budget". Not here. This averages about $125 in my area, so I'll save the extra ~$40 and stick with my A'Bunadh. Thanks for the review. Cheers!

[@andrewbutler7681]

Here Glenfarclas 105 is usually £64.99/~$82 (though I can find it as low as £49.99/~$63), whereas Aberlour A'Bunadh is £79.99/~$101, so I think the value proposition is there...

[@supervillan326]

@@andrewbutler7681I agree. 105 compares favourably with A’bunadh price wise in the UK. I’ve got both bottles and don’t regret either purchase. I do prefer the A’bunadh but still very much enjoy both whisky’s

[@welshtoro3256]

@@andrewbutler7681 The A'bunadh is far better though and it pops up on sale on a very well known online retailer from time to time.

[@welshtoro3256]

One thing we ought to recall is that until about 8 or 9 years ago the 105 had a 12 age statement, admittedly in Glenfarclas' rubbish casks but an age statement nonetheless. It's now much younger. I could never understand the comparison with A'bunadh, which I've always considered much better. I haven't bought a bottle of 105 since it lost that age statement but I recently ordered a dram in a countryside hotel. Spoiler alert - it was okay but that's it. The casks just can't disguise the youth and I might forgive that if the bottle cost no more than £40. Now, the price of a bottle these days? WTF! It's £65 in the U.K. I'm not joking. I have to confess up front that I have a problem with Glenfarclas. All of their whisky tastes younger than the age statements on the bottle and the only way they got away with it was the old prices. My last bottle of the 25 cost £110. The only thing I can conclude is that their casks are knackered and reused to death. I've no doubt that once upon a time Glenfarclas were great but they aren't any more: At least not for me. Anyway, great review as always buddy. WT

[@Gwhisky]

Yeah it's under £30 here and while I think it's good value, it's still not one I come back to much. Good point about the overused casks. I definitely get that impression myself from a lot of their releases. Cheers WT! 🥃

[@PezrulezHaakon]

Thank you for the review. Well In Sweden the 105 is $83 USD for a 700ml bottle, and the Abunadh is $97. In little more than a year both have gone up around $20. I've had a couple of Abunadh prior the price raise and thought about the 105. But today I'm gonna pass on both. Just not worth it anymore. I rarher spend my money trying out whisky from less hyped distilleries. They can be gems 🤗

[@welshtoro3256]

I hear you and totally understand. The 105 is a thing of the past for me but I do still pick up the odd A'bunadh. It was always much better and (I hate to say it) a bit under-priced.

[@rivenbeef]

Geoff I’d love to see you review the new limited edition Arran 17!

[@Johnny__Silver]

Hey Geoff, have you heard, have you seen it? The new Glenallachie looks!? It has gone from Stonehenge to Boringhenge.

[@Gwhisky]

I've seen it. It's definitely... different. 🤐

[@ukaszkruszewski4849]

Thanks for another complete episode about whiskey :) I don't want to write in superlatives here, but it's complete and if someone wants to learn something, they'll find information here :) greetings from Warsaw :)

[@mtpanning]

If cask strength NAS sherry bombs are your thing, try the Tamdhu batch strength. It's pretty good, although way too expensive in my market.

[@Gwhisky]

I've had a few of them. They're good, but yes they've become increasingly expensive. 🥃

[@davidbennett4286]

Soooo..... about that broken non-functional breadmaker... does it come cleaned or still dirty from its last use?

[@peathead4450]

Thanks for reviewing this one Geoff. Let's not get into my (lack of) liking this one. Just the remark that the 105 has several expresssions. I've only had the NAS and the 10yo (the latter via a sample). But with me turning away more and more from sherry matured whiskies the chance ever finding the older expressions (22yo and 40yo exist as I am correct) in my glass... let alone in my mouth. Slàinte mhath

[@joshbyfield8624]

Was waiting to hear your thoughts on the 105, shame you wasn't a huge fan of it, it's one of my favourites. Not sure if you're into rye whiskies if so i'd like to hear your thoughts on pikesville 110 proof, for me in the uk it isn't too expensive

[@thenavajoknow]

I've always had a soft spot for the 105. It feels like an honest, rough dram. Brought a bottle to a wedding in Czechia, that was perfect, and it's what I put in my flask for hikes.

[@Gwhisky]

It's definitely bold and honest, I agree. Just not one I've connected with. Glad you enjoy! Cheers and thanks for watching. 🥃

[@hansvaneenennaam457]

Hi Geoff, you are right with this one. But what I really do like on the 105 is the ripe peach note, when you add the right amount of water. Without water I think this one is just to harsh. Tried once the 20 year old version (at the importer) and that one was really good drinkable at 60%.

[@Gwhisky]

Nice! I've sampled an older 105 and I really enjoyed it. I don't remember if it was the 20 or the 22, but it was excellent. Apparently there's a 16 year old that's just come out and is quite good. Cheers buddy! 🥃

[@superodfx]

I like it, big flavor, a bit simple; not budget friendly anymore-I’m happy that I bought two extra bottles while it was $60 less per bottle

[@kimjensen3987]

Hi jeff. Thanks for all the great reviews👍🏻 glenfarclas has just releast a 16 year old 105 Could be very interresting.a bit expensive tho. Keep up the great work💪🏻 all the best from Denmark

[@Gwhisky]

yeah the aged 105 releases are a different story. The 16 might be excellent! Cheers Kim. 🥃

[@andypike1234]

I had this one neat pretty much at the beginning of my whisky journey. Shock to the system. It felt like a just shallowed liquid fire 😃

[@thewhiskyenthusiast]

Nice one Geoff, glad there was an improvement. I'm with you on this. I never thought the 105 or the Glendronach Cask Strengths (post batch 7) were as good as either the Abunadh or the Glenallachie 10cs. Still though, great bang for buck whisky. Cheers 🥃

[@GlenLossie]

I haven't had the 105 in aeons, at a whisky tasting back in 2004 if I recall correctly. I'm almost certain that it was my first cask strength whisky and though I wasn't sure what to make of it I didn't mind it at all. The price has since gone up considerably and hovers just over the C$100 here in Alberta. Right now I see that a retailer in town is offering it for C$72.99 (+5% gst) and I think it is time for me to revisit it and make up my own mind. By the way, the A'bunadh goes for about C$150 or more.

[@davidowen2834]

Hi Geoff. Ohhh haven’t had this in a number of years. As far as I can remember I liked it ( as a young sherry CS malt) but as for CS sherry malts the 105 as got a lot of competition , still it’s a very good price. Not on my list though. Good review Geoff Slàinte 🥃

[@SimonneNZ]

Thanks for reviewing this one Geoff. The 1L bottle was on special quite a lot last year but I passed in favour of other whiskies even though it was good value. Reviews on the 105 tend to be mixed and there are so many other whiskies that I haven't tried yet that are getting more favourable reviews. The only Glenfarclas I've had was a sample of the 10yo and that was disappointing. Cheers!

[@Gwhisky]

Thanks for watching Simonne. Yeah Glenfarclas isn't a very consistent brand imo. They often have lower abvs and seem to use quite tired casks. Some of their special releases are quite good, and I'm a fan of the 15, but overall the brand hasn't done much for me. I also wasn't impressed with the 10. Cheers! 🥃

[@McIntyresMalts]

Feel the same as you, think you summed it up very well at least for the experience I get from this whisky. Great video and humour as always mate 🥃

[@Gwhisky]

Hah cheers Wade. Thanks for watching! 🥃

[@GOTAisMe]

Geoff usually I agree with you but I am way different on this one. I bought mine in December for $115 usd which is cheaper than the $144 I often see it for in the New York area. At $115 I really enjoy it. Glenfarclas 105 has the same appeal as a Jack Daniels Single Barrel Barrel Proof whiskey or some of the higher proof bottles of Bookers. It's obviously not a bourbon sweetness but it's fruity sweetness at a high proof that gets you to same place. It's like having 2 desserts where one is sweetened with sugar and the other with honey. They taste different but both have that same satisfying sweet characteristic. The 105 and the Glenfarclas 17 are roughly the same price in my market and honestly I happy to have both on the shelf.

[@Gwhisky]

Glad you enjoy it! Odd.. the 17 is about 175% the price of the 105 here. 🥃

[@GOTAisMe]

@@Gwhisky Scotch pricing has gotten so weird in the US. Ardbeg 10 is $51 here in NY but in Arizona the same chain store sells it for $30. It's not $20 in local taxes making the difference. I don't understand it

[@100puremustard5]

​@@GOTAisMeArdbeg 10 for $30!? 750ml bottle??? Sign me up!😂😂😂 I was happy paying $40 7-8 years ago (admittedly the 2016 bottling was the last really good one I had)

[@EuropaWill]

​@@GOTAisMeI just saw it the other day for $69 USD in your market. Outrageous price.

[@lightplays2181]

Hi Geoff ! I think to buy this whisky and i will buy for sure ))) P.S. maybe Heritage is better ? Cheers !

[@Gwhisky]

I haven't had the Heritage. Maybe I should try it. Cheers Light! 🥃

[@jeremytheoneofdestiny8691]

Is that a John walker celebratory blend I see back there on the shelf? If so please feature it soon! I absolutely loved that one and still miss it.

[@Gwhisky]

Good eye! 🥃

[@mevech]

Geoff should be a standup comedian, if he's not sitting down all the time 😂

[@haroldgrey134]

There's an interesting note I get from the 105 and also from the Classic Laddie: "the beach" 😂 I don't know what it is, something reminds me of the salt/maritime smell of the air at the beach on a hot summer day here in Australia

[@Lokotraktor]

Hi, I always wonder - if you say there's "pepper", is it the mild dried red spice or the hot one or is it the black round pepper or even fresh vegetable? Many thanks for great content!

[@Gwhisky]

I use chili if I'm referring to red pepper flavour and when I just say pepper its black pepper. Thanks for watching! 🥃

[@umami0247]

I'm a simple scotch drinker I stay in my lane. Though I am thinking about trying some peated bottles. I need lighter peat bottles I am a fan of the Ladavulin 16 so something a bit higher on the peat scale if you have suggestions that would be great.. I'm in Ohio and we have a pretty good selection. Thanks.

[@whiskyjourney175]

Cheers for giving your thoughts. I have a soft spot for the Glenfarclas 105. Had this in a blind cask strength online tasting last year alongside other well respected drams like the Glendronach cask strength and the Aberlour A'bunadh and for everyone, including me, the Glenfarclas came out tops. I was shocked with the results. Goes to show when you blind taste you remove all preconceived ideas and thoughts and judge the whisky purely on taste. Still subjective of course 🥃

[@battiekoda]

LOL!!!! Around the 7:30 mark whilst he's speaking, the placement of the bottle make it look like that top hat in the background was flying off its 'head'. 😅

[@KnickKiller]

I think it’s SWEET bomb! I do enjoy it but nothing cray. Please incorporate the term “cray” in your next review for funnies.

[@Gwhisky]

"Cray?" Risky. Surely the subscriber loss would be in the thousands...

[@GustavoLima-wp3tt]

Any thoughts on Glendronach, Glengoyne and Glenallachie CS? I’ve only drunk the last one (Batch 8), and, to me, is way better than A’Bunadh!

[@Gwhisky]

If I had to pick I'd probably put the recent batches of Glendronach at the top, followed by Glenallachie. The Glengoyne CS might be good nowadays, but I haven't had it in a while. I was never blown away be the early batches. 🥃

[@petertilsley3015]

Love the 105 for the price.....try the Tomatin Cask Strength NAS 57.5%, non chill filtered, no colour added. Absolute classic & way better than the Abunadh. Last Aberlour Abunadah I had was real weak tasting ie not the flavour explosion of old. In fact felt ripped off for the money. Tuck me once I dont come back. Highly recommend the Tomatin, its ex first fill bourbon & sherry. A real doozy for the money.....dont tell everyone. Great show Geoff. Many Thanks Pete from Kiwiland

[@IRamOne_w]

Kinda disagree but anyway have clicked on LIKE :) I like 105 , it is not top on my list, but its awesome pair with mild cigar. cheers

[@yasasjaysundera1830]

This a little expensive in Adelaide compared to others , 180 aud.

[@Koby616]

Would love to see glenfarclas 12 review. Haven't opened my 105 yet. Btw i have relationship question? Should i kiss my wife today or no?Thanks for review. 😊

[@Gwhisky]

Haven't had the 12 in ages. Might circle back to it someday. Oh, and yes. Passionately. I also recommend whispering sweet nothings. 🥃

[@superkeiler]

I wonder if it is really Cask Strength. How could they achieve exactly 60,0% year after year without adding a bit of water? It would be a really complicated process to match exactly the right casks to achieve 60,0%.

[@Gwhisky]

It would be difficult, and I don't know how strictly the SWA makes distilleries adhere to the definition of cask strength, but this one is very much marketed as a CS whisky.

[@hamo4558]

Not a fan either. Took me about 10 years to finish the bottle, & yes, kept coming back to it. I used it to 'pep-up' some bland 40%ers. I will say there were several times I left the cork off overnight & on occasion would shake the bottle to get some air into it. It certainly became more palatable neat after that, but it took a long time.

[@christian_K2308]

This one is a bit special to me - I had a sample once and it smelled and tasted 100% like liquid Kinder Bueno (a chocolate wafer bar with hazelnut creme, not sure if they are sold everywhere). Based on that I bought a 20cl bottle a couple of years later but it was not the same (somewhat expected, therefore only a 20cl bottle). It's the batch nature of whisky I guess, but still a shame as I would have liked to replicate this first experience. Apart from this personal experience I agree, not a bad whisky but would not replace it. Batches would be great though.

[@JosephC9]

Sir, do you still have your bread maker for sale? I'm in Taipei and looking for a bread maker.

[@Gwhisky]

😂😂😂

[@MY-bd3fo]

This is favourite budget cask strength whisky. I have 2 bottles left. Sure Aberlour a'bunadh is better, but more than double the price of 105 in my country and the 105 is 1 litre. Price wise the 105 is still better value imo. The 105 may taste young but at 60% abv it taste like 50%.

[@Gwhisky]

It's not one that I've ever connected with but it's quite popular and I definitely can't argue with it being good value. Cheers! 🥃

[@laurentsteck6086]

I'm like you, I don't really like this bottle. I didn't know that it was compared to Aberlour A`bunadh (WHAT!? are you kidding?). They are miles away. I have a great A'Bunadh, the batch 9 that I got at auction. Amazing bottle. Cheers

[@Gwhisky]

Wow that's a MUCH earlier batch of A'bunadh than I ever tried. I came in in the 40s, and they were excellent. I still like the new batches, but far less. I'm sure the 9 is an absolute killer. Enjoy buddy! 🥃

[@Venetianization]

The 105 is like the girl you don’t like but end up hooking up with every once in a while. For me, the dram needs a long breather in the glass. And wather. It probably has the most complex nose of any whisky I tried. Ona a big breath I get alcohol and malt. Sometimes a bit of green apple.A soft breath brings the typical oloroso scent. And I did compare it to an oloroso. The pallet doesn’t really do it for me. On the first two sipps I get a strange note between the middle and my back tongue. It doesn’t know if it wants to be bitter or sour. On the last sipps it turns sour and the dram is more aprochable as a whole. I have a glass of this once in a month or two. I don’t think I will buy this again. But then again, it’s like the girl I don’t really like. 🥂

[@tinchin75]

105 is actually the only whisky i prefer to drink on the rocks. Not budget friendly in Argentina, about 80 to 90 u$a. But it's less than half the price of a'bunah (over 200 u$a).

[@welshtoro3256]

That's a good point actually. It would be good on the rocks, especially with that strength. Not great whisky can be rescued like that. The worst bottle of whisky I ever bought was a 1 litre travel retail Jim Beam Devil's Cut. It was like sucking a garden fence - seriously. I picked it up in the airport and took it to my place in the south of Spain one bakingly hot summer. It was so hot that I quaffed it it in massive high balls and it worked.

[@vimalrajkappil]

Wonderful dram ,but last time i find it little bit more spicey than sherry

[@TheOneGlassMan]

nothing like the 15YO at 46%

[@Gwhisky]

Agree. 🥃

[@mariusnarbutas4190]

Thank You for a review. Greetings from Lithuania. Long live Taiwan!

[@Gwhisky]

Thank you! 🥃🥃🥃

[@WhiskyWolf514]

So if you would end up doing a channel for relationship advices.... would you call it...Gsp*t-on? 😏 Lol sorry not sorry 😅😅😅 Loved the review as usual my friend! Keep up the great work! Enjoy the weekend which is almost here 😁 Enjoy a pour in my stead too 🥃🥃

[@Gwhisky]

G-Spot-on? Yes. Absolutely. I think I need to hire you as my marketing director. 😂 Cheers buddy. Hope you're enjoying the weekend! 🥃

[@WhiskyWolf514]

@@Gwhisky Done 😁🥃🥃 I think we would make a great team haha #shenanigans

[@bertko1710]

2:03 yes I want relationship advice

[@crimping1]

105 is the scraping of barrel.

[@uilleachan]

The main selling point with the 105 is its bottom end budget price point & the fact it can drink quite well with water.

[@keegan1728]

Strangely the Glenfarclas Heritage which is also NAS cask strength 60% ABV that I had a couple years ago is better than the 105 I bought last year. That said in terms of sherried cask strengths, this is at the bottom of my list. It’s just too rough around the edges. I’d quicker reach for the A’bunadh, Glengoyne, Macallan Classic Cut or Glendronach... and Kavalan Solist only when I want to treat myself…

[@Gwhisky]

Agree that all of those are better, albeit substantially more expensive in my market. Cheers. 🥃

[@sethcaine3659]

the only way I'd love this whisky is if there were an "8" between the "1" and the "5"

[@DonnerPassWhisky]

Glenfarclas in general is a sad subject. Family owned, a big direct fire still, old school dunnage warehouses, but the tired casks they keep using and the low abv for everything except the 15 (not available in the US) and this are such a disappointment. Cheers

[@mormorgranat]

I've tried some collection of all their (Glenfarclas) aged releases, and I didn't like any of them. A'Bunadh beats em all. I want to thank you for the recommendation of Talisker Wilder Seas. I retasted my 5cl of Talisker Skye, and found that I liked it more than I remember, so I wanted to gamble on Wilder Seas. Man it's great stuff. So juicy. I haven't felt that a whisky was juicy before, but now I understand that sensation. It stands out in my collection as it's own thing and I enjoy it a lot. Are there any special releases from Talisker or Oban that you think is worthy of the price tag?

[@mormorgranat]

I've seen the recommendation for Oban 12 CS btw

[@josefqamar9473]

This whiskey for the whiskey drinker.... Isn't for the children 😂😂 I've now 9 liter in my bar + half open bottle

[@NeilImmortal]

I never understood the hype either, it is cheap for a reason 😊

[@kenwilson42]

Put the money you were going to spend on the 105 and by the Glenfarclas 25 year old one of the best Whiskeys I have tasted.

[@superodfx]

AU$176.99 😂 700ml

[@Shane4Bass]

This used to be great, quite a few years ago. However, consistency is an issue. Why purchase an inconsistent whisky when there are whisky's that never fail to deliver on the quality?

[@Gwhisky]

True! 🥃

[@kamahhl]

Far from budget in the US. Can't find it under 120usd.

[@Gwhisky]

Ridiculous. Triple our prices here. Ouch. 🥃

[@WhiskyNeighbour]

Great laughs here, but another one I disagree with. I enjoy 105. A lot. Maybe I just like battery acid. Cheers!

[@Gwhisky]

Hah fair enough! Whiskytube would be a very boring place if we all agreed, eh?  🥃

[@RichardVan-Fiddler]

But Geoff, how does this whisky influence the legacy of George Bush??

[@Gwhisky]

Yes.

[@jasonwest9425]

I feel like you just said your baby’s not as ugly as it used to be….😢