Glenfarclas Christmas Single Highland Malt Port Pipes Selection 23 Years Old 1980

Glenfarclas from the distillery, a 23 year old, from 1980, cask 11064, at 46%, 690 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a Speyside single malt, one of the last great family owned distilleries in Scotch. Direct firing chars the wash a little, lending the rich, nutty depth Glenfarclas is known for.

It was distilled in copper pot stills, shaping a rich Speyside body with real weight. It was matured in a Port cask, the wood working deep into the malt. In the oxidative, evaporative years the spirit concentrates to dried fruit, dark chocolate and a waxy, resinous depth. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate. The cool, slow dunnage ageing loses little to evaporation, the spirit holding its depth. Active wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt. Maturation runs slow and even in the dunnage warehouses at Ballindalloch.

At an approachable 46% it is soft and fruity. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, with red berry, plum and a dry spice from the cask. A dark chocolate and a soft oak give it weight. The close is rich and dark, fruit over a warm spice. This is a rich Speyside malt of dried fruit and nut.