Glenfarclas The Family Casks 26 Years Old 1989

Glenfarclas from the distillery, a 26 year old, from 1989, cask 13004, at 52.4%, 625 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a Speyside single malt, one of the last great family owned distilleries in Scotch. Its water rises from the granite of Ben Rinnes, above the distillery at Ballindalloch. It was licensed in 1836 under Robert Hay and bought in 1865 by John Grant for 511 pounds. Its six stills are the largest in Speyside and among the very few still fired directly, now by gas.

The spirit was distilled in copper pot stills, giving a deep, full bodied Speyside spirit. It was fully matured in an Oloroso sherry cask, the wood deep in the rich spirit. Through the evaporative decades the esters fold into raisin, fig, beeswax and a bittersweet chocolate. Active wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time.

At its natural 52.4% it is rich and chewy. A rich, sherried sweetness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Dried fruit and a treacle sit behind the spice. It finishes long, full and fruity. This is Glenfarclas's deep, fruity Speyside style.