Glenfarclas 1990 Edition N°19 Cask #6443, 9251, 10423-27

A 25 year old Glenfarclas, a distillery bottling, from 1990, cask 6443, 9251, 10423-27, at 46%, 2400 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a Speyside single malt, the house behind the pioneering 105 cask strength. It draws on that deep inventory for the Family Casks, single vintages reaching back to the 1950s. It has been run by six generations of the Grant family, one of Scotch whisky's last truly independent houses.

The spirit was worked unhurried through the stillhouse, building a deep malt of dried fruit and dark sugar. It was matured in an Oloroso sherry cask, the wood working deep into the malt. Through the evaporative decades the esters fold into raisin, fig, beeswax and a bittersweet chocolate. The cool, slow dunnage ageing loses little to evaporation, the spirit holding its depth. The full bodied spirit takes active sherry wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years.

At an approachable 46% it is soft and fruity. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The mouthfeel is full and coating, the fruit dark and sweet. It finishes long, full and fruity. This is a full bodied Speyside single malt of real richness.