Glenfarclas The Family Casks 23 Years Old 2002

A distillery release of Glenfarclas, a 23 year old, from 2002, cask 88, at 58.9%, 231 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a deep, dark Speyside malt of dried fruit, nut and spice. Its six stills are the largest in Speyside and among the very few still fired directly, now by gas. Its spirit is matured almost wholly in sherry butts brought up from Jerez. Direct firing chars the wash a little, lending the rich, nutty depth Glenfarclas is known for.

Run slowly off the spirit still, giving a deep, full bodied Speyside spirit. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, oak lactones lending a creamy vanilla. 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 wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Speyside body.

Bottled at a cask strength 58.9%, it is deep and concentrated. A rich, sherried sweetness, lifted by a sweet oak. Beneath it run dried fruit, dark sugar and a warm spice. A deep finish ends on dried fruit and a dark chocolate. This is a full bodied Speyside single malt of real richness.