Glenfarclas 11 Years Old 1966 Dumpy Bottle (Cadenhead’s)

A Glenfarclas of an 11 year old chosen by Cadenhead, distilled in 1966, at 45.7%. Glenfarclas is a deep, dark Speyside malt of dried fruit, nut and spice. It draws on that deep inventory for the Family Casks, single vintages reaching back to the 1950s. Its water rises from the granite of Ben Rinnes, above the distillery at Ballindalloch.

The spirit was worked unhurried through the stillhouse, the direct fired stills lending a nutty depth. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, a soft vanilla beneath the fruit. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend riper orchard fruit and a chocolate depth. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Speyside body. The cool, slow dunnage ageing loses little to evaporation, the spirit holding its depth.

Reduced to 45.7%, it is mellow and sweet. Orange, raisin and a treacle edge, lifted by a sweet oak. The body is full and rich, the fruit deep and dark. The close is rich and dark, fruit over a warm spice. This is a dark, fruity Speyside single malt.