Glenfarclas 11 Years Old 1985 (SMWS 1.69)

A Glenfarclas of an 11 year old chosen by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, distilled in 1985, from cask 1.69, at 56.8%. Glenfarclas is a Speyside single malt, one of the last great family owned distilleries in Scotch. Its whiskies are bottled at their natural colour, without chill filtration.

It was distilled in copper pot stills, for the rich, sherried make Glenfarclas is known for. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanillin and a soft coconut under the malt. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend riper orchard fruit and a chocolate depth. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate. Active wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt.

At a hearty 56.8% it carries real weight. A deep, dark sweetness, lifted by a sweet oak. Beneath it run dried fruit, dark sugar and a warm spice. The close is rich and dark, fruit over a warm spice. This is a rich Speyside malt of dried fruit and nut.