Glenfarclas 12 Years Old (12 in blue oval)

A 12 year old Glenfarclas, a distillery bottling, at 43%. Glenfarclas is a Speyside single malt drawn from the largest, direct fired stills in Speyside. It has been run by six generations of the Grant family, one of Scotch whisky's last truly independent houses. Direct firing chars the wash a little, lending the rich, nutty depth Glenfarclas is known for.

Run slowly off the spirit still, shaping a rich Speyside body with real weight. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, oak lactones lending a creamy vanilla. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend riper orchard fruit and a chocolate depth. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Speyside body. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register. The full bodied spirit takes active sherry wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years. Maturation runs slow and even in the dunnage warehouses at Ballindalloch.

Reduced to 43%, it is mellow and sweet. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, lifted by a sweet oak. Beneath it run dried fruit, dark sugar and a warm spice. It finishes long, full and fruity. This is a richly sherried Speyside single malt.