Glenfarclas 15 Years Old (UK Exclusive)

A distillery release of Glenfarclas, a 15 year old, at 51.5%, 348 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a deep, dark Speyside malt of dried fruit, nut and spice. Its whiskies are bottled at their natural colour, without chill filtration.

The spirit was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, shaping a rich Speyside body with real weight. An Oloroso sherry cask held it, drawing the rich spirit on over the years. At oxidative maturity aldehydes lend a nutty edge while ellagitannins draw a drying, structured grip across the fruit. 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. The cool, slow dunnage ageing loses little to evaporation, the spirit holding its depth.

Bottled at a cask strength 51.5%, it is deep and concentrated. A rich, sherried sweetness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Beneath it run dried fruit, dark sugar and a warm spice. The finish runs long, full and warming. This is Glenfarclas's deep, fruity Speyside style.