Glenfarclas 1990 Edition N°17 Cask #1190, 5092+5293,5097

A distillery release of Glenfarclas, a 23 year old, from 1990, cask 1190, 5092+5293,5097, at 46%, 1200 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a Speyside single malt drawn from the largest, direct fired stills in Speyside. It was licensed in 1836 under Robert Hay and bought in 1865 by John Grant for 511 pounds. Its water rises from the granite of Ben Rinnes, above the distillery at Ballindalloch. Its slow, cool dunnage maturation loses very little to the angels each year.

It was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, giving a deep, full bodied Speyside spirit. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak gentle behind the spirit. Through the evaporative decades the esters fold into raisin, fig, beeswax and a bittersweet chocolate. Active wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time.

At an approachable 46% it is soft and fruity. A rich, sherried sweetness, lifted by a sweet oak. A dark chocolate and a soft oak give it weight. Dried fruit, spice and a soft oak see it out. This is a richly sherried Speyside single malt.