Glenfarclas 20 Years Old 1975 (Ex-Bourbon)

A 20 year old Glenfarclas, a distillery bottling, from 1975, at 43%, 1200 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a richly sherried Speyside single malt, run by the Grant family since 1865. It draws on that deep inventory for the Family Casks, single vintages reaching back to the 1950s. It launched the 105 in 1968, one of the first cask strength single malts sold to the public. Its whiskies are bottled at their natural colour, without chill filtration.

Drawn from a thick, heavy wash, shaping a rich Speyside body with real weight. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the full character to the fore. Through oxidative maturity the esters concentrate, the orchard notes turning to raisin, fig and a dark chocolate. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

At 43% it is rich, fruity and deep. A rich, sherried sweetness, lifted by a sweet oak. Beneath it run dried fruit, dark sugar and a warm spice. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is the family sherry malt of Ballindalloch.