Glenfarclas 20 Years Old 1976 (Oloroso)

This official Glenfarclas, a 20 year old, from 1976, at 43%, 1200 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a Speyside single malt drawn from the largest, direct fired stills in Speyside. It launched the 105 in 1968, one of the first cask strength single malts sold to the public. It has been run by six generations of the Grant family, one of Scotch whisky's last truly independent houses.

Distilled in copper pot stills, building a deep malt of dried fruit and dark sugar. It was matured in an Oloroso sherry cask, the wood working deep into the malt. 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. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Speyside body. Active wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt.

At an approachable 43% it is soft and fruity. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The body is full and rich, the fruit deep and dark. The finish runs long, full and warming. This is a Speyside single malt of real standing.