Glenfarclas 21 Years Old (Limited Edition)

A 21 year old Glenfarclas, a distillery bottling, at 43%, 100 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a Speyside single malt drawn from the largest, direct fired stills in Speyside. It holds some sixty eight thousand casks on site in dunnage warehouses, with stock from every year since 1953. It was licensed in 1836 under Robert Hay and bought in 1865 by John Grant for 511 pounds. Direct firing chars the wash a little, lending the rich, nutty depth Glenfarclas is known for. Its whiskies are bottled at their natural colour, without chill filtration.

The spirit was run slowly off the spirit still, for the rich, sherried make Glenfarclas is known for. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, a soft vanilla beneath the fruit. Through oxidative maturity the esters concentrate, the orchard notes turning to raisin, fig and a dark chocolate. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit.

At an approachable 43% it is soft and fruity. Date, fig and a warm cinnamon, lifted by a sweet oak. A baked apple and a warm cinnamon lift the middle. The finish is long, rich and spiced. This is a deep, sherried Speyside single malt.