Glenfarclas 21 Years Old (Old Label)

A distillery release of Glenfarclas, a 21 year old, at 43%. Glenfarclas is a Speyside single malt drawn from the largest, direct fired stills in Speyside. Its spirit is matured almost wholly in sherry butts brought up from Jerez. It has been run by six generations of the Grant family, one of Scotch whisky's last truly independent houses. It was licensed in 1836 under Robert Hay and bought in 1865 by John Grant for 511 pounds.

The spirit was worked unhurried through the stillhouse, building a deep malt of dried fruit and dark sugar. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the American oak lending vanilla and a light honey. Into oxidative maturity, slow air builds ripe esters and a darker chocolate, fig and date depth. Active wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt. The cool, slow dunnage ageing loses little to evaporation, the spirit holding its depth. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register.

At 43% it is rich, fruity and deep. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, lifted by a sweet oak. Beneath it run dried fruit, dark sugar and a warm spice. The finish runs long, full and warming. This is a richly sherried Speyside single malt.