Glenfarclas 25 Years Old 1972 (Authentic Collection)

Chosen by Cadenhead, Scotland's oldest independent bottler, Aberdeen born in 1842 and now in Campbeltown, this a 25 year old Glenfarclas, distilled in 1972, at 53.4%. Glenfarclas is a Speyside single malt, one of the last great family owned distilleries in Scotch. Its whiskies are bottled at their natural colour, without chill filtration. Direct firing chars the wash a little, lending the rich, nutty depth Glenfarclas is known for. Its spirit is matured almost wholly in sherry butts brought up from Jerez. It draws on that deep inventory for the Family Casks, single vintages reaching back to the 1950s.

It was distilled to a rich, generous cut, shaping a rich Speyside body with real weight. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanillin and a soft coconut under the malt. At this evaporative stage ellagitannins lend structure while oxidation builds a richer raisin and treacle. Maturation runs slow and even in the dunnage warehouses at Ballindalloch.

At 53.4%, undiluted, it is dark and full. A deep, dark sweetness, lifted by a sweet oak. A dark chocolate and a soft oak give it weight. A deep finish ends on dried fruit and a dark chocolate. This is a Speyside single malt of real standing.