Glenfarclas 42 Years Old 1973 (Authentic Collection)

This Glenfarclas was bottled by Cadenhead, a 42 year old, distilled in 1973, at 40.2%, one of 168 bottles. Glenfarclas is a Speyside single malt from Ballindalloch, in the heart of Speyside. Its six stills are the largest in Speyside and among the very few still fired directly, now by gas. It was licensed in 1836 under Robert Hay and bought in 1865 by John Grant for 511 pounds. It launched the 105 in 1968, one of the first cask strength single malts sold to the public.

Worked unhurried through the stillhouse, building a deep malt of dried fruit and dark sugar. It was matured in refill ex-Bourbon oak, a soft vanilla beneath the fruit. Ethereal and fragile, the decades draw it to a resinous, waxy depth of dried fruit, treacle and old oak. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. The full bodied spirit takes active sherry wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years.

At a hearty 40.2% it carries real weight. Fig, walnut and a bittersweet chocolate, lifted by a sweet oak. Beneath it run dried fruit, dark sugar and a warm spice. Dried fruit, spice and a soft oak see it out. This is a rich Speyside malt of dried fruit and nut.