Glenfarclas 8 Years Old 2012 (SMWS 1.246)

This Glenfarclas was bottled by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, an 8 year old, distilled in 2012, from cask 1.246, at 64%, one of 230 bottles. Glenfarclas, the glen of green grass, is a richly sherried Speyside single malt. Direct firing chars the wash a little, lending the rich, nutty depth Glenfarclas is known for. Its slow, cool dunnage maturation loses very little to the angels each year. It launched the 105 in 1968, one of the first cask strength single malts sold to the public.

It was run slowly off the spirit still, building a deep malt of dried fruit and dark sugar. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, the oak gentle behind the spirit. At an extractive age eugenol lends a clove note and lactones a coconut, the spirit rich, fruity and full. Active wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

At its natural 64% it is rich and chewy. Date, fig and a warm cinnamon, lifted by a sweet oak. A baked apple and a warm cinnamon lift the middle. The close is rich and dark, fruit over a warm spice. This is a richly sherried Speyside single malt.