Glenfarclas Christmas Edition 9 Years Old 2007

A 9 year old Glenfarclas, a distillery bottling, from 2007, cask 2631, 2632 & 2664, at 46%, 1200 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a Speyside single malt, the house behind the pioneering 105 cask strength. Its water rises from the granite of Ben Rinnes, above the distillery at Ballindalloch. 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.

It was drawn from a thick, heavy wash, the direct fired stills lending a nutty depth. It was fully matured in an Oloroso sherry cask, the wood deep in the rich spirit. Young and extractive, the cask sheds vanillin and toasted sugars over the full, fruity spirit. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time. The cool, slow dunnage ageing loses little to evaporation, the spirit holding its depth.

At 46% it is rich, fruity and deep. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The mouthfeel is full and coating, the fruit dark and sweet. A deep finish ends on dried fruit and a dark chocolate. This is a dark, fruity Speyside single malt.