Glenfarclas Christmas Edition Port Pipes Selection 33 Years Old 1980

Glenfarclas from the distillery, a 33 year old, from 1980, cask 11066 + 11072, at 45.3%, 700 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a Speyside single malt from Ballindalloch, in the heart of Speyside. 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 licensed in 1836 under Robert Hay and bought in 1865 by John Grant for 511 pounds.

Distilled to a rich, generous cut, giving a deep, full bodied Speyside spirit. Maturation came in a Port cask, layered over the full Glenfarclas make. At a great, fragile age oxidation rules, sotolon lending maple and dried fig as beeswax and old leather linger. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register.

Bottled at 45.3%, it is rounded and full. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, with red berry, plum and a dry spice from the cask. Beneath it run dried fruit, dark sugar and a warm spice. The finish runs long, full and warming. This is a full bodied Speyside single malt of real richness.