Glenfarclas Christmas Single Malt 18 Years Old 1995

This official Glenfarclas, an 18 year old, from 1995, cask 6855-6861, at 46%, 2004 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a Speyside single malt from Ballindalloch, in the heart of Speyside. Its spirit is matured almost wholly in sherry butts brought up from Jerez. It has been run by six generations of the Grant family, one of Scotch whisky's last truly independent houses. Its six stills are the largest in Speyside and among the very few still fired directly, now by gas. Its slow, cool dunnage maturation loses very little to the angels each year.

Taken gently through wash and spirit stills, giving a deep, full bodied Speyside spirit. It was fully matured in an Oloroso sherry cask, the wood deep in the rich spirit. Through oxidative maturity the esters concentrate, the orchard notes turning to raisin, fig and a dark chocolate. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

At 46% it is rich, fruity and deep. A rich, sherried sweetness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Fig, honey and a dark chocolate fill the middle. A deep finish ends on dried fruit and a dark chocolate. This is a full bodied Speyside single malt of real richness.