Glenfarclas Easter Edition 11 Years Old 2013

Glenfarclas from the distillery, an 11 year old, from 2013, at 46%, 3000 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a deep, dark Speyside malt of dried fruit, nut and spice. It has been run by six generations of the Grant family, one of Scotch whisky's last truly independent houses. It draws on that deep inventory for the Family Casks, single vintages reaching back to the 1950s.

The spirit was drawn from a thick, heavy wash, for a weighty, nutty spirit the sherry then deepens. It was matured in an Oloroso sherry cask, the wood working deep into the malt. In integration coconut and vanilla knit with the malt, the orchard notes deepening to sultana, date and chocolate. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time.

At an approachable 46% it is soft and fruity. Orange, raisin and a treacle edge, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The body is full and rich, the fruit deep and dark. Dried fruit, spice and a soft oak see it out. This is a deep, sherried Speyside single malt.