Glenfarclas Golden G 32 Years Old 1968

Glenfarclas from the distillery, a 32 year old, from 1968, at 43%, 1246 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a deep, dark Speyside malt of dried fruit, nut and spice. Its whiskies are bottled at their natural colour, without chill filtration. Its six stills are the largest in Speyside and among the very few still fired directly, now by gas. It was licensed in 1836 under Robert Hay and bought in 1865 by John Grant for 511 pounds. Its water rises from the granite of Ben Rinnes, above the distillery at Ballindalloch.

Distilled in copper pot stills, giving a deep, full bodied Speyside spirit. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the American oak lending vanilla and a light honey. Ethereal and fragile, the decades draw it to a resinous, waxy depth of dried fruit, treacle and old oak. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. Maturation runs slow and even in the dunnage warehouses at Ballindalloch.

Reduced to 43%, it is mellow and sweet. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, lifted by a sweet oak. The mouthfeel is full and coating, the fruit dark and sweet. Dried fruit, spice and a soft oak see it out. This is a dark, fruity Speyside single malt.