Glenfarclas Historic Reserve N°4 43 Years Old 1959

A distillery release of Glenfarclas, a 43 year old, from 1959, cask 3232-3235, at 46%, 240 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a Speyside single malt drawn from the largest, direct fired stills in Speyside. It launched the 105 in 1968, one of the first cask strength single malts sold to the public. Its water rises from the granite of Ben Rinnes, above the distillery at Ballindalloch. Its whiskies are bottled at their natural colour, without chill filtration.

Run slowly off the spirit still, for a weighty, nutty spirit the sherry then deepens. Maturation came in an Oloroso sherry cask, layered over the full Glenfarclas make. In its ethereal years the malt turns waxy and oxidative, faded esters and a whisper of sotolon over dark fruit. Maturation runs slow and even in the dunnage warehouses at Ballindalloch. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Speyside body.

At an approachable 46% it is soft and fruity. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. It is full and fruity, the spirit carrying the cask. A long finish carries raisin, chocolate and a treacle. This is a rich Speyside malt of dried fruit and nut.