Glenfarclas Limited Rare Bottling 11 Years Old 1989

An 11 year old Glenfarclas, a distillery bottling, from 1989, at 46%, 700 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a Speyside single malt from Ballindalloch, in the heart of Speyside. It has been run by six generations of the Grant family, one of Scotch whisky's last truly independent houses. It was licensed in 1836 under Robert Hay and bought in 1865 by John Grant for 511 pounds. It launched the 105 in 1968, one of the first cask strength single malts sold to the public.

It was distilled in copper pot stills, giving a deep, full bodied Speyside spirit. 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. Maturation runs slow and even in the dunnage warehouses at Ballindalloch. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time.

Bottled at 46%, it is rounded and full. Raisin, chocolate and a warm spice, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Beneath it run dried fruit, dark sugar and a warm spice. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is a dark, fruity Speyside single malt.