Glenfarclas Port Pipe Selection 24 Years Old 1979

A distillery release of Glenfarclas, a 24 year old, from 1979, cask 3518, at 46%, 750 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. Its six stills are the largest in Speyside and among the very few still fired directly, now by gas. 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, for a weighty, nutty spirit the sherry then deepens. It was matured in a Port cask, the wood working deep into the malt. Through the evaporative decades the esters fold into raisin, fig, beeswax and a bittersweet chocolate. Active wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt. The cool, slow dunnage ageing loses little to evaporation, the spirit holding its depth.

At 46% it is smooth and rich. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, with red berry, plum and a dry spice from the cask. A dark chocolate and a soft oak give it weight. The finish runs long, full and warming. This is a deep, sherried Speyside single malt.