Glenfarclas The Family Casks 14 Years Old 2004

A distillery release of Glenfarclas, a 14 year old, from 2004, cask 2024, at 57.4%, 275 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.

Distilled to a rich, generous cut, for the rich, sherried make Glenfarclas is known for. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, oak lactones lending a creamy vanilla. 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. The cool, slow dunnage ageing loses little to evaporation, the spirit holding its depth. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register.

At 57.4%, undiluted, it is dark and full. A rich, sherried sweetness, lifted by a sweet oak. It is full and fruity, the spirit carrying the cask. Dried fruit, spice and a soft oak see it out. This is a Speyside single malt of real standing.