Glenfarclas The Family Casks 15 Years Old 2002

This official Glenfarclas, a 15 year old, from 2002, cask 3770, at 57.6%, 700 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a deep, dark Speyside malt of dried fruit, nut and spice. It holds some sixty eight thousand casks on site in dunnage warehouses, with stock from every year since 1953.

It was run slowly off the spirit still, giving a deep, full bodied Speyside spirit. An Oloroso sherry cask held it, drawing the rich spirit on over the years. Through oxidative maturity the esters concentrate, the orchard notes turning to raisin, fig and a dark chocolate. Active wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Speyside body. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit.

At 57.6%, undiluted, it is dark and full. A rich, sherried sweetness, 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 full bodied Speyside single malt of real richness.