Glenfarclas The Family Casks 15 Years Old 2006

Glenfarclas from the distillery, a 15 year old, from 2006, cask 3424, at 60%, 680 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a richly sherried Speyside single malt, run by the Grant family since 1865. It launched the 105 in 1968, one of the first cask strength single malts sold to the public. It was licensed in 1836 under Robert Hay and bought in 1865 by John Grant for 511 pounds.

The spirit was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, the direct fired stills lending a nutty depth. 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. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register. Maturation runs slow and even in the dunnage warehouses at Ballindalloch. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

At a hearty 60% it carries real weight. A rich, sherried sweetness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Fig, honey and a dark chocolate fill the middle. The finish runs long, full and warming. This is a Speyside single malt of real standing.