Glenfarclas The Family Casks 15 Years Old 2007

A distillery release of Glenfarclas, a 15 year old, from 2007, cask 553, at 60.3%, 613 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a deep, dark Speyside malt of dried fruit, nut and spice. It launched the 105 in 1968, one of the first cask strength single malts sold to the public. Its water rises from the granite of Ben Rinnes, above the distillery at Ballindalloch. Its whiskies are bottled at their natural colour, without chill filtration. Its six stills are the largest in Speyside and among the very few still fired directly, now by gas.

Worked unhurried through the stillhouse, shaping a rich Speyside body with real weight. Maturation came in an Oloroso sherry cask, layered over the full Glenfarclas make. Into oxidative maturity, slow air builds ripe esters and a darker chocolate, fig and date depth. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit.

At 60.3%, undiluted, it is dark and full. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Fig, honey and a dark chocolate fill the middle. A long finish carries raisin, chocolate and a treacle. This is a dark, fruity Speyside single malt.