Glenfarclas The Family Casks 16 Years Old 2002 Cask #3773

A 16 year old Glenfarclas, a distillery bottling, from 2002, cask 3773, at 57.8%, 704 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a deep, dark Speyside malt of dried fruit, nut and spice. Its slow, cool dunnage maturation loses very little to the angels each year. Its water rises from the granite of Ben Rinnes, above the distillery at Ballindalloch.

The spirit 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. At oxidative maturity aldehydes lend a nutty edge while ellagitannins draw a drying, structured grip across the fruit. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Speyside body. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit.

Bottled at a cask strength 57.8%, it is deep and concentrated. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Dried fruit and a treacle sit behind the spice. A long finish carries raisin, chocolate and a treacle. This is a deep, sherried Speyside single malt.