Glenfarclas The Family Casks 17 Years Old 2004

A distillery release of Glenfarclas, a 17 year old, from 2004, cask 2382, at 59.2%, 670 bottles in all. Glenfarclas, the glen of green grass, is a richly sherried Speyside single malt. It has been run by six generations of the Grant family, one of Scotch whisky's last truly independent houses. Direct firing chars the wash a little, lending the rich, nutty depth Glenfarclas is known for.

Worked unhurried through the stillhouse, the direct fired stills lending a nutty depth. It was fully matured in an Oloroso sherry cask, the wood deep in the rich spirit. Through oxidative maturity the esters concentrate, the orchard notes turning to raisin, fig and a dark chocolate. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register.

At its natural 59.2% it is rich and chewy. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The mouthfeel is full and coating, the fruit dark and sweet. A deep finish ends on dried fruit and a dark chocolate. This is a deep, sherried Speyside single malt.