Glenfarclas The Family Casks 21 Years Old 1997

Glenfarclas from the distillery, a 21 year old, from 1997, cask 5134, at 57.1%, 603 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a Speyside single malt from Ballindalloch, in the heart of Speyside. Its spirit is matured almost wholly in sherry butts brought up from Jerez. Direct firing chars the wash a little, lending the rich, nutty depth Glenfarclas is known for. Its slow, cool dunnage maturation loses very little to the angels each year.

The spirit was drawn from a thick, heavy wash, the direct fired stills lending a nutty depth. It was matured in an Oloroso sherry cask, the wood working deep into the malt. At oxidative maturity aldehydes lend a nutty edge while ellagitannins draw a drying, structured grip across the fruit. The full bodied spirit takes active sherry wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years. Maturation runs slow and even in the dunnage warehouses at Ballindalloch.

Bottled at a cask strength 57.1%, it is deep and concentrated. A rich, sherried sweetness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The body is full and rich, the fruit deep and dark. A long finish carries raisin, chocolate and a treacle. This is Glenfarclas's deep, fruity Speyside style.