Glenfarclas The Family Casks 24 Years Old 1994 Cask #1580

Glenfarclas from the distillery, a 24 year old, from 1994, cask 1580, at 53.3%, 552 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a Speyside single malt, one of the last great family owned distilleries in Scotch. It launched the 105 in 1968, one of the first cask strength single malts sold to the public. Its whiskies are bottled at their natural colour, without chill filtration.

Distilled to a rich, generous cut, the direct fired stills lending a nutty depth. It was fully matured in an Oloroso sherry cask, the wood deep in the rich spirit. In the oxidative, evaporative years the spirit concentrates to dried fruit, dark chocolate and a waxy, resinous depth. The cool, slow dunnage ageing loses little to evaporation, the spirit holding its depth. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. Active wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt.

At a natural 53.3% it is full and rich. 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 Speyside single malt of real standing.