Glenfarclas The Family Casks 24 Years Old 1997

Glenfarclas from the distillery, a 24 year old, from 1997, cask 5964, at 58.9%, 565 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a richly sherried Speyside single malt, run by the Grant family since 1865. 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.

Taken gently through wash and spirit stills, for a weighty, nutty spirit the sherry then deepens. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the American oak lending vanilla and a light honey. Through the evaporative decades the esters fold into raisin, fig, beeswax and a bittersweet chocolate. 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. Maturation runs slow and even in the dunnage warehouses at Ballindalloch.

At a natural 58.9% it is full and rich. A deep, dark sweetness, lifted by a sweet oak. Dried fruit and a treacle sit behind the spice. A long finish carries raisin, chocolate and a treacle. This is a richly sherried Speyside single malt.