Glenfarclas The Family Casks 26 Years Old 1992

A 26 year old Glenfarclas, a distillery bottling, from 1992, cask 5984, at 53.5%, 500 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a Speyside single malt from Ballindalloch, in the heart of Speyside. It holds some sixty eight thousand casks on site in dunnage warehouses, with stock from every year since 1953. It draws on that deep inventory for the Family Casks, single vintages reaching back to the 1950s.

Taken gently through wash and spirit stills, the direct fired stills lending a nutty depth. An ex-Bourbon barrel shaped it, vanillin and a soft coconut under the malt. At this evaporative stage ellagitannins lend structure while oxidation builds a richer raisin and treacle. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register. Active wood drives the maturation, the cask deep in the malt.

At a hearty 53.5% it carries real weight. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, lifted by a sweet oak. Beneath it run dried fruit, dark sugar and a warm spice. The finish is long, rich and spiced. This is a Speyside single malt of real standing.