Glenfarclas The Family Casks 27 Years Old 1995

A distillery release of Glenfarclas, a 27 year old, from 1995, cask 6651, at 50.2%, 568 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a Speyside single malt, the house behind the pioneering 105 cask strength. It has been run by six generations of the Grant family, one of Scotch whisky's last truly independent houses. It draws on that deep inventory for the Family Casks, single vintages reaching back to the 1950s.

The spirit was worked unhurried through the stillhouse, shaping a rich Speyside body with real weight. It was matured in an Oloroso sherry cask, the wood working deep into the malt. At this evaporative stage ellagitannins lend structure while oxidation builds a richer raisin and treacle. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Speyside body. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

At a natural 50.2% it is full and rich. Raisin, chocolate and a warm spice, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The body is full and rich, the fruit deep and dark. The finish is long, rich and spiced. This is a full bodied Speyside single malt of real richness.