Glenfarclas The Family Casks 28 Years Old 1992

A 28 year old Glenfarclas, a distillery bottling, from 1992, cask 2904, at 55.9%, 601 bottles in all. Glenfarclas, the glen of green grass, is a richly sherried Speyside single malt. It launched the 105 in 1968, one of the first cask strength single malts sold to the public. Its slow, cool dunnage maturation loses very little to the angels each year. Its six stills are the largest in Speyside and among the very few still fired directly, now by gas.

The spirit was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, for the rich, sherried make Glenfarclas is known for. Maturation came in an Oloroso sherry cask, layered over the full Glenfarclas make. At this evaporative stage ellagitannins lend structure while oxidation builds a richer raisin and treacle. Maturation runs slow and even in the dunnage warehouses at Ballindalloch. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

At a hearty 55.9% it carries real weight. A rich, sherried sweetness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A baked apple and a warm cinnamon lift the middle. A deep finish ends on dried fruit and a dark chocolate. This is a dark, fruity Speyside single malt.