Glenfarclas The Family Casks 33 Years Old 1985 Cask #2601

A distillery release of Glenfarclas, a 33 year old, from 1985, cask 2601, at 43.6%, 292 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a Speyside single malt from Ballindalloch, in the heart of Speyside. Its six stills are the largest in Speyside and among the very few still fired directly, now by gas. Its water rises from the granite of Ben Rinnes, above the distillery at Ballindalloch. Its spirit is matured almost wholly in sherry butts brought up from Jerez.

The spirit was run slowly off the spirit still, shaping a rich Speyside body with real weight. An Oloroso sherry cask held it, drawing the rich spirit on over the years. In its ethereal years the malt turns waxy and oxidative, faded esters and a whisper of sotolon over dark fruit. 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 hearty 43.6% it carries real weight. Raisin, chocolate and a warm spice, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. A dark chocolate and a soft oak give it weight. A deep finish ends on dried fruit and a dark chocolate. This is a deep, sherried Speyside single malt.