Glenfarclas The Family Casks 37 Years Old 1980

This official Glenfarclas, a 37 year old, from 1980, cask 1414, at 44.5%, 262 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a Speyside single malt from Ballindalloch, in the heart of Speyside. It launched the 105 in 1968, one of the first cask strength single malts sold to the public. Its spirit is matured almost wholly in sherry butts brought up from Jerez. It holds some sixty eight thousand casks on site in dunnage warehouses, with stock from every year since 1953. Its whiskies are bottled at their natural colour, without chill filtration.

It was distilled in copper pot stills, the direct fired stills lending a nutty depth. It rested in ex-Bourbon oak, oak lactones lending a creamy vanilla. Ethereal and fragile, the decades draw it to a resinous, waxy depth of dried fruit, treacle and old oak. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register.

At 44.5% it is smooth and rich. A deep, dark sweetness, lifted by a sweet oak. Beneath it run dried fruit, dark sugar and a warm spice. A long finish carries raisin, chocolate and a treacle. This is a dark, fruity Speyside single malt.