Glenfarclas The Family Casks 39 Years Old 1969

Glenfarclas from the distillery, a 39 year old, from 1969, cask 3188, at 55.6%, 89 bottles in all. Glenfarclas, the glen of green grass, is a richly sherried Speyside single malt. It was licensed in 1836 under Robert Hay and bought in 1865 by John Grant for 511 pounds. Its spirit is matured almost wholly in sherry butts brought up from Jerez. Its water rises from the granite of Ben Rinnes, above the distillery at Ballindalloch.

Drawn from a thick, heavy wash, building a deep malt of dried fruit and dark sugar. An Oloroso sherry cask held it, drawing the rich spirit on over the years. Ethereal and fragile, the decades draw it to a resinous, waxy depth of dried fruit, treacle and old oak. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Speyside body. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register. Maturation runs slow and even in the dunnage warehouses at Ballindalloch.

At a natural 55.6% it is full and rich. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. It is full and fruity, the spirit carrying the cask. A long finish carries raisin, chocolate and a treacle. This is Glenfarclas's deep, fruity Speyside style.