Glenfarclas The Family Casks 40 Years Old 1971

A distillery release of Glenfarclas, a 40 year old, from 1971, cask 148, at 52%, a festival cask. Glenfarclas is a Speyside single malt matured almost wholly in sherry casks from Jerez. Its water rises from the granite of Ben Rinnes, above the distillery at Ballindalloch. Direct firing chars the wash a little, lending the rich, nutty depth Glenfarclas is known for. It draws on that deep inventory for the Family Casks, single vintages reaching back to the 1950s.

It was taken gently through wash and spirit stills, giving a deep, full bodied Speyside spirit. Ex-Bourbon casks held it, the American oak lending vanilla and a light honey. At a great, fragile age oxidation rules, sotolon lending maple and dried fig as beeswax and old leather linger. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. The full spirit deepens with time, the cask drawing out its darker register.

Bottled at a cask strength 52%, it is deep and concentrated. Raisin, chocolate and a warm spice, lifted by a sweet oak. It is full and fruity, the spirit carrying the cask. The finish is long, rich and spiced. This is the family sherry malt of Ballindalloch.