Glenfarclas The Family Casks 46 Years Old 1962

A distillery release of Glenfarclas, a 46 year old, from 1962, cask 2647, at 52%, 161 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a Speyside single malt, one of the last great family owned distilleries in Scotch. It was licensed in 1836 under Robert Hay and bought in 1865 by John Grant for 511 pounds. It launched the 105 in 1968, one of the first cask strength single malts sold to the public.

Taken gently through wash and spirit stills, for a weighty, nutty spirit the sherry then deepens. Maturation came in an Oloroso sherry cask, layered over the full Glenfarclas make. In its ethereal years the malt turns waxy and oxidative, faded esters and a whisper of sotolon over dark fruit. 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. The wood frames the spirit without ever stripping the full Speyside body.

At 52%, undiluted, it is dark and full. A rich, sherried sweetness, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. Fig, honey and a dark chocolate fill the middle. A long finish carries raisin, chocolate and a treacle. This is a full bodied Speyside single malt of real richness.