Glenfarclas The Family Casks 50 Years Old 1956

Glenfarclas from the distillery, a 50 year old, from 1956, cask 1758, at 47.3%, 435 bottles in all. Glenfarclas is a Speyside single malt, one of the last great family owned distilleries in Scotch. Its water rises from the granite of Ben Rinnes, above the distillery at Ballindalloch.

The spirit was run slowly off the spirit still, for the rich, sherried make Glenfarclas is known for. An Oloroso sherry cask held it, drawing the rich spirit on over the years. At a great, fragile age oxidation rules, sotolon lending maple and dried fig as beeswax and old leather linger. The full bodied spirit takes active sherry wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time. Maturation runs slow and even in the dunnage warehouses at Ballindalloch.

At a natural 47.3% it is full and rich. Baked apple, honey and a dark chocolate, with dried fruit, fig and walnut from the cask. The mouthfeel is full and coating, the fruit dark and sweet. The finish runs long, full and warming. This is Glenfarclas's deep, fruity Speyside style.