Glenfarclas The Family Malt Collection 13 Years Old 1990

This official Glenfarclas, a 13 year old, from 1990, at 43%. Glenfarclas is a deep, dark Speyside malt of dried fruit, nut and spice. It was licensed in 1836 under Robert Hay and bought in 1865 by John Grant for 511 pounds. Its whiskies are bottled at their natural colour, without chill filtration.

It was distilled in copper pot stills, for the rich, sherried make Glenfarclas is known for. A bourbon barrel held it, the wood adding a soft honey over the fruit. Through integration spirit and wood marry, vanillin rounding out as esters lend riper orchard fruit and a chocolate depth. Years in oak deepen the spirit to a darker gold, the body growing rounder and more resinous with time. The full bodied spirit takes active sherry wood well, carrying its dark sugars through the years. Vanillin and oak lactones from the wood lend vanilla and a soft coconut over the fruit. Long ageing turns the fresh notes towards date, prune and a dark, bittersweet chocolate.

At 43% it is smooth and rich. A rich orchard sweetness and dark sugar, lifted by a sweet oak. Fig, honey and a dark chocolate fill the middle. The finish is rounded, dark and spiced. This is a deep, sherried Speyside single malt.