Whisky: Glenfarclas 8 Year 100 Proof (c. 1960s-1965)

Country/Region: Scotland/Speyside

ABV: 57%

Cask: Oak

Age: 8 Years

Nose: Rich dried figs and dense flourless cake, honey, bittersweet Turkish coffee, construction paper, motor oil, new leather, cherry cough syrup.

Palate: Full-bodied and oily, thick and unctuous, dried fruits, licorice, cinnamon candies, old paper and burning candle wicks, motor oil with hints of sulfur and earth, date cakes and coffee toward the end with mild tobacco and black pepper.

Finish: Long and lingering with dried fruits, pepper, and tobacco.

Score: 8

Mental Image: Albertan Order of Saint Leibowitz

Narrative & Notes: Wow! I was not expecting a whisky that had been sitting in the bottle for sixty years to be this intense and full-flavored.  The mouthfeel was wonderfully thick and textured; it was oily and occasionally a bit waxy, as the flavor moved from sweet, dense fruits to earth and finally a sweet, peppery bite.  Notions of old papers, candles, and earth reminded me of archival work, but surely a more modest or ancient archive than the sort I tend to visit.  Open flames and old books do not mix, but in this whisky they came together nicely with ample dried fruits, dense cakes, and rich coffee.

Overall, an unctuous treat— I can see why some go crazy for these 1960s Glenfarclas.

Image Credit: Master of Malt

About Glenfarclas

Always quaffable and nearly always a bargain compared to other brands, especially for its higher age statements. The malt shines at cask strength, though those releases are less common.

Renowned for their attention to detail and dedication to tradition, the Grant family has one foot in scotch history and another in its future. Much like Springbank in Campbeltown, Glenfarclas has a reputation for sticking with what works, yet their emphasis on brand identity (and legal enforcement of their trademarks) has made them a trendsetter and pioneer of the single malt market we enjoy today, even opening a visitor center way back in 1973.

Established in 1836, Glenfarclas has been in the hands of the Grant family since 1865. During the booming 1960s and 70s, the distillery underwent a massive expansion and transformation. Glenfarclas maintains a diverse portfolio of products that shift and change slightly occasionally (even if the labeling has remained relatively constant). The whisky produced there is rich and heavy as a slightly larger cut of the tails taken during distillation provides extra body to hold up against the sherry maturation for which the distillery is famous.

Style: Rich and malty, dried fruits and baking spice, typically sherried.