Glenfarclas 1962 Family Casks A14 Cask #4126

• Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• Distillery Bottling

70cl / 40.9%

A 1962 vintage Glenfarclas released as part of the Autumn 2014 tranche of the distillery’s The Family Cask series. Matured in a single hogshead and bottled at full strength of 40.9%.

Colour: mahogany, almost deep red. Nose: a more powerful version of the 40 but no monster, probably more on old wood (aged cigar humidor), walnuts, dried meat (jerky) and blackcurrant jam. Globally a little more varnishy, in a good way. Quite superb I must say and it doesn’t seem to call for water so let’s pass, for once. Mouth: superb attack, thick yet very nervous and flavourful, on spicy jams and fruit juices. Blackberries and plums/prunes. Glenfarclas 1962 Family Casks A14 Cask #4126

Goes on with funny touches of icing sugar and even lemon juice that go very well with this kind of profile. No rancio or leathery notes here, it’s all fresh and very lively. Quite some cinnamon after that but the general profile remains very appealing. Rich and a little heavy but appealing. Finish: very, very long, leaving many spices, some mint, some lemon marmalade and wee tannins on your palate. Comments: a rich but never cloying sherry monster for sherry monster lovers. A notch above the new 40yo in my book. Glenfarclas 1962 Family Casks A14 Cask #4126

Does it deserve such a high score? I’m afraid it doesn’t, but it depends on your scoring system. In any case, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it. It’s a perfectly balanced sherry bottling that contains all the classic flavours in the right amount, I’m sure it will appeal to every sherry lover. Considering the price (+/- € 50 which is € 10 less than the standard Glenfarclas 15y here), this is an absolute bargain.