Glenfarclas 1963 Family Casks X Sherry Hogshead #176

• Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• Distillery Bottling

70cl / 46.5%

A 1963 vintage entry in Glenfarclas’s Family Casks range, part of the 10th release of single cask bottlings. Bottled in 2012 it’s a rich old traditional whisky from the distillery, packed full of sherry fruit.

After the Award and Gold Medal at last year’s MM Awards, the ‘regular’ Glenfarclas 40yo just won a much deserved Malt Advocate Award. Let’s celebrate with an earlier (and rarer) official 40yo today, the 40yo ‘105’. Last time we tried the ‘104’ for the US, this time we’ll oppose ‘the old’ and the ‘young’ 105s. This should be interesting. Glenfarclas 1963 Family Casks X Sherry Hogshead #176

Time to formally taste the popular 105 again. Last time that was in 2004 according to this wee website! Colour: pale amber. Nose: starts relatively hot but not aggressive, rather nutty, with a slightly vinous background. Develops on quite some caramel, fudge, Demerara sugar, hints of strawberry jam… The whole is big but again, not un-nosable at 60% vol. Also a little burnt coffee (the one they keep for hours on the cooker in all American movies ;-)). Rum. Glenfarclas 1963 Family Casks X Sherry

With water: it’s the sherry that comes out and quite loudly so. Wine sauce, with touches of wine vinegar. Make that balsamico. Also heavy pipe tobacco. Mouth (neat): powerful but also creamy, rich, starting on coffee and orange liqueurs and little winey notes. Some pepper, dark toffee, brownies and just touches of blackcurrant jelly. Also strawberry jam. With water: sweeter and unexpectedly lemony. Finish: long, rich, maltier and nuttier at this point. Comments: some simple but not simplistic pleasures. The 105 is always a great dram and it’ll allow you to experiment with water and a pipette (or a tiny coffee spoon)