About Glenfarclas
Unmistakably Glenfarclas! Even if the Scottish distilleries don't always make it easy for us. Because there are numerous distilleries beginning with "Glen" in the whisky region Speyside. Glenfarclas means "valley of green grass". The Scottish word for "valley" appears alongside Glenfarclas in its famous neighbor Glenfiddich. Thanks to their similarity in name, they are direct neighbors in almost every whisky book. In real life the two distilleries are only a stone's throw away from each other in the heart of the Speyside region. Another similarity: Both whisky distilleries are still family-owned. This is a real rarity in Scotland today. Glenfarclas and Glenfiddich both belong to a Grant family. Or better: one Grant family each. Because these two Grants are not related to each other. Not so directly anyway. However, the similarities end with the character of the single malt whisky. Because there can only be one and only Glenfarclas!
3 reasons to love Glenfarclas
1) Because nothing beats family.
2) Because its rare to get so much malt for your money.
3) Because time has stood still in the venerable "Ship's Room" in the distillery.
How does Glenfarclas whisky taste?
Glenfarclas traditionally relies almost exclusively on aging in Oloroso sherry casks. Remarkable, because a sherry butt costs a multiple of a former bourbon cask. The basic character of Glenfarclas is heavy and powerful, with a spicy undertone. This goes well with the sherry casks. Glenfarclas whiskys become very rich in body and taste, especially with age. You can expect aromas of dark fruits, dried fruit, versatile spices and roasted notes. A trace of smoke also lingers in some bottlings. Glenfarclas is not a mainstream whisky. The characterful edges are not for every whisky connoisseur. However, anyone who discovers the old school single malt remains a loyal fan.
How Glenfarclas Single Malt is made
Glenfarclas is old school whisky at its finest. This is reflected in the basic character of the single malt as well as in the management of the Speyside distillery. Glenfarclas labels say "Highland Single Malt Scotch" even though Glenfarclas distillery lies in the Speyside region. The Speyside is part of the Scottish Highlands. Therefore, each distillery can decide for itself whether Speyside or Highland is noted on the whisky. Perhaps this localization is also a statement by the independent distillery. Because the style of Glenfarclas suits the rough, untamed Scottish Highlands rather than the idyllic hilly landscape of Speyside.
The fresh distillate, the New Make, is fruity but heavy and persistent. This allows it to assert itself against the European oak of the Spanish sherry casks in which Glenfarclas' single malt matures. The combination of the distinctive brand and the sherry casks make Glenfarclas a niche whisky in a positive sense. Not a "everybodys darling" scotch, but a whisky with depth.
The fact that the Grant family has always gone their own way also benefits us connoisseurs today. Because in the whisky drought of the 80s and 90s, when many whisky distilleries had to close, Glenfarclas continued to produce happily. The result is well-stocked warehouses with many old treasures.
Glenfarclas operates a huge 16.5 tonne mash tun, the largest in Scotland to date. The 12 stainless steel washbacks are of equally monstrous proportions. The fermentation is at least 60 hours, but currently at 102 hours on average. The beautiful large six copper stills are fired directly. With three pairs of pot stills, Glenfarclas has a production capacity of 3,500,000 liters per year. An annual output of 2.5 million liters is currently estimated.
Glenfarclas single malt rests in 43 traditional dunnage warehouses on site. Glenfarclas' traditional approach is evident here too. Most Scottish whisky distilleries today rely on space-saving racked warehouses, high warehouses with heavy-duty shelves. Glenfarclas stays true to the historic Dunnage Warehouses, low-rise stone buildings where the cool humidity and proximity to the ground allow the whisky to mature more slowly. Just old school Scotch.
The history of Glenfarclas
Whisky was being distilled on the Glenfarclas site as early as 1797. The Glenfarclas Distillery was officially founded by Robert Hay in 1836. Scottish whisky has been distilled here with an official license since 1844. The distillery was sold to John Grant in 1865, whose descendants still own it today. It is one of the few whisky distilleries in Scotland that has always been in private hands. In 1897 Glenfarclas was modernized for the first time. In 1960 the capacity was increased from two to four pot stills. The in-house malting was given up in 1965. Glenfarclas made another milestone in whisky history with the visitor center that opened in 1973, which was a real rarity at the time. Today's figure of six pot stills was reached in 1976. In 2021 Glenfarclas celebrated its 185th anniversary.
The Glenfarclas range & recommendations
Due to the independent spirit of the distillery and the almost uninterupted production, Glenfarclas can still offer single malt whiskys with an age statement at fair prices. If you are looking for a Glenfarclas for beginners with an age statement, then grab the mild and fruity Glenfarclas 12 years.
You probably get the best value for money with the Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength, a strong cask strength with no age statement. Not for the faint of heart, but a real flavor bomb! Also a real recommendation are the Glenfarclas 15 years and the Glenfarclas 17 years, two great malts with a nice age and great value for money. Where most distilleries are already giving up, Glenfarclas offers the profound Glenfarclas 21 years and the Glenfarclas 25 years as premium whiskys. The prices, on the other hand, are far below the average for this age group. Even a Glenfarclas 30 year old and Glenfarclas 40 year old were standard for a long time.
The Glenfarclas The Family Casks are coveted, limited collector's whiskys. These single casks are bottled with vintage levy. They come in cask strength with precise information about the respective cask in the bottle. These single cask bottlings are part of the Glenfarclas range and are presented in elegant wooden boxes.
Facts & Numbers about Glenfarclas
Address: Ballindalloch, Banffshire, AB37 9BD
Region: Speyside Whisky
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Founded: 1836 by Robert Hay
Status: active
Owner: J&G Grant
Capacity: approx. 3,500,000 lpa (litres per year)
Pot Stills: 3 wash stills (29,600 l), 3 spirit stills (25,000 l)
Water: Springs at Ben Rinnes
Visitor Centre: Yes
Telephone: +44 (0) 1807 / 500245
Website: www.glenfarclas.co.uk
Directions to the Glenfarclas Distillery
picture credits/ source of photos: Leon Schuster, Malt Mariners