Glenfarclas Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Glenfarclas Scotch Whisky

Distillery Information

Founded in 1836 by Robert Hay

Location Speyside region Central district east of Dufftown

Water source Springs on Ben Rinnes.

Glenfarclas Scotch Whisky Distilling Equipment

Stainless steel lauter mash tun

12 Stainless steel washbacks

6 stills

Matured in Oloroso sherry casks

Glenfarclas Scotch Whisky Distillery History

Glenfarclas means "Valley of the green grass" in Gaelic. The distillery has been under same independent family ownership since 1865

The story of Glenfarclas Distillery, established in 1836 by Robert Hay, is as rich and colourful as the great Glenfarclas Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky itself. It is the story of one Scottish family, the Grants, who since 1865 have been united by a single vision – the creation of the perfect malt whisky, the ultimate taste of Scotland.

The present days chairman’s great-great grandfather, John Grant was born in 1805 at the family farm of Lynbeg in the heart of Speyside, John Grant became a highly successful farmer, owning several farms in the area and breeding champion Aberdeen Angus cattle So it was only natural for him to be interested in the Rechlerich Farm, on the Ballindalloch Estate, when it became vacant in 1865.

Rechlerich Farm was renowned in the area for the Glenfarclas Distillery, established in 1836 by the previous tenant farmer Robert Hay. When John Grant signed the tenancy agreement on the 8th of June 1865, he purchased the distillery for £511.19s.0d. John Grant remained at his home farm Blairfindy letting his son George look after Rechlerich Farm, whilst the distillery was sub-let to John Smith, a descendent of John Grant’s great uncle,

John Smith left in 1870; to build Cragganmore distillery and John Grant took his son into partnership. During 1897 the distillery was reconstructed and modernized

In 1889, John Grant died, leaving George to run both the distillery and the farm. Sadly, a year later George also passed away, leaving the license to his widow and his two eldest sons, John and George. They later formed the Glenfarclas-Glenlivet distillery company, with Pattisons of Leith, who held a 50% share.

Unfortunately, it proved to be a troublesome partnership, and eventually collapsed with the Pattisons bankruptcy of 1898 . This left John and George in a predicament, However they formed their own company, J. & G. Grant.

By 1914, after many years of hard work, family commitment and shrewd accounting, the future of Glenfarclas was secure in the hands of the Grant family. However, John Grant retired in this year due to ill health, and his brother George continued as sole partner.

In 1921, George married Jessie Stuart Scott and they had two sons, George Scott Grant, and John Peter Grant.

1949 saw the death of George Grant senior, and the marriage of his son George S. Grant, to Catherine. They went on to have three children, including a son, John L.S. Grant, who joined Glenfarclas in 1973. George S. Grant retired in 2001, after 52 years as Chairman, and sadly passed away in 2002, John L.S. Grant succeeded his father as Chairman.

John L.S. Grant also has a son, George, who was born in 1976, and represents the sixth generation of the Grant family. He too, has joined the company and looks set to continue the legacy of his forefathers.

The number of stills was increased from 2 to 4 in 1960, Glenfarclas opened its Visitor Centre in 1973 Three years later the stills where increased from 4 to 6 These Stills are largest on Speyside.

Glenfarclas Single Malt Scotch Whisky Family Casks

The Family Casks are a unique collection of 43 Single Cask whiskies, with one for each year from 1952 to 1994.

The Glenfarclas Distillery, with over 52000 casks currently maturing in its traditional dunnage warehouses, is in the enviable position of having stock in cask from every year from 1952 to the current day.

The Family Casks is a collection of the best single casks from the distillery’s warehouses, bottled at cask strength and at natural colour. The collection is unique as there is no other known collection of old and rare whiskies that covers 43 consecutive years from the same distillery.

Glenfarclas 40 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Limited edition of 600 bottles

Tasting notes by Jim Murray

Nose: Beautifully defined oak, which has taken on a handsomely sweet bourbon character. This is almost chestnut sweet, very softly peated and enticingly gentle. Steps up a gear when warmed in the hand with tantalising spices keeping in harmony with waxy malt and ultra-clean sherry. The way the old oak behaves itself - tows the line, is nothing short of wonderful.

Taste: The oak is again first to show but remains soft and laid back and teasingly spicy. The initial burst of oak does suggest a worn dryness, but this is soon counterbalanced by a Demerara sweetness. This blends effortlessly with some heavy, intense malt and a lingering but quite unmistakable hint of liquorice, which emerges from the refined sherry-trifle middle.

Finish: Long, chewy, smoky, and initially sweet with the liquorice continuing, but dries very slowly to deliver an oaky encore. Stays just to the right side of being vanilla-rich to ensure continuing charm and quality.

Glenfarclas 50 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Tasting Notes by George S Grant, Brand Ambassador and Sixth Generation

To celebrate the Bicentenary of the birth of my Great, Great, Great Grandfather; John Grant in 2005, I personally selected a cask of Glenfarclas 50 Years Old for bottling. This cask was distilled on the 30th September 1955 and bottled 50 years to the day on the 30th September 2005.

After fifty years in our dunnage warehouses the cask gave us just 110 bottles, at cask strength of 46.6% vol. The whisky has a powerful sweet sherried aroma and a long caramel taste, and I am sure my forefather would be proud.

A couple of years ago I enjoyed a dram of the Glenfarclas 50 Years with Tatsuya Minigawa of the Highlander Inn in Craigellachie. Here are Tatsuya’s tasting notes;

Colour: Deep Amber

Nose: First of all a big sweet chocolate character, then change to fragrant, and with a hint of fruity noses.

Taste: Baked fig with caramelised sugar, authentic European coffee, very rich and round.

Finish: Extremely long finish right level of woodiness came through and nice bitterness. Very unforgettable finish.

Comments: Huge depth and great dimensions, one of the best Glenfarclas I have ever tasted! "

Glenfarclas Vintage Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Older Distillery Bottlings

Glenfarclas 40 Year Old Millennium Edition

Glenfarclas 50 Year Old

Glenfarclas in various year vintages and finishes

1968-1970-1973-1974-1978-1979-1980-1983-1986-1988-1989-1990

Glenfarclas 105º 40th Annversary 40 Year Old

Glenfarclas Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Independent Bottlings

Adelphi,

Blackadder,

Cadenhead’s

Macleods’s

Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing)

Scotts Selection (Speyside Distillers)

SMWS

Published 8 times a year Whisky Magazine is the perfect complement to the dram in your glass. Every issue brings you fascinating articles on the art, science and romance of the 'water of life', plus page after page of tasting notes

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