Glenfarclas

glenfarclas-distillery

History Glenfarclas distillery is a Speyside whisky distillery in Ballindalloch, Scotland. Glenfarclas translates as meaning valley of the green grass. The distillery is owned and run by the Grant family. The distillery has six stills which are the largest on Speyside[citation needed] and are heated directly by gas burners. The distillery has a production capacity of around 3.5 million litres of spirit per year. Normally four stills are used for production with two kept in reserve. The distillery has approximately 68,000 casks maturing on site, in traditional dunnage warehouses, with stock from every year from 1953 to the current year. Glenfarclas produce a traditional Highland malt with a heavy sherry influence. The distillery was first granted a licence in 1836 when it was run by Robert Hay. In 1865 it was bought by John Grant and is still owned and run by his descendants, making it truly independent. John L.S. Grant, who joined Glenfarclas in 1973, is the current Chairman. His son George S. Grant is Director of Sales. The company was named Distiller of the Year by Whisky Magazine in 2006.

The Whiskyphiles tasting notes

Official Bottling
  • Glenfarclas-10-Years-Old-single-malt-scotch-whisky Glenfarclas 10 Years Old (2014) - Glenfarclas 10 Years Old (40%, OB, 2014) Speyside single malt scotch whisky 40% ABV, £30 for 70cl Score: 83/100 What they say: Colour: Vibrant straw-gold Nose: Tempting sherry-sweet malty tones combine with […]
  • Glenfarclas 10 Year old 2003 Marks & Spencer Glenfarclas 10 Years Old 2003 (Marks & Spencer) (2014) - Glenfarclas 10 Years Old 2003 Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Distillery: Glenfarclas Bottling: Official for Marks and Spencer ABV: 43% Cost: £28 Score: 84/100 What they say: This is not just […]
  • Glenfarclas 105 (2015) - Glenfarclas 105 (60%, OB, 2015) Speyside single malt scotch whisky Glenfarclas distillery 60% ABV, £46.50 f Score: 86/100 What they say A great whisky holding all the flavours of all the Glenfarclas […]
  • glenfarclas-105-whisky Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength (2021) - A great intro to NAS, Cask Strength and Glenfarclas. I can safely say this 105 from Glenfarclas still sets and maintains a high standard. For a family-owned business like Glenfarclas it makes sense for them to do this right and keep doing it right. A great value-for-money, cask strength sherried, quality introductory dram from Glenfarclas.
  • glenfarclas-12-year-old-drinks-by-the-dram-whisky Glenfarclas 12 Year Old Drinks by the Dram (2019) - Glenfarclas 12 Year Old Drinks by the Dram whisky review: Possible from a refill casks this is full of sherry, butter and fruit in the classic Glenfarclas style. A touch of wood smoke or cask char keeps this entertaining.84/100
  • Glenfarclas 15 Years Old (2014) - Glenfarclas 15 Years Old ~ 46% (Glenfarclas Distillery) 46% ABV, £46.95 Score: 84/100 What they say: Colour: A rich golden amber. Nose: Complex, sherried, deliciously peated, light butterscotch aromas, with a hint […]
  • glenfarclas-17-year-old-whisky Glenfarclas 17 Years Old (2016) - Glenfarclas 17 Years Old (43%, OB, 2016) Whisky Review Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Origin: Glenfarclas Distillery Bottling: J & G Grant ABV: 43% Cost: £98.80 What they say: Colour: Rich […]
  • glenfarclas-25-year-old-whisky Glenfarclas 25 Years Old (2016) - Starting with the 25 year old I noticed a pronounced aged/oaky wood character over say the 15 or 17 year old versions (though perhaps not the 21 - I may need to revisit). A beautiful creamy milk chocolate was the most interesting characteristic I found in this whisky though it rewards spending some time with it and opens out subtly. There was a little bitterness and tannin in places giving it a roughness for its age and keeping things interesting. 90/100
  • glenfarclas-30-year-old-whisky Glenfarclas 30 Years Old (2016) - As a sherry-fan (and even sherry-bomb fan) I have to admit this comes pretty close to perfection. Wickedly indulgent in flavours and beautifully presented I find it difficult to find flaw in this expression. Easy to see how this won at the International Spirits Challenge. 93/100
  • glenfarclas-40-year-old-whisky Glenfarclas 40 Years Old (2016) - Slightly over-oaked and verging on the extreme side of chocolate even for a chocaholic like myself. Gone were the honeyed notes and zestiness of the oranges and in come coffee grounds and the herbality of advanced oak wood ageing. Still an impressive expression but my palate preferred the 30 year old more than the Glenfarclas at 40. 92/100
  • Glenfarclas-Springs Glenfarclas Springs (2015) - Glenfarclas Springs ~ 46% (J & G Grant) Glenfarclas Distillery – J & G Grant 46% ABV £35.85 Score: 83/100 What they say: Part of The Legend of Speyside trilogy released for […]
Independent Bottling
Marks & Spencer
  • Glenfarclas 10 Year old 2003 Marks & Spencer Glenfarclas 10 Years Old 2003 (Marks & Spencer) (2014) - Glenfarclas 10 Years Old 2003 Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky Distillery: Glenfarclas Bottling: Official for Marks and Spencer ABV: 43% Cost: £28 Score: 84/100 What they say: This is not just […]
Scotch Malt Whisky Society
  • SMWS 1.186 A stroll in the Luxemburg Gardens (2015) - Glenfarclas 12 Years Old 2002 1.186 A stroll in the Luxemburg Gardens (57%, SMWS, 1st Fill Bourbon Barrel, 235 Bottles, 2014) Single malt scotch whisky 57% ABV, £46.10 Score: 84/100 What they […]
The Whisky Exchange
  • Christmas Malt 3 A Fine Christmas Malt 2018 (2018) - A Fine Christmas Malt 2018 whisky review: A lovely sherried Christmas dram, a little spicy and sappy/pine wood actually keeps this refreshing. There is plenty of sticky syrupy sweet and buttery oils in here but well-balanced against wood influences. Perhaps not the most redolent of Christmas for me, this sherried dram is very drinkable and certainly got me in the mood for Christmas at the very least. A great selection by The Whisky Exchange at a very reasonable price. 85/100