The Glenfarclas 190th Anniversary marks a significant milestone for the family-owned Speyside distillery, and closes out its Anniversary Trilogy of releases. Rather than a single-cask or single-vintage bottling, it's been built from 78 casks drawn from across the distillery's stock, with some laid down as far back as the 1970s — giving the whisky access to decades of character in one glass.
 
The selection was made by Distillery Manager Callum Fraser and Managing Director Douglas Belford, whose task was to bring together casks that, combined, reflect the full-bodied, robust style Glenfarclas is known for as a Highland Speyside single malt.
 
That range of cask ages shows clearly in the glass. Green apple and spicy Christmas cake sit alongside sweet sherry, toffee and caramel drawn from the 2000s casks, layered with fruitier notes from the 1970s stock and the richer, more heavily sherried character of casks from the 1980s and 90s. The mouthfeel is smooth, rich and velvety, and the finish is a long one, closing on dark chocolate and fresh tobacco.
 
Tasting Notes
Nose/Palate: Green apple, sweet sherry, spicy Christmas cake, with toffee and caramel from the 2000s casks, fruitier notes from the 1970s casks, and richer sherried character from the 1980s/90s casks
Mouthfeel: Smooth, rich and velvety
Finish: Long, with dark chocolate and fresh tobacco