Glenfarclas 18 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Glenfarclas · Glenfarclas Distillery
Glenfarclas remains one of the last family-owned Speyside distilleries, and this 18-year-old is the quiet centerpiece of their range. The exclusive use of sherry casks from their own cooperage gives it a richness that feels earned rather than engineered. Remarkable value for an 18-year-old single malt.
Nose
Rich sherry influence right away — dried figs, dark chocolate, and walnut. Behind that, a layer of honeyed malt, clove spice, and a whiff of old leather-bound books. Subtle orange marmalade emerges with air.
Palate
Velvety and full-bodied, with waves of Christmas cake, cocoa, and stewed plums. Clove and cinnamon-like spice intertwine with a buttery malt backbone. A hint of smoky oak anchors the sweetness.
Finish
Long, warming, and gently drying, with lingering dried fruit, dark chocolate, and a whisper of oak tannin. Deeply satisfying without being heavy.
- Region
- Speyside
- Cask Type
- Oloroso sherry casks
- Peat Level (PPM)
- Unpeated
- Distillation
- Double distilled in copper pot stills
- Maturation
- Aged 18 years in Oloroso sherry casks
- Chill-Filtered
- No
Cocktail Suggestion
Highland Library — 2 oz Glenfarclas 18 · 0.75 oz sweet vermouth · 0.25 oz Pedro Ximénez sherry · 1 dash orange bitters · Stir with ice, strain into a coupe, garnish with a brandied cherry.
Food Pairing
The whisky's sherry-driven dried fruit and cocoa notes echo the torte's bittersweet chocolate, while the salt draws out the whisky's malt sweetness and clove spice.
Owned by the Grant family since 1865, Glenfarclas Distillery in Ballindalloch has been passed down through six generations, making it one of the few remaining family-run operations in Scotch whisky.
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