Glenfarclas launches 50YO whisky
Family-owned distillery Glenfarclas has released a limited edition 50-year-old single malt Scotch to mark the 50th anniversary of its chairman, John Grant.
Only 836 bottles of the 50-year-old Glenfarclas are available, priced at RRP £9,000 (US$11,116) each. Grant is both chairman and a fifth-generation family member, and started with the brand in 1974. He said: “At Glenfarclas, we’re proud to be able to bottle rare, limited edition, single malt whiskies to complement our exquisite range of spirits, which are fundamental to our brand and story. “This release is particularly special as it commemorates the 50 years I have worked in the industry, with the liquid in the cask evolving along with the industry during that time." The whisky is bottled at 50% ABV. Grant added: “I’m proud of everything we’ve achieved together as a distillery team over the last 50 years and look forward to releasing even more exquisite drams together in the future as Glenfarclas continues to evolve.” The liquid was selected by distillery manager Callum Fraser, and managing director Douglas Belford. Fraser said: “Creating products like Glenfarclas 50-Year-Old is the reason I come to work. “Producing something so special, which has such an incredible story behind it, is tribute to the passion that runs through everything we do at Glenfarclas. “This new whisky is testament to the craftsmen who made the spirit and laid it down in the late 1960s and the foresight of the Grant family so many years ago." While the palate presents flavours of dark chocolate, leading to notes of treacle toffee, mixed peel and a slightly smoky, sweet taste, the finish is said to be gentle and smooth. “To me, this dram is exquisite. It has an incredible depth of character and showcases every element of the whisky making process – from the earthy smell of the dunnage warehouse through to the light, natural smokiness of the Speyside peat that was used back then and the unique taste of the water we use in our production process,” Fraser continued. “I hope the distillery manager in 50 years time is as impressed as I am by the quality of the spirit we are laying down for the future today.” The bottling can be purchased on a global basis through speysidewhisky.com and whiskyshopdufftown.com. The bottles are engraved and presented in a box. In June last year, the Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength Cocktail Competition named Aberdeen-based bartender Marcus Gordon as its winner.
