Glenfarclas 1953 58 year old single cask
A once in a lifetime dram
0 796
Review by @galg
- Nose24
- Taste25
- Finish24
- Balance23
- Overall96
Show rating data charts
Distribution of ratings for this:
- Brand: Glenfarclas
- Type: Scotch
- Region: Speyside
- ABV: 47.2%
Cask #1674 containing the whisky filled on the 20th November 1953 was chosen by a group of four whisky experts we all know :Serge Valentin, who needs no introduction, Ben Ellefsen, Sales Director for Master of Malt Micha? Kowalski of Wealth Solutions and George Grant himself. All four agreed that this cask was the best available and well worth bottling, and so it was. An Ex-Sherry cask, it yielded only 400 bottles at cask strength (you know how lucky those angels were, drinking their share for 58 years!) of 47,2% ABV. [originally the cask was filled with 500 liters of spirit at 63.4% which were reduced to only 300 liters].
This bottle is so unique, it comes with a book,telling its story and of course the story of family owned Glenfarclas distillery since it started until this day. Editor of the book is Ian Buxton, the renowned whisky writer, which adds his lovely style of writing to the package (even the wee sample was placed in a wooden box, very classy stuff), to create an excellent very collectible package. I do believe whisky is for drinking, so let’s get on with the notes. It deserves to be drunk, and it’s spectacular. This beauty can be yours for a mere £5995, so if you can afford one, go get it (exclusively on Master of Malt)
Nose: OMG!. A belter of a nose : old wood, but not over imposing, old library book, and wood polish, spices, a bit of pepper up front, and also dried fruit, butterscotch, and toffee, cocoa powder and orange peel candy. Gentle whiffs but still saving its might. A treat.
Palate: Oily and with a lot, and I mean a lot of wood spices. Citrusy with red grapefruit, wood bark, pepper, nutmeg, dark chocolate and some sage leaves. after a few seconds it gets nutty, and a bit more herbal. It’s not as sweet as you might expect from a whisky which spent its entire life in a sherry cask, and what a long life it led.
Layer and layer of of tastes and textures, it really is so lovely.
Finish: Long , very long finish with those nuts, some toffee, and dry bitterness, and again, hints of sage leaves.
A celestial experience. I was left speechless. It’s such an old whisky, but yet so vibrant. The nose is delicate, yet the palate is quite robust, and multi layered, surprising you off gourd, revealing layer after layer of tastes, and sensations. Wow. This has to be one of the best whiskies I’ve EVER had. I know people would argue I’m just digging it because it’s so expensive and limited, but I have to tell you it’s not just that. it’s really good as a drinking whisky. If you can afford it, do drink this stuff. it’s Sublime.
Find where to buy Glenfarclas whisky
You lucky bugger! I am very jealous of you. That sounds like one cracker of a dram!!!