Description

Glenfarclas 1971 Family Casks Cask #151

• Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• Distillery Bottling

70cl / 47%

Firstly, Created at much the same time as the fashion for flared trousers, this single malt was distilled in 1971 and not freed from its sherry butt until January 2017.

Moreover, This one was within the first batch of the acclaimed Family Casks, and I thought it was so good that… I never published any tasting notes. Now’s the time. It’s ex-sherry hogshead. Colour: dark amber. Nose: sometimes sherry casks start all on coffee and chocolate, sometimes all on prunes and fruitcake, sometimes straight on winey notes and sometimes more on tobacco, mushrooms or leather. This one does all that. Glenfarclas 1971 Family Casks Cask #151

Then, it develops on many tinier, more complex notes such as balsamic vinegar, cherry liqueur, bacon, mint, lovage, peonies, iris, cured ham (Iberico), raspberry jam… It’s truly endless but the general feeling remains very coherent, almost compact. No ‘aromatic holes’ in there! With water (just one or two drops): oh my god, it’s a ballet. Mouth (neat): wham! It’s very big, very rich and extremely concentrated but, quite curiously, not lumpish or aggressive. Big liquorice, hints of cola, dark chocolate, blackcurrants, then more resinous notes from the wood, pine sap, mint… Glenfarclas 1971 Family Casks Cask #151

Also, I cannot not think of a very old Armagnac. With water: please call the anti-maltoporn brigade! Only the faintest drying notes (grape pips) will prevent this baby from achieving total perfection. Finish: very long, dry, mostly on herbs, leather, mint and touches of cinnamon. Comments: swims like… wait, I think we already quoted Mark Spitz, so why not Shirley Babashoff? A wonder that’s very different from the legendary first 1965, even the opposite in style, but of the very same high quality in my opinion. SGP:572 – 95 points.