Glenfarclas – 30 Year Old (70cl, 43%)

This is a 30-year-old Speyside single malt from Glenfarclas, bottled at 43% in a 70cl bottle. It has a natural dark golden colour and comes in a red wooden box inspired by the doors of the traditional warehouses. Its long maturation draws on stocks laid down by George S. Grant, who built up reserves for the distillery's own single malt bottlings while demand for whisky for blends was falling. The character is marked by sherry fruit, nuts, marzipan and dark fruit cake, with a bitter chocolate note, dried fruit and fine oak. The nose is full and complex, with fruit and sherried malt. The palate adds cognac and brandy notes, nuts, marzipan and rich Christmas cake. The finish is long and elegant, with burnt chocolate.