New Glenfarclas 105 Aged 20 Years

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New Glenfarclas 105 Aged 20 Years

The limited edition Glenfarclas 105 Aged 20 Years has now been released and is making its way to specialist whisky retailers worldwide. Matured for 20 years and bottled at natural cask strength of 60% volume, only 4000 bottles of this remarkable whisky will be available.

This is the second time J. & G. Grant have released an older expression of Glenfarclas 105. The first was in 2008 when the limited edition 40 year old version was launched to celebrate the 40^th Anniversary of the first bottling of 105.

In 1968 when George S. Grant, 4^th generation of the owning family, bottled a single cask straight from the warehouse, and sent the bottles to family and friends as Christmas gifts. By chance the strength of the cask George S. Grant selected was ‘105’ British Proof, and along with the name of the distillery, this was all the information he detailed on the hand written label. By the end of January the recipients of the gifts requested further bottles, hence Glenfarclas ‘105’, the first commercially available cask strength whisky of the modern age was born. The name refers to the strength in the British Proof system, equivalent to 60% alcohol by volume.

Commenting on this new limited edition from Glenfarclas, George S Grant, Director of Sales and 6^th generation of the owning family said, ‘My family have been producing Glenfarclas 105 for 3 generations now and the 20 Year Old makes a great addition to the ‘105’ family, along with the 105 and 105 40 Years Old. This is a 105 as it should be – big and powerful with all the classic Glenfarclas flavours coming through. Definitely a dram to savour as the finish just goes on and on.’

To read George’s tasting notes please click here to visit our website.

Glenfarclas, an independent company

November 2011; J. & G. Grant, in partnership with Glasgow based publishers The Angel’s Share, are pleased to announce the publication of Glenfarclas – An Independent Distillery, by Ian Buxton. This biography of the family owned distillery has been commissioned as part of the distillery’s 175th Anniversary celebrations.

Glenfarclas – An Independent Distillery is both the definitive history of the Glenfarclas Distillery, which was first licensed in 1836 and unusually has been owned and managed by the Grant family for six generations, and is also a record of a remarkable year in the distillery’s long history, preserved for the future. 

The Glenfarclas story has been bought to life by renowned whisky author Ian Buxton, delving deep into the character and provenance of the Ballindalloch distillery, and carefully presented by designer Jules Akel with original material from the distillery’s archives and newly commissioned photography by John Paul. 
Commenting on the project, Ian Buxton, said, "In an industry dominated by multi-nationals the Glenfarclas story is a remarkable and engaging one. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to tell it".
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master of malt Movember Charity

Master of Malt teams up with Glenfarclas for Movember 2011

Online retailer and independent bottler Master of Malt has teamed up with the legendary Scotch whisky distillery, Glenfarclas, to release a very special Charity bottling to raise funds for Movember UK – a charity dedicated to raising money and awareness for men’s health issues, specifically prostate and testicular cancer.

Master of Malt release a special Movember whisky every year (last year, Master of Malt raised over £2,000!) and this year should see even more raised as £10 from every single bottle sold will be donated directly to Movember UK. Of course, all the chaps at Master of Malt will also be growing moustaches throughout the month! (In the accompanying images here; you’ll see photos of the men at Master of Malt, before Movember, and after “shavedown”.)

The whisky itself was drawn from two Oloroso sherry hogshead casks and is 9 years old. Even at this young age there is a huge amount of flavour and complexity, and the single malt can be perfectly described as an ‘aperitif whisky’ – nutty and intensely savoury.

You can help raise money for Movember UK by buying a bottle of Glenfarclas – Movember 2011 from Master of Malt for £39.95.

Visit Movember UK to read more about the men’s health charity.

You can also support Master of Malt and Movember by joining their MoSpace team here.

The Label

The front labels of the bottles bear a photograph of the Glenfarclas distillery workforce, taken in 1891. Many of the gentlemen in the photo are wearing impressive moustaches, so in true Movember spirit, the chaps at Master of Malt recreated the photo exactly, taking up the same poses, facial hair and dress as the men from 1891. The 2011 recreation can be seen adorning the back labels of the bottles.

Tasting Notes

Nose: A whiff of salted almonds is overtaken by sherry – somewhere between Manzanilla and Fino – surprising, since this was matured solely in Oloroso. With warmth applied, the caramel-rich Oloroso starts to come through, with a hint of Brazil nut shell.

Palate: Starts off big with just a smidge of sweetness before the savoury Fino takes over. An almost saline note creeps through before moving into blue agave tequila, with a hint of lime zest bitterness.

Finish: Dries out, with freshly-shaved oak, Christmas spices, and a touch of pine. Very moreish.

Overall: A seriously grown-up whisky, miles away from a standard Glenfarclas - further even than the refill Bourbon matured Family Casks. Glenfarclas, usually an after-dinner treat, is firmly in the aperitif camp here. Superb with smoked almonds or sharp cheeses.