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Glenfarclas 10 years old  Glenfarclas Distillery in Speyside is one of the few to have remained in private
ownership since it was founded in 1836 by Robert Hay. Six generations of the Grant family have distilled whisky here.
Glenfarclas means 'the valley of the green grass'. It stands in the meadows at the
foot of Ben Rinnes, and draws its soft water from the springs that flow through the granite and heather into the valley. Our picture (below) shows the distillery workforce of 1891. It was rebuilt in 1897
and further extended and modernised in the 1960s. The visitor centre was opened in 1973, and includes the splendid Ships Room, which is fitted out with the
original oak panelling and ship's furniture of the Empress of Australia, 1913-52.The six stills at Glenfarclas are amongst the largest on Speyside, with the big wash still (below) holding nearly 30,000 litres.
Glenfarclas supplies at least six whiskies, of cask ages ranging from 10 years old (profiled) through 12, 15, 21, 25
and 30 years old. Their cask-strength "105" malt whisky bears no age statement; and there is also a limited supply
of a 40 year old still available. The extensive range of Glenfarclas malts allows for detailed research on the effect of barrel maturation. Further details are here.
Flavour |
Profile |
Body |
2 |
Sweetness |
4 |
Smoky |
1 |
Medicinal |
0 |
Tobacco |
0 |
Honey |
1 |
Spicy |
2 |
Winey |
3 |
Nutty |
2 |
Malty |
3 |
Fruity |
2 |
Floral |
2 |
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Glenfarclas malt whiskies are now aged mainly in sherry casks, using a mixture of first-fill and refill, although this has not always been the case. This contributes to the
malt's pronounced sherry character, particularly in the newer malts where new sherry casks have been most recently deployed. The 10 year old is a straw gold in colour,
delicately light, sweet and malty, with a floral, fruity nose and leaving a long slightly spicy finish. It is a whisky of high quality, strongly to be recommended. Glenfarclas have generously supported Whisky Classified since
1998, which we greatly appreciate. Our congratulations go to George S. Grant, Chairman, and John L. S. Grant, the sixth generation of Managing Director at the distillery. We can strongly recommend a visit to Glenfarclas, when in Speyside, where you can enjoy a guided tour of the working distillery, generous hospitality in their stunning Ships Room and a range of whisky goods and souvenirs
which can be purchased in the visitor shop, which are open throughout the year.
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