Glenfarclas 105 is a legend among cask-strength whiskies. When the family-owned Speyside distillery released it in 1968, it was the first cask-strength single malt to be bottled, and it remains one of the most celebrated. The name comes from the old British proof system: 105° proof equals 60% ABV, the strength at which it is bottled.
Glenfarclas has been owned and run by the Grant family since 1865, one of the very few distilleries in Scotland still in family hands. It is famous for its rich, sherried style, and the 105 is matured in casks that previously held oloroso sherry.
Bottling at full strength keeps all of that sherry-cask character: raisins, figs, honey and hazelnut, dark toffee and chocolate, with a sweet and spicy palate. The distillery itself suggests adding a little water and, with a wink, ordering a 210 if you dare.
Big, generous and remarkably good value for its strength, Glenfarclas 105 is a benchmark dram for lovers of sherried Scotch.
Scotch whisky must be distilled and matured in Scotland for at least three years in oak casks, and any age statement on the label refers to the youngest whisky in the bottle.
Tasting Notes
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Nose: Raisins, figs, honey, hazelnut and oak, with dark toffee.
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Palate: Sweet and spicy, with dark chocolate, raisins and a touch of nutmeg.
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Finish: Long and warming.
Specifications
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Distillery: Glenfarclas, Speyside, Scotland
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Style: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, cask strength
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Cask: Ex-oloroso sherry casks
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Proof / ABV: 120 proof (60% ABV)
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Region: Speyside, Scotland
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Size: 750ml
How to Enjoy It
Taste it neat, then add water a little at a time; the sherry fruit and spice open beautifully as the strength drops. Enjoy it after dinner with dark chocolate, Christmas cake or a mature cheddar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called 105?
105° on the old British proof scale equals 60% ABV, the strength it is bottled at.
When was Glenfarclas 105 first released?
In 1968, as the first cask-strength single malt.
What casks is it aged in?
Casks that previously held oloroso sherry.
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