Glenfarclas 10 år Single Highland Malt Whisky 40%

Sherry from the first sip. Glenfarclas does not use sherry casks as a finish but as the foundation itself, and you can taste it already in the youngest release in the range.

The expert's description

Glenfarclas 10 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry casks and bottled at 40%.

Ten years is the distillery entry release, and it is built to show the house style rather than to impress with age. The sherry takes up clear room, but at 40% the whisky is light enough to be drunk without ceremony, and there is a trace of smoke in the background that comes from the direct firing under the stills.

Glenfarclas sits at Ballindalloch by the River Spey and has been in the hands of the Grant family since 1865. The water comes from a spring in the Ben Rinnes hills, and the distillery is one of very few left that still fires its pot stills directly with gas rather than using steam heating.

Tasting notes

Nose

Plenty of sherry, with honey, a touch of caramel and barley behind.

Palate

Spices, dried fruit, pastry and caramel, with a very small hint of smoke in the middle. The body is light at 40%, but the sherry gives it more weight than the number suggests.

Finish

Medium. More spice, dried fruit and oak closing quietly.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas 10 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky 40%
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks
EAN no.: 5018066104018

Flavour profile

Sherried · Spiced · Dried fruit · Malty · Light

Did you know?

John Grant bought Glenfarclas in 1865 for £512, and the distillery has been in the family ever since. That makes Glenfarclas one of very few Scottish distilleries still run by the same family after more than a century and a half.

See our full range of Glenfarclas

Listen to our podcast:

Frequently asked questions about Glenfarclas 10 Year Old

What does direct firing under the stills mean?

That the flame hits the copper directly instead of heating through steam coils inside the still. It gives an uneven and stronger heat where sugars can catch lightly on the bottom, and it is a large part of the explanation for the heavy, lightly smoky tone in Glenfarclas.

Is there smoke in it?

Only a trace, and it does not come from peated malt. Glenfarclas uses unpeated barley, and the smoke note comes from the direct firing. See the other Scottish styles in our Scotch Whisky selection.

Is 40% enough for a sherry-matured whisky?

For this one it works. Glenfarclas has a full spirit, and the sherry gives the whisky body even at the low strength. If you want more intensity, the distillery 105 sits at 60% and shows the same style in stronger form.

How does Glenfarclas differ from other Speyside distilleries?

Through the sherry and through the firing. Many Speyside houses work with bourbon casks and bright, fruity spirits, while Glenfarclas goes for sherry the whole way and has a heavier spirit thanks to the directly fired stills.

Is it a good place to start with Glenfarclas?

Yes. The 10 year old is the entry to the range and shows the house style without being demanding. If you like it, the run continues up through 12, 15, 21 and 25 years in the same direction.

How is it best enjoyed?

Neat, at room temperature. At 40% there is not much to give away, and water thins it out quickly. Give it five minutes in the glass so the sherry notes have time to open.

Does it work with food?

It performs well after a meal with dried fruit, nuts or a mature cheese. The spice and dried fruit of the sherry meet the food without drowning it, and the low strength makes it easy to drink alongside.