Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength Single Speyside Malt Whisky 70 cl 60%

It began as a Christmas present. In 1968 George S. Grant bottled a cask of Glenfarclas at full strength and gave it to family and friends, and it later became the 105 — the first cask strength single malt to be regularly available.

The expert's description

Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured primarily in oloroso sherry casks and bottled at cask strength 60%.

The whisky carries no age statement, but the contents typically sit somewhere between eight and ten years. The number 105 refers to the old British proof scale, where 105 degrees equals the 60% alcohol. The whisky is neither chill filtered nor coloured.

When the 105 reached the market, the cask strength category barely existed as something you could buy in a shop. It was a time when almost all single malt was reduced to 40 or 43%, and Glenfarclas took a chance sending something this powerful out to ordinary customers.

Tasting notes

Nose

Raisins, nuts and dark chocolate, with a touch of oak. There is a light floral note that balances the heavy sherry elements.

Palate

Intense and full from the first sip. Sweet malt and dark syrup, followed by spiced oak, cloves and a trace of liquorice. The strength registers clearly, but it is warming rather than sharp.

Finish

Long, dry and lasting. Spices, dark fruit and a pleasant warmth that hangs on for a long time.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Whisky 70 cl 60%
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 60%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Primarily oloroso sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Edition: 105 Cask Strength
EAN no.: 5018066105015

Flavour profile

Sherried · Dark fruit · Spiced · Powerful · Cask Strength

Did you know?

Glenfarclas 105 was born in 1968 when George S. Grant bottled a cask at full strength as a Christmas gift for family and friends. It later became a permanent part of the range and is regarded as the first regularly available cask strength single malt.

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Frequently asked questions about Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength

What does the number 105 stand for?

It is the old British proof scale. 105 degrees British proof equals 60% alcohol, and the number stayed on the label long after the scale was abolished in 1980.

How old is the whisky?

There is no age statement on the bottle, but the contents typically sit between eight and ten years. Without an age statement the blender can freely compose the batch by taste rather than by a fixed year.

Should I add water at 60%?

Yes, give it a try. Taste it neat first to feel the full intensity, then add water in small measures. The whisky opens up markedly and reveals orange peel, vanilla and a lightly smoky undertone that is not obvious without.

Is it too powerful for a beginner?

Probably. 60% is a lot, and although the whisky is warming rather than sharp, it takes getting used to. If you want to try the Glenfarclas style first, the 10 year old is a softer place to start. See the other Scottish styles in our Scotch Whisky selection.

Is there smoke in it?

A light undertone that emerges more clearly with water. It comes from the direct firing under the stills and not from peated malt — Glenfarclas uses unpeated barley.

Why is the 105 so well known among enthusiasts?

Because it was first. When it appeared in 1968, cask strength was not a category you could buy, and the 105 became the reference for what undiluted single malt could be. It has been in the range ever since.

How is it best enjoyed?

Neat first, then with water to taste, in a tulip-shaped glass. Avoid ice — the cold shuts down the heavy sherry notes, and the whisky loses precisely the warmth that is its signature.