Glenfarclas 2003 The Private Reserve Small Batch Single Speyside Malt Whisky 46%

Five casks, hand-picked by John L.S. Grant himself for a single importer in Paris. That is how a small batch comes about when the distillery knows the recipient and can afford to choose by taste rather than by volume.

Please note: The wooden case shows signs of wear, and there is a yellow band on the bottle.

The expert's description

Glenfarclas 2003 The Private Reserve Small Batch is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky from five sherry casks, bottled at 46%.

The whisky was distilled in 2003 and bottled in 2011 after eight years in sherry casks number 9, 10, 11, 1875 and 1876. Eight years is young for Glenfarclas, but the marriage of five casks gives enough breadth for the whisky to stand up, and the 46% keeps the texture oily.

The selection was made by John L.S. Grant for La Maison du Whisky in Paris. It is an approach close to the Family Casks idea — individual casks chosen by the family itself — but here gathered into a small batch rather than bottled separately.

Tasting notes

Nose

Ripe pears, quince and raisins, with light citrus and a discreet herbal freshness. The sherry casks contribute warm, sweet tones.

Palate

Rounded and full with a sweet, fruity core. Ripe pears and light citrus meet the soft sweetness of the malt, and a subtle spiced tone from the cask maturation gives depth. The mouthfeel is soft and oily.

Finish

Medium to long with lasting notes of fruit, malt and a lightly spiced undertone.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas 2003 The Private Reserve Small Batch Speyside Single Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks no. 9, 10, 11, 1875 and 1876
Distilled: 2003
Bottled: 2011
Edition: The Private Reserve Small Batch

Flavour profile

Fruity · Malty · Sherried · Soft · Spiced

Investment potential

Medium. A small batch from five named casks, selected for one importer and bottled in 2011, cannot be remade. Parcels of that kind are rarely seen outside the market they were made for, and the supply can only fall.

Did you know?

The selection for this small batch was made by John L.S. Grant for La Maison du Whisky in Paris. The French importer has taken its own selected parcels from Scottish distilleries for decades, and several of them have never travelled beyond the French market.

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Frequently asked questions about Glenfarclas 2003 The Private Reserve Small Batch

Is it worth the money?

The argument is the composition and the origin. Five named sherry casks, selected personally by John L.S. Grant for one importer, bottled in 2011 and never made again. It is a different kind of bottle from a standard release by the same distillery.

What is a small batch?

A bottling from a few named casks rather than from a single one or from a large parcel. Here there are five casks, and the cask numbers appear on the label. It gives more breadth than a single cask but far less smoothing than a standard release.

Is eight years young for Glenfarclas?

Yes, at the younger end. The distillery range begins at ten years, so eight is below the norm. In return the sherry casks here were selected for the purpose, and the 46% gives the whisky the weight the age would otherwise lack.

Who is John L.S. Grant?

He belongs to the family that has owned Glenfarclas since 1865 and has for many years handled the cask selection for the distillery special releases. It is his name behind this batch.

What is La Maison du Whisky?

A French whisky importer and retailer in Paris that has taken its own selected bottlings from Scottish distilleries for decades. Many of their parcels are small and are never sold outside France. See the other Scottish bottlings in our Scotch Whisky selection.

How is it best enjoyed?

Neat, at room temperature. At 46% the balance has been found, and the oily mouthfeel of the whisky is a large part of the point — water dilutes it quickly. Give it five to ten minutes in the glass.

What does the yellow band mean?

It is the paper band around the bottle neck. The colour varies from release to release, and for collectors the band is a quick way to tell one particular bottling from another.