Glenfarclas 8 year Single Highland Malt Whisky 40%

Eight years sits below the distillery own entry age. It is a whisky where the sherry casks have not yet taken over, and where the apple pie and the almonds lie closer to the surface than they do in the rest of the range.

The expert's description

Glenfarclas 8 Year Old is a Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in sherry casks and bottled at 40%.

The permanent range begins at ten years, so an eight year old is the youngest release the distillery sends out. The sherry is still there, but it is lighter and more fruit-driven, and at 40% the whisky is easy to approach without being thin. The apple and cinnamon come from the spirit rather than from the cask.

Glenfarclas came into the Grant family by chance. John Grant was a cattle breeder whose fields lay next to the distillery land, and when the neighbour wanted to sell in 1865 it was the natural move. The family has held it ever since.

Tasting notes

Nose

Apple pie, almonds and cinnamon, with hay, honey and raisins behind. Brighter and fresher than the rest of the range.

Palate

Nuts, butter and chocolate, with a hint of grass underneath. The sherry is present without dominating, and the 40% makes the whisky easy to drink over a longer stretch.

Finish

Vanilla fudge, apple and raisins. Medium and soft with no bitter edges.

Specifications

Name: Glenfarclas 8 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky 40%
Distillery: Glenfarclas
Region/Country: Speyside, Scotland
Type: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 8 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry casks
EAN no.: 5018066704089

Flavour profile

Fruity · Nutty · Malty · Soft · Light

Did you know?

John Grant was a cattle breeder, not a distiller, when he bought Glenfarclas in 1865. His fields lay right up against the distillery land, and when the neighbour wanted to sell and return to England, the deal was the easiest decision in the world.

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Frequently asked questions about Glenfarclas 8 Year Old

Why is it younger than the rest of the range?

Because the permanent Glenfarclas line begins at ten years. The eight year old is a release alongside it, where the fruitiness of the spirit gets more room because the sherry casks have not yet built the depth the older releases carry.

Does it taste very different from the 10 year old?

Lighter and fresher. The 10 has more sherry and more spice, while the eight sticks to apple, almond and a soft malt sweetness. The difference is greater than the two years suggest.

Is it a good place to start with Glenfarclas?

Yes, if you want to start light. The profile is soft with no sharp edges, and 40% makes it easy to drink. If you want to reach the sherry depth of the house style faster, the 12 year old is a better starting point. See the other Scottish styles in our Scotch Whisky selection.

Is there smoke in it?

A very light note from the direct firing under the stills. Glenfarclas uses unpeated barley, so there is no peat smoke, and at eight years the note is fainter than in the older releases.

How is it best enjoyed?

Neat, at room temperature. At 40% there is not much to give away, so water flattens it quickly. It does take an ice cube better than the stronger releases, if that is how you prefer whisky.

Does it pair with anything in particular?

Try it with apple cake or almond baking. The apple and almond notes in the whisky meet the dessert directly, and the modest strength means it does not drown the food.

How did Glenfarclas become family-owned?

John Grant, a cattle breeder with fields next to the distillery, bought it in 1865 when the then owner wanted to sell up and return to England. The family has run the place ever since.