Glenfarclas is considered by many to be one of the finest distilleries in Speyside. Its direct-fired stills produce a heavy single malt that is almost exclusively matured in Jerez sherry casks. The distillery focuses on single malt over blends, and a cool microclimate around the distillery that means that their casks are particularly stingy to the "angels," resulting in an incredible depth of stock. Glenfarclas also feel they share some credit for the modern day love of cask strength whisky, introducing their acclaimed 105 proof expressions back in 1968.

The impressive cask stock in the Glenfarclas warehouses means there has been a great output of vintage distillery bottlings in addition to their core range age statements. In 2006, the distillery had an unbroken string of vintages dating back to 1952, and launched the Family Casks range that year, an annual release which showcases the very best of these.

This whisky was distilled in 1968 and bottled from a Manzanilla sherry cask #697 in May 2011.

One of 133 bottles exclusively selected by Luc Timmermans.

Another impressively complex Glenfarclas from 1968. It’s a little more 'intellectual' than the previous two, but it's also more unique due to the Manzanilla cask (certainly not the first bottling of this type by Glenfarclas, but still pretty rare). Unfortunately, the price is also higher than before, perhaps because of the official label and the cardboard box. Nose Great nose, on aromatic fruits (kumquats, Seville oranges, peach pits, guava, yellow plums, grapes - not the usual oloroso sherry fruits) and beautiful waxy / mineral notes (paraffin, scented balm). Buttercups. Quite some spices (nutmeg, mint) as well as nicely integrated, polished oak. Light tobacco. Taste Half sweet, half spicy. The fruits are more pronounced now, more jammy with slightly more tropical hints. Soft pepper and ginger, hints of eucalyptus. Distant traces of nuts. Growing savoury, more oaky and slightly bitter towards the end. Finish Long, with lingering fruit, chamomile tea (or is that the power of suggestion?) and drying spices. Indeed, there's also a faint salty edge.

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