English
Dansk
Svenska
Deutsch
Glenfarclas Distillery
Glenfarclas is without doubt an icon of Speyside. One of the few remaining family-owned distilleries in Scotland, Glenfarclas was licensed in 1836 by Robert Hay, a tenant of Rechlerich Farm near Ballindalloch, until 1865, when John Grant bought Glenfarclas from Hay's executors. It was run by J. & G. Grant until 1895, when the family went into partnership with Pattison, Elder & Co, founded by the whisky pioneers Robert and Walter Pattison. After a complete rebuild of the distillery in 1896, Pattison, Elder & Co went bankrupt, sending shockwaves through the industry. Fortunately, the Grant family managed to keep Glenfarclas afloat and regained full ownership in 1900. Since 1865, generation after generation of the Grant family has developed Glenfarclas into a single malt known around the world.
Set in the shadow of Ben Rinnes itself, from which the distillery draws its water, Glenfarclas is a relatively large operation that follows well-established traditions that most other distilleries have abandoned over time.
Glenfarclas is one of very few distilleries that heat their stills directly, while others prefer indirect heating (via something resembling a water bath). The distillery has 12 stainless steel washbacks, six stills and more than 30 warehouses on the Glenfarclas site, all of the dunnage type.
Glenfarclas is known for its use of ex-sherry casks, which add flavours of raisins, cloves, nutmeg and Christmas cake, a much-loved trait of all its malts. The range can be divided in two: the core age-statement releases together with the cask-strength “105”, and the Family Cask series, an impressive portfolio of vintage whiskies matured in a variety of casks and released sporadically. While the 10-year-old is the entry point to Glenfarclas with its bright, fruity character, the 15, 21 and 25-year-olds give a true picture of why these intensely sherry-matured whiskies are loved around the world, while showing how wonderfully these brilliant spirits age. Glenfarclas is a true whisky icon.
See our range from Glenfarclas
