1960 Glenfarclas The Family Casks Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Look at the amazing colour of this beauty. A single bottle has come our way, considered to be one of the all-time greats from the early days of the Family Collection series. Distilled in 1960, drawn from cask #1767 and bottled in February 2007, 228 bottles were released at a natural strength of 52.4%. Expect an extraordinary Speyside experience. Comes with the highest recommendation from certified Malt Maniac, Serge Valentin of www.whiskyfun.com. Review below.

Other reviews... This one was within the first batch of the acclaimed Family Casks, and I thought it was so good that… I never published any tasting notes. Now’s the time. It’s ex-sherry hogshead. Colour: dark amber. Nose: sometimes sherry casks start all on coffee and chocolate, sometimes all on prunes and fruitcake, sometimes straight on winey notes and sometimes more on tobacco, mushrooms or leather. This one does all that. Then it develops on many tinier, more complex notes such as balsamic vinegar, cherry liqueur, bacon, mint, lovage, peonies, iris, cured ham (Iberico), raspberry jam… It’s truly endless but the general feeling remains very coherent, almost compact. No ‘aromatic holes’ in there! With water (just one or two drops): oh my god, it’s a ballet. Mouth (neat): wham! It’s very big, very rich and extremely concentrated but, quite curiously, not lumpish or aggressive. Big liquorice, hints of cola, dark chocolate, blackcurrants, then more resinous notes from the wood, pine sap, mint… I cannot not think of a very old Armagnac. With water: please call the anti-maltoporn brigade! Only the faintest drying notes (grape pips) will prevent this baby from achieving total perfection. Finish: very long, dry, mostly on herbs, leather, mint and touches of cinnamon. Comments: swims like… wait, I think we already quoted Mark Spitz, so why not Shirley Babashoff? A wonder that’s very different from the legendary first 1965, even the opposite in style, but of the very same high quality in my opinion.
95 points - Serge Valentin, www.whiskyfun.com