The Glenfarclas whisky distillery draws its water from pure springs on the rugged Ben Rinnes mountain range, which looms omnipresent in the distant reaches. The distillery sits in the moors of Banffshire, just a mile from the River Spey. Glenfarclas has always been, and it seems will remain to be, one of Scotland's only family run distilleries. Accordingly, there is a strong degree of independence. Prized by connoisseurs, the single malt whiskies of Glenfarclas are matured almost solely in sherry butts and are aged in the substantial onsite warehousing facilities; the 28 warehouses hold 52,000 casks.
One of the few Scotch makers never to use exotic woods for maturation, Glenfarclas retains its integrity. The distillery was first founded in 1836 by Robert Hay. However, there is some evidence that there was a distillery on the site over a century prior. Following Robert's death in 1865, John and George Grant acquired the distillery for '511 pounds and 19 shillings'. They leased it to the Glenlivet's John Smith. John Smith chose to pursue his newly founded Cragganmore distillery instead and in 1870 Messrs Grant ran Glenfarclas once more.
After the Second World War, and the resultant abolition of rationing, the distillery's fortunes were good and in 1960 Glenfarclas doubled its stills to four. In 1972, the surge in demand left the onsite floor maltings less than ample to cope, accordingly malted barley was bought in. The whisky distillery has an extensive range of single malt whiskies, particularly so after the 2007 release of the Family Casks range with a bottling from every vintage between 1952 and 1994. The distillery also operates a visitor centre, lavishly decorated with items from the ocean liner 'Empress of Australia', the centre features a room named accordingly: 'The Ship's Room'.
Glenfarclas finally got round to releasing a 40 Year Old official bottling in 2010, while in January 2011 Glenfarclas released a limited edition bottling to mark the distillery's 175th anniversary.
As the years went on, Glenfarclas bottlings just get older! In 2012, after finding a few more elderly casks in the warehouse, Glenfarclas released two more bottlings, a 43 year old and a 58 year old. 2014 comes, and with it an even older official bottling, the Glenfarclas 60 year old.
In June 2015, Glenfarclas released another limited edition bottling called the £511.19S.0D Family Reserve. This was launched to mark 150 years of the Grant Family owning the distillery, with the rather cryptic name referencing the price John Grant paid for the distillery in 1865. The bottle comes with a copy of the original bill of sale for the distillery.
In 2017, a Glenfarclas 30 year old was released to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the 'Final Fantasy' game which was first launched in 1987, the same year the whisky was distilled.
Glenfarclas 15 Year Old
A wonderfully sherried 15 year old dram from Glenfarclas, boasting oodles of dried fruit notes. It's bottled at 46% ABV simply because this was the strength that George Grant's grandfather preferred… More info
Glenfarclas 105 is a superb cask strength whisky, with a history that can be traced to 1968. When the original incarnation was released that year, Glenfarclas became the first distillery to release a… More info
Glenfarclas 10 Year Old (Master of Malt Exclusive)
Glorious Glenfarclas single malt, and it's got our name on it! This is a bespoke bottling from the legendary Speyside-based distillery, released exclusively for Master of Malt. Matured for ten years… More info
Glenfarclas 15 Year Old Gift Set
The Glenfarclas Distillery in Speyside has put together a cracking gift set right here! It contains a 70cl bottle of a brilliant Glenfarclas 15 Year Old, alongside a 50ml miniature of the Glenfarclas… More info
A much adored expression here - 40 year old single malt Scotch whisky from the legendary Glenfarclas, offering up generous helpings of Sherried notes that the distillery are famous for. Bottled at… More info
Here we have an absolute classic Speysider from a long-time family-owned distillery. This 25 year old single malt from Glenfarclas spent its days in 100% Oloroso sherry casks. It's complex and… More info
Lots of sherry and fruit in this, Glenfarclas 12 was originally bottled for export and travel retail markets. In 2006, it was named the "Best Sherried Whisky" in the Single Malt World Cup, and in… More info
From the renowned Glenfarclas Distillery, this delicate whisky is a wonderful expression of the Speyside style. Matured in 100% Oloroso sherry casks, it offers far more complexity than you'd expect… More info
Superb single malt from the Glenfarclas distillery, aged for 30 years. Three decades of maturation have resulted in a fantastically full-bodied, satisfyingly Sherried and all-around awesome flavour… More info
Glenfarclas 29 Year Old 1991 (cask 10225) - Family Cask - Master of Malt Exclusive
Spectacular single malt Scotch whisky from the legendary Glenfarclas Distillery up in Speyside, matured for 29 years in a single refill Oloroso sherry hogshead from December 1991 to September 2021.… More info
Glenfarclas 8 Year Old
8 year old single malt Scotch whisky from the legendary Glenfarclas distillery, known around the world of their splendidly Sherried expressions. The Glenfarclas 8 Year Old leans more in the… More info
Glenfarclas 42 Year Old 1977 (cask 7027)
A tremendous offering from Glenfarclas, distilled in 1977, two years after the installation of a pair of new stills, bringing the distillery's total up to six. Matured for a whopping 42 years in a… More info
Glenfarclas 14 Year Old 2008 Sherry Cask (Cadenhead's)
A lesser-spotted independent bottling of Glenfarclas single malt! This Speysider was distilled in 2008 and matured in an ex-fino sherry cask for 14 years, before it was bottled by W.M. Cadenhead in a… More info
Glenfarclas 1983 (cask 28) Family Cask Winter 2018 Release
It's the 2018 release of the Glenfarclas Family Cask expression! This Highlander was distilled all the way back in 1983, and left to slumber in a refill hogshead. When December 2018 came around, it… More info
Glenfarclas 1997 (cask 5964) Family Cask Summer 2021 Release
A single cask bottling of Glenfarclas single malt Scotch whisky, bottled up for the Family Cask series! This one was distilled back in 1997 and filled into a single fourth-fill butt cask, then given… More info
Glenfarclas 40 Year Old (46%)
Glenfarclas' stunning 40 year old whisky launched during the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2010. It offers all of the sherried Glenfarclas character and exceptional maturity too. This bottle… More info
Blimey, would you just look at the delightfully dark hue on this Glenfarclas Family Cask release! This is a 1961 vintage, matured in a single Sherry hogshead until March 2014, when it was bottled for… More info
Glenfarclas 1982 (cask 4565) Family Cask Winter 2017 Release
From the Glenfarclas Family Cask Winter 2017 Release comes a 1982 vintage single malt, matured in a single refill hogshead. Just 225 bottles were produced, bottled at cask strength. More info
Glenfarclas 30 Year Old - 1990s
Grand old and aged Glenfarclas, this vintage bottle of the Highland single malt Scotch whisky from the 1990s spent a whopping 30 years maturing, and will make a great addition to a… More info
Glenfarclas Family Cask Trunk
1000cl, 50.6%
The Glenfarclas Family Cask Trunk is a spectacular addition to the Glenfarclas' Family Cask collection, believed to be the most expansive single collection ever released by one distillery. Hardly… More info
Glenfarclas 40 Year Old Decanter
A very handsome bottling of 40 year old single malt Scotch whisky from the ever-excellent Glenfarclas Distillery. This one is presented in a bottle that shows of the whisky's rich hue, and it comes… More info
The Glenfarclas Family Cask range is packed to the rafters with excellent single cask Speyside whiskies, and they've only gone and released yet another one! This particular bottling is a 1968… More info
Glenfarclas 1962 (cask 3246) Family Cask Spring 2015 Release
A single cask bottling of very well-matured single malt from Glenfarclas' Family Cask range! This one was matured in a single Sherry hogshead from 1962 to November 2014, when it was bottled for the… More info
Glenfarclas 1973 (cask R1) Family Cask Autumn 2014 Release
Single cask Glenfarclas single malt, released for the Autumn 2014 bundle of Family Cask bottlings. This one was distilled all the way back in 1973 and matured in a plain butt until July 2014, when it… More info
Distilled in 1955 and bottled in late November 2014, this Glenfarclas single malt is around 60 years old! Phenomenally aged in a single Sherry butt, the outturn of which was 544 bottles. "I will… More info
About Glenfarclas
3,000,000 litres
Marypark, Ballindalloch, Banffshire
J. & G. Grant
www.glenfarclas.co.uk
Historical Facts
Robert Hay founds the distillery on the original site since 1797.
Robert Hay passes away and John Grant and his son George buy the distillery for £511.19s on 8th June. They lease it to John Smith at The Glenlivet Distillery.
John Smith resigns in order to start Cragganmore and J. & G. Grant Ltd takes over.
John Grant dies and George Grant takes over.
George Grant dies and his widow Barbara takes over the license while sons John and George control operations.
John and George Grant take over and form The Glenfarclas-Glenlivet Distillery Co. Ltd with the infamous Pattison, Elder & Co.
Pattison becomes bankrupt. Glenfarclas encounters financial problems after a major overhaul of the distillery but survives by mortgaging and selling stored whisky to R. I. Cameron, a whisky broker from Elgin.
John Grant leaves due to ill health and George continues alone.
The Grant family celebrates the distillery's 100th anniversary, a century of active licensing. It is 9 years late, as the actual anniversary coincided with WW2.
George Grant senior dies and sons George Scott and John Peter inherit the distillery.
Stills are increased from two to four.
Glenfarclas is first to launch a cask-strength single malt. It is later named Glenfarclas 105.
Floor maltings is abandoned and malt is purchased centrally.
A visitor centre is opened.
Enlargement from four stills to six.
Glenfarclas launches its first Flower of Scotland gift tin which becomes a great success and increases sales by 30%.
George S Grant dies and is succeeded as company chairman by his son John L S Grant
Two new gift tins are released (10 years old and 105 cask strength).
A 50 year old is released to commemorate the bi-centenary of John Grant´s birth.
Ten new vintages are released.
Family Casks, a series of single cask bottlings from 43 consecutive years, is released.
New releases in the Family Cask range. Glenfarclas 105 40 years old is released.
Reproduced from the Malt Whisky Yearbook 2009 with the kind permission of Mr Ingvar Ronde.