Insider knowledge: Glenfarclas 1953 Family Cask whisky is named whisky by virtue of the fact it's from Scotland. If distilled in America the spelling would be Glenfarclas 1953 Family Cask whiskey, as opposed to whisky.
Nose: Rich, honey, sherry. Peels, beeswax. Kirsch, winter berry compote.
Palate: Full, cereals. Barley and toffee. Something slightly herbal. The oak develops.
Finish: Long, ripe citrus, hints of the botrytis - Tokaji?
The nose is as one expected. A big, nutty, coffee laced, mature sherry monster with a slight leafiness. Quite linear, but for a sherry cask this old it has a lovely freshness and an earthy complexity of toffee, walnuts and associated wood notes. The palate is dry, woody and so tannic it’s unbelievable. The tannins are a bit on the green side and it feels like one has been licking the inside of the cask. Funnily enough there’s not much distillery character or even spirit character present. With water it becomes slightly sugary, but that’s about it. Impressive if you like this sort of whisky and at around £750-£800, you’ve really got to like woody old sherried malts!