Glenfarclas marks 185 years with new whisky

The new Glenfarclas whisky was released this month to mark 185 years since the producer began legally distilling in May 1836.

Glenfarclas, which means ‘valley of the green grassland’, uses spring water that emerges from granite under the slopes of the Speyside mountain, Ben Rinnes.

The water is combined with malted barley and double distilled in copper pot stills, before two thirds is filled in Spanish Sherry oak casks. The remaining liquid is poured into normal oak casks. The casks used to make the whisky span six decades.

George Grant, sixth-generation family member and current sales director, said: “Due to my grandfather’s foresight, here at Glenfarclas we are very fortunate to have casks in our dunnage warehouses from seven different decades, from the 1950s to the 2020s.

“Some of our warehouses even predate the 185th anniversary we are celebrating, as ‘uisge beatha’ was being made at Glenfarclas a good few years before a licence was held.

“To mark 185 legal years we have selected some of our finest casks from across the decades and put together a whisky with old, rich, Sherried flavours that remain fresh and vibrant in your glass.”

Limited to 6,000 bottles in the UK, the Glenfarclas 185th Anniversary Edition is priced at RRP £120 (US$170). It is bottled at 46% ABV.

In November last year, Glenfarclas released a limited edition 60-year-old Scotch whisky in the UK.