Let’s try another member of the Glenfarclas Family Casks. While the Family Cask 1990 was obviously an excellent first fill sherry cask, this 1977 vintage (cask #61) was a refill butt – hence the lighter colour. It was bottled in November 2006.

Glenfarclas 1977 Family Cask
(59%, OB 2006, cask #61, 582 btl.)

Nose: the other side of Glenfarclas, more “naked” and true to the original spirit. Grains with a dash of honey. Heather and fresh herbs (marjoram?). Spicy as well, with some mint and soft pepper. After a while subtle fruits come out, like apricots and yellow raisins, but not enough to make this a balanced nose. Mouth: much sweeter and fruitier, but still rather grainy. Plenty of spices again (mainly pepper and cloves). Slightly waxy. Faint sherry influence with cocoa notes in the aftertaste. Finish: remarkably short, but warm and enjoyable. Hints of vanilla.

I’m not sure of this one. The heavy spices and strong malty notes are not entirely my style. A bigger fruitiness would have been welcome. Around € 260.

Score: 82/100