Glenfarclas Distillery...

The story of Glenfarclas is as rich and colourful as the whisky that bears its name. It is a story of one Scottish family, the Grants, who since 1865 have been united in creating the Spirit of Independence which represents Glenfarclas’ freedom to be uncompromising in commitment to the founding principle of producing superior quality Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky.

The Glenfarclas Distillery is situated on the Recherlich Farm at Ballindalloch and in the heart of Speyside. In 1836, the distillery was granted a Government licence to produce whisky. At this time, the licence was held by Robert Hay, who was the tenant farmer. However, after his death the farm and the distillery were left vacant and this attracted the attention of John Grant. The Grant family were prominent local cattle breeders, who were looking for an ideal halfway staging post between their farm in Glenlivet, and the market in nearby Elgin.

A tenancy agreement was successfully negotiated for Recherlich and Derrylane Farm in 1865. However, as part of the agreement, the distillery was purchased for £511.19sd. Since farming was the priority, the distillery was let out for five years to John Smith, who later went on to establish Cragganmore Distillery. However, during this time, the cattle drovers and workmen certainly enjoyed the sustenance of a dram of Glenfarclas!

In 1889, John Grant died, leaving his son George to run both the farm and the distillery. Sadly, George passed away not long afterwards. Subsequently, the licence for the distillery, was passed on to George’s widow Barbara. She then appointed her two eldest children, John and George, to take care of the business.

In the 1890s, they formed the Glenfarclas-Glenlivet distillery company, with Pattisons of Leith. They held a 50% interest, but it was to prove to be a troublesome partnership, one which eventually dissolved. This left John and George in a predicament, but they were not disheartened and formed their own company, J.& G. Grant.

After many years of hard work and shrewd accounting, the future of Glenfarclas had been secured, and the Family’s reputation firmly established. A rival distiller, wrote to the Grant family in May, 1912: “Of all the whiskies, malt is king, of all the kings, Glenfarclas reigns supreme”, a sentiment the family still hold close to their hearts. The 1920s saw the retirement of John Grant, and George continued to run the distillery.

So on to 1948, which is remembered as the ‘year of the party'. It was a social milestone for the Grant family that celebrated several anniversaries, even though the date did not coincide with any of them! At this time it was mistakenly believed that the distillery was first established in 1845, and once the war was over, George saw fit to hold a centenary celebration. Both his sons, John and George, had missed their 21st birthday celebrations, due to their wartime service, and George himself, had not been able to celebrate his own silver wedding anniversary. To mark this historic event, a photograph signed by all those who attended, still hangs in the Glenfarclas board room.

Unfortunately, George Grant passed away a few months later, leaving his widow and his two sons to carry on the name of Glenfarclas. William Strathdee, the distillery manager, was appointed a director, and under the guidance of John and George, the distillery continued to thrive.

15 Year Old Glenfarclas Single Malt
Bottled by	Douglas Laing	ABV	46%
Size	70cl	Price	£35.95
Region	Speyside	Bin No	POL/106
Nose: such is the intensity of the red fruit and sugar-rich barley, there is an element of medium ester Jamaican pot still rum to this, a feeling intensified by an orangey-oak influence that seems greater than 15 years. The top-shelf sherry, though, is of a classical type rarely found these days, though common 30 years ago. Taste: succulent and stupendous. Barley sugar shows first then a sherry input that borders on intense but dissipates as the spicy oak digs in. Finish: long, chewy, a tad oily and fades with a wonderful coffee-vanilla combination and a late surge of something bourbony. Balance: Eureka!!! The 15 year old back to how I can remember it in the past. Some of you may have been scared away by some less than impressive recent bottlings. It's safe to come back because now it has been returned to its position as one of Scotland's most sublime malts. The quality of the sherry is astonishing; its interaction with barley is a wondrous joy. 95 Points: Jim Murray's Whisky Bible