1972 Glenfarclas The Family Casks Single Cask Vintage Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Speyside, Scotland

Glenfarclas Single Malt Scotch Whisky is made from freshly harvested barley, which is malted and mashed with water sourced from the heather-clad slopes of the Ben Rinnes Mountain. The crystal-clear spring water, which cascades down the 3,000-foot mountain through peat and granite, is the lifeblood of the Glenfarclas Distillery. After the barley has been malted and mashed, it is fermented using a proprietary yeast culture. The wash — the liquid that remains after fermentation — is then distilled twice through Glenfarclas' copper-pot stills. While most distilleries use modern, steam-powered stills that lengthen the lifespan of the still, Glenfarclas Distillery continues to use traditional direct-heated stills in order to preserve the classic flavors of the Scotch whisky. After distillation, the heads and tails of the distillate are discarded and only about 15% of the distillate — the heart of hearts — is preserved for maturation. Under the stewardship of George Grant, the Glenfarclas Distillery launched its Family Cask Collection — a unique offering of its best single casks of whisky — in 2007. The collection initially comprised 43 single cask bottlings, with one cask from every year between 1952 and 1994. While the collection sold out almost immediately, we were able to secure a few remaining bottles of Glenfarclas 1972 Family Cask No. 3551. Glenfarclas 1972 Family Cask No. 3551 was distilled in 1972 and bottled on May 30, 2011. The whisky has a dark amber color, along with an aroma of spiced honey, pecan pie crust and figs. The notes of dried peaches, apricots, plums and fruit are complemented by soft touches of leather, toffee and warm biscuits, and lead to an everlasting, smooth finish. "This is what you want from a fully mature Glenfarclas at its peak,"writes Dave Broom, about the whisky in Whisky Advocate. Only 565 bottles of this incredible, rare whisky were ever produced. Pick one up today!