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16/07/2020

Glenfarclas Spirit of Speyside Bottling - Exclusively at BI

by BI Team
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The Grant family are intrinsically linked with Speyside. Six generations ago, John Grant purchased a plot of beautiful land in Ballindalloch that happened to have a distillery on the land for the total price of £511.19s.0d. Almost 200 years later and the Grant family is producing some of the finest sherry cask influenced whiskies around. It is this family tradition that makes Glenfarclas one of our top whisky picks in the world. Year after year they produce an exceptional spirit that excites and intrigues. 

 

 

 

As Glenfarclas geared up for this year’s Spirit Of Speyside festival, a special whisky was produced as a distillery exclusive. With the festival’s cancellation this year, Glenfarclas has decided to do something a little different. To help the people of Speyside and give back to the community, Glenfarclas will be releasing this limited single cask bottling exclusively to BI Wine & Spirits who will be donating 10% of all proceeds to Moray Food Plus. George Grant explains “The impact of the pandemic has been widespread and has affected all in some form or another, so teaming up with BI to ensure the 2020 release was made available to those unable to make it up to the distillery in late April was an easy decision to make. The Moray Food Plus was an obvious charity to pick as the work that they do across the Speyside community is nothing short of outstanding.”

 

 

Each year, different members from the Glenfarclas distillery team choose a whisky to be sold as the limited release at the festival. The honour of choosing the 2020 exclusive went to the team at the very heart of the whisky-making process – the still men. John, Jimmy and Graham enjoyed a break from their day job and were delighted by the opportunity to sample some of the great casks resting at the distillery. Rumour has it, the chosen cask was the first that they sampled – but ever the professionals they are, they tried many more, just to be sure.

 

 

When we tasted the dram, we were pleased to see some of Glenfarclas signature style. The nose compliments the effortless harmony between the Glenfarclas spirit and their mastery of the sherry cask.  Notes of a baked apple and candied fruit bounce out of the glass and are complement by notes toffee oak spice. But there was no ordinary dram, given a few moment in glass, the nose develops and offers more of the sherry character we know and love with cinnamon spice and heather honey. The palate is just as complex as the nose and pits that rich sweet fruit against the sherried oak spice. Both dance on the palate and are joined by that inherent power we expect from 2000s Glenfarclas. Altogether one does not overpower the other though and we are left with a long harmonious finish full of sherry goodness. Top marks!

 

Gary Boom, founder of BI, said:

 

'BI has always been proud to work with the Glenfarclas distillery. It is a rare family owned business that has retained its integrity throughout the years. That integrity shines through with this bottling and the decision to donate 10% of profits to the Moray Food Hub+ was an easy decision to make. I am delighted that BI is able to team up with Glenfarclas to bring the release to collectors and drinkers who were perhaps unable to make it up to the distillery due to the global pandemic. I am thrilled the Spirit of Speyside lives on.’

 

We are proud to offer this exclusively at BI. 

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