J. & G. Grant are delighted to announce the arrival of the Glenfarclas 1986 Refill Sherry Butts V, which takes its place as the fifth limited edition bottling from the Family Collector Series. This expression represents the 5th generation of the Grant family and current chairman of the distillery, John L. S Grant.

Previous Family Collector editions have spanned the generations and included vintage stocks from Fino Sherry Casks, first fill Oloroso Sherry Casks and Port Casks. The fifth addition now includes a vatting of specially selected refill Sherry Butts, adding a lighter sherry influence to this unique family collection. A small batch production of 1,094 bottles at 53.8% are to be rolled out to international markets next month.

 Both John L. S Grant and his father, George S. Grant, would have watched over the filling of these casks in the 1980s. This was a significant time period in the history of the Scotch whisky industry, and also for Glenfarclas. Due to a steady over-production of whisky and falling demand many distilleries were closed, moth-balled or cut back production.

Despite these tough circumstances, in 1984, the Grant’s decided to do the exact opposite and increase production. Their decision was straightforward – “where was all the mature stock going to come from in a few years’ time?” A combination of risk taking and visionary genius, today the Grant family proudly introduce this 1986 vintage, released 30 years after its creation as a treasured collector’s edition.

J. & G. Grant are proud to release the Glenfarclas 1981 Port Cask IV, the fourth limited edition bottling from the Family Collector Series. Full maturation in a Port Cask, as opposed to the more typically used Oloroso Sherry Casks, promises an excitingly different Glenfarclas single malt. With only 521 bottles available worldwide, this rarity is set to stir intrigue among Glenfarclas enthusiasts.

The last distillery bottling matured in Port Casks dates back to 2012, which at the time was a limited edition 31 Years Old, making the current 1981 Port Cask IV the oldest Port Cask matured whisky to be released by J. & G. Grant. At 35 years old and bottled at cask strength (47.9%), this single cask whisky reveals a distinctive character accentuated by a sweet port influence.

The packaging ties in with the previous Family Collector Series designs; a black leather box featuring a silver emblem of the Grant family’s 4th generation, George S. Grant. This was the current Director of Sales, George Grant’s grandfather, who was custodian of Glenfarclas for 52 years. Future generations can now appreciate this unique whisky, laid down in the family warehouses during George S. Grant’s tenure.

George Grant, 6th generation, comments: “We wanted to make an innovative Family Collector Series, which incorporates bottlings from Fino Sherry, Oloroso Sherry, and now, Port Cask matured whisky. I believe this truly showcases the variety and skill that Glenfarclas has to offer to our valued customers around the world.”

Glenfarclas will be present at the following whisky fairs in 2016:

Edinburgh Whisky Fringe

12th – 13th August

Whisky Live Paris

24th – 25th September

Potstill Whisky Festival, Holland

30th September – 2nd October

Whisky Exchange Show London

1st – 2nd October

Whisky Live Warsaw, Poland

14th – 15th October

Oslo Whisky Fair, Norway

4th – 5th November

Spirits in the Sky, Belgium

5th – 6th November

Milano Whisky Festival, Italy

5th – 6th November

Whisky Fair Budapest, Hungary

7th November

International Whisky Fest, Den Haag, Holland

11th – 13th November

Whisky Ship Zurich, Switzerland

1st – 4th December

GLENFARCLAS NAMED “BEST DISTILLERS’ SINGLE MALT”

AT SAN FRANCISCO WORLD SPIRITS COMPETITION

Glenfarclas whiskies win six top medals, including two Double Gold

Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky was distinguished as “Best Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch – No Age Statement” at the 16th annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition where a record-breaking 1,899 entries were submitted for a blind tasting.         

Thirty-nine of the industry’s finest spirits experts reviewed each entry before ultimately awarding Glenfarclas whiskies a total of six top medals, including two Double Gold Medals and the designation of “Best Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch Whisky.”

Medal winners:

Double Gold

    Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
    Glenfarclas Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 21 Years

Gold

    Glenfarclas Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 12 Years
    Glenfarclas Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 17 Years

Silver

    Glenfarclas Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 10 Years
    Glenfarclas Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 25 Years

Director of Sales, George Grant said ““It is a great honor to be recognized among the best of this competition and we feel very proud and could not be any more pleased with these results.”

Complete results for the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition can be found at http://sfspiritscomp.com/results/browse.

J. & G. Grant proudly announce the release of the Glenfarclas 50 Years Old, which now joins the special Collector Series as the third edition of this limited family range. This expression represents the third generation of the Grants of Glenfarclas, George Grant (1874-1949), who inherited the distillery alongside his brother John, leading to the formation of their private family company J. & G. Grant at the turn of the nineteenth century.

The Glenfarclas 50 Years Old has been matured in the typical Glenfarclas style in ex Oloroso Sherry Casks, producing 937 bottles to be sold worldwide. A non-chill filtered bottling at 41.1%, on the nose it reveals wonderful fresh sweet sherry with an unexpected youthful aroma from such a whisky of its age. With time in the glass, hints of crème caramel and butterscotch develop. Its flavour reveals an assertive spiciness but never overpowering followed by treacle toffee, chocolate ice-cream and sherry soaked raisins. On the finish, a wonderful balance of sherry, spiced fruits and cinnamon and an everlasting sweetness which you would expect from 50 years in our finest sherry casks.

The bottle is presented in a black leather box with a silver emblem of George Grant, third generation of the family and features III in Roman numerals etched underneath. As a matter of holding true to traditions, the Grants have created yet another vintage whisky from treasured casks dating back to the 1960s. Bottled in late 2015, this expression is set to create much curiosity and intrigue for collectors around the globe.

George Grant, Glenfarclas Sales Director, comments “we’re very excited to have reached the half way mark in our Family Collector Series. Thanks to my family’s foresight in laying down stock for the future, today we’re able to enjoy impressive age statements which is certainly a luxury worth sharing!”

Last month Donald McNab, founder of Friends of Scottish Rugby, was presented with a specially labelled 3L bottle of Glenfarclas Single Malt Whisky by HRH Princess Royal. As Honorary Life President of Friends of Scottish Rugby, and a Glenfarclas enthusiast, Mr McNab has often arranged for the Princess Royal to present Glenfarclas whisky to notable people in recognition of their support of Scottish Rugby. On this occasion however, the presentation was in honour of Mr McNab himself and his fundamental role at FSR.

On the 22nd February 2016, the FSR McNab Tribute Dinner was held at the Caledonian Club on Halkin Street in London. HRH Princess Royal is a long-standing and committed supporter of Scottish Rugby, and gladly accepted the invitation to present Mr McNab with such a grand token of appreciation. Chairman of Glenfarclas, John L. S. Grant, who is a member of the Caledonian Club and Friends of Scottish Rugby since its inception, was pleased to donate this special bottle in honour of Donald McNab’s achievements.

All those in attendance were gifted with a specially labelled miniature bottle of Glenfarclas. The unique label depicts a photo dedication with text reading ‘Presented to Donald McNab by HRH Princess Royal in recognition of his longstanding stewardship of Friends of Scottish Rugby on 22nd February 2016’.