Following its Distiller of the Year win at the 2023 Icons of Whisky Awards, Glenfarclas has today announced the release of a 50-year-old limited edition single malt. The release is to commemorate the 50th anniversary of chairman John Grant first venturing into the whisky industry.

Bottled at 50% ABV, the copper-coloured spirit was selected for bottling by distillery manager Callum Fraser and managing director Douglas Belford. It was laid down by Grant’s father, George Grant.

The producer has described the spirit as having notes of marzipan, almond and cedar wood on the nose, followed by notes of treacle toffee, rich velvet dark chocolate and mixed peel on the palate.

Speaking on the new release, distillery manager Fraser commented: “Creating products like Glenfarclas 50-Year-Old is the reason I come to work. Producing something so special, which has such an incredible story behind it, is tribute to the passion that runs through everything we do at Glenfarclas.

“This new whisky is testament to the craftsmen who made the spirit and laid it down in the late 1960s and the foresight of the Grant family so many years ago. It showcases their skill and dedication to producing the highest quality Highland single malt, including the care and experience that goes into the time-honoured handcrafted tradition of whisky making, which is so important to us at Glenfarclas.”

Only 836 bottles of the expression are to be made available, encased in an engraved bottle and presentation box.

Chairman Grant added: “At Glenfarclas, we’re proud to be able to bottle rare, limited-edition, single malt whiskies to complement our exquisite range of spirits which are fundamental to our brand and story. This release is particularly special as it commemorates the 50 years I have worked in the industry, with the liquid in the cask evolving along with the industry during that time. I’m proud of everything we’ve achieved together as a distillery team over the last 50 years and look forward to releasing even more exquisite drams together in the future as Glenfarclas continues to evolve.”