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The Whisky Guy Podcast #9 – George Grant of Glenfarclas Part II

Welcome to Episode #9 of The Whisky Guy Podcast, featuring George Grant of the Glenfarclas Distillery!

The Whisky Guy Podcast Episode #9 featuring Glen Grant from the Glenfarclas Distillery - Part II

The Whisky Guy Podcast Episode #9 featuring Glen Grant from the Glenfarclas Distillery – Part II

It’s Whisky Wednesday – Time for a dram!

Published January 6, 2016

In this episode of The Whisky Guy Podcast:

Happy New Year!

Welcome to the first episode of The Whisky Guy Podcast of 2016!  Just as 2015 wrapped up we crossed a major landmark together – 10,000 downloads of The Whisky Guy podcast!  A huge Thank You to all of the guests for taking time out of their schedules to be on the show, and most of all to you – the listeners – for being part of this community.  To subscribe to The Whisky Guy podcast click here!

Thank You Listeners for helping me reach the 10,000 listener milestone!

Thank You Listeners for helping me reach the 10,000 listener milestone!

Thank You Patrons!

Each episode of The Whisky Guy podcast takes over 20 hours and costs over $1,000 to produce.  By becoming a Patron through Patreon, a crowd-funding platform for content makers like The Whisky Guy, you can help keep The Whisky Guy Podcast fee and ad-free, and feel good about supporting a small business.  Supporting The Whisky Guy can be for as little as $1/episode (about a cup of coffee a month) and Patrons also receive access to exclusive content, that I’ll mention again later.  To become a Patron of The Whisky Guy, click here!

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Part II of a tasting with George Grant from the Glenfarclas Distillery

If you haven’t listened to episode 7 of The Whisky Guy Podcast, that’s a great place to start before getting in to this episode.  It features a quick interview with George, and Part I of the tasting.  With both episodes, I’d recommend listening with headphones as some of the questions from the audience were a little quiet.  If you’re on Twitter, first follow @WhiskyGuy and @Glenfarclas, then do a search for #GlenfarclasWA – I live tweeted during the entire tasting and you can follow along.

The Whisky Guy Podcast Episode #9 featuring Glen Grant from the Glenfarclas Distillery - Part II

The Whisky Guy Podcast Episode #9 featuring Glen Grant from the Glenfarclas Distillery – Part II

On to the tasting!

  • Glenfarclas has been doing well, even through the financial crisis that started in 2008.
  • Tho the distillery was poised for their first layoffs in history, the opposite happened and the distillery saw their best year ever.
  • 2009 doubled 2008 sales.
  • By 2013, sales in just the first month were higher than the whole of 2009.
  • Growth is not sustainable, tho, for several reasons.
  • The whisky industry as a whole is running out of 3 resources that are essential to whisky-making:
    • Water
    • Wood (aka casks to mature the whisky)
    • Warehouse Space. Glenfarclas has increased capacity from 55,000-65,000 casks/year partly due to building 4 new warehouses, but that’s still not enough.
  • Glenfarclas uses exclusively Dunnage warehouses – an earthen-floor warehouse where casks are stored no more than 3 high.
  • These low warehouses makes sure all the whisky inside matures at the same rate, which helps with consistency.
  • Glenfarclas suffers from Angels Share just like other distilleries – evaporation of liquid from the casks.  While the code allows for up to 2% loss per year, because of the altitude and humidity around the distillery Glenfarclas only looses 0.3% annually.  Compared to maturation on Islay, where evaporation can be near 5% annually.
  • Question: How close is Glenfarclas to capacity?
    • Glenfarclas is at capacity for production now.  Last year, the distillery produced 3.42M liters of alcohol, of a 3.5M liter capacity.  This year because of slight modifications, capacity is 4M liters.  A single 750mL bottle of Glenfarclas 10 year in the US contains .3 liters of alcohol.
The Whisky Guy Podcast Episode #9 featuring Glen Grant from the Glenfarclas Distillery - Part II

The Whisky Guy Podcast Episode #9 featuring Glen Grant from the Glenfarclas Distillery – Part II

  • Glenfarclas sells whisky to other bottlers for blended whiskies.  In 2007-2008, Glenfarclas sold 95% of their volume to blenders.  Today that’s closer to 40% with goals of reducing further, but there’s value in selling to blenders as well.
  • Question: What blends are taking in Glenfarclas?
    • Distilleries rarely sell to other distilleries – they swap casks.
    • Some blends that contain Glenfarclas include Chivas, William Grant portfolio, Inver House, Whyte and Mackay and Beam Suntory.
  • Tasting Glenfarclas 21
    • George’s favorite until recently (replaced by 15)
    • Like a balloon – well rounded and balanced
    • Ian, distillery manager at Laphroaig, kept a bottle of Glenfarclas 21 to share with people that had never had whisky before so they weren’t too offended by Laphroaig and scared away from whisky.
    • Most expensive to produce
    • Flavors change as the liquid sits in the glass
    • Finish – Chocolate, caramel, vanilla
    • Question: Where does the chocolate come from?  From George, who thought it was the sherry casks, tasted a cognac cask exclusive matured whisky and found the same character and now attributes it to age.
    • Glenfarclas newmake is sweet and floral.
  • What’s the right way to drink whisky?  “So long as you’re paying for it, I don’t much care how you drink it.”
  • Experiment: Instead of adding water to whisky to dilute it, hold a sip in your mouth and add water directly, but be careful not to spray on those around you.
  • Question: What ABV does Glenfarclas come off the stills
    • New make runs off at a 68% ABV average, and is diluted to 63.5% to go into cask
  • Tasting Glenfarclas 25
    • Different in that it tastes ‘old’
    • Big wood/tannin flavors
    • Pairs well with chocolate dessert or a cigar
    • Glenfarclas 25 sells better in the US than the 21
    • George’s least favorite of the line for personal choice
    • A ‘Christmas’ whisky
  • Many of the employees have significant tenure with some families having passed jobs down the family for 125+ years
  • Members of the Glenfarclas production team, along with other benefits and salary, receive a house and free whisky
    • “We find it very difficult to actually get rid of any members of staff”
  • Tasting Glenfarclas 105
    • 105 British Proof – which equates to 120 proof (60% ABV) in the US
    • Proof derived from ‘proving’ that gunpowder soaked in whisky would explode.
    • This proof happens at 57.9% ABV, or 100 proof
    • Original bottles of Glenfarclas 105 would say 5 O.P., or ‘5 Over Proof’
    • Original bottles of Glenfarclas 10 would say 30 U.P., or ’30 Under Proof’; 70 proof, or 40% ABV
    • Glenfarclas 105 is the most difficult to make, as much of the whisky matured isn’t strong enough to create this expression
    • Glenfarclas 105 is bottle at cask strength
    • Glenfarclas 105 was George’s grandfather’s favorite
The Whisky Guy Podcast Episode #9 featuring Glen Grant from the Glenfarclas Distillery - Part II

The Whisky Guy Podcast Episode #9 featuring Glen Grant from the Glenfarclas Distillery – Part II

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How to Taste Whisk(e)y - an eBook written by The Whisky Guy, available as a Thank You for registering for The Whisky Guy Newsletter

How to Taste Whisk(e)y – an eBook written by The Whisky Guy, available as a Thank You for registering for The Whisky Guy Newsletter

Upcoming Spring Whisky Events

The spring whisky event season is just around the corner!  Here’s a quick run down on some of the larger ones:

Tasting Notes: Talisker Storm

It’s unfortunate that a number on a bottle has become one of the defining characteristics that some assume equates to the quality of a whisky.  Really, the number alone tells you very little about a whiskey.  Non-age statement whisky is nothing new to the industry.  It was less than 100 years ago that age statements even started appearing on whisky bottles, and to this day whiskies from Canada and the US, along with the biggest brands from Ireland don’t carry age statements.  When a distillery releases a new bottling, no matter the label, I’m excited to see what the distillers, blenders and bottlers have come up with – and I was excited to taste Talisker Storm.  Disclosure, again, that Talisker is one of the distilleries owned by Diageo, who I’ve worked for as a paid ambassador, tho Storm was released in 2013 after I finished my time with them.

  • Package/Appearance: The box and label on the bottle are a bit silly to me – it’s whisky, not the backdrop to a Broadway play.  The picture does nothing for me in ‘setting the mood.’  I do really enjoy the color of the liquid, a very rich gold tone.
  • Nose: Similar DNA but sweeter than Talisker 10 – Reduced vanilla oil, damp forest, honey, with some peat
  • Taste: Flavor builds if you let it rest on your palate.  Finding unique flavors is difficult because of the heat, salt and smoke.  Texture is oily
  • Finish: Long, spicy and bitter
  • Diluted: Nice visual of the oil and water mixing.  Nose tends closer to Talisker 10, but flavors are all enhanced all the way through the finish.
  • $60, 45.8% ABV
  • Overall rating: Fourth Shelf
Talisker Storm - A Single Malt Scotch Whisky, reviewed by The Whisky Guy

Talisker Storm – A Single Malt Scotch Whisky, reviewed by The Whisky Guy

Connect with The Whisky Guy Socially

Next time on The Whisky Guy Podcast…

Episode #10 of the Whisky Guy Podcast, on January 20, will feature a conversation with the team at Longman & Eagle (@LongmanAndEagle) in Chicago – a Michelin star restaurant with a tremendous whiskey selection.

Sláinte!

The Whisky Guy Podcast #7 – George Grant of Glenfarclas

Welcome to Episode #7 of The Whisky Guy Podcast, featuring George Grant from Glenfarclas!

George Grant - 6th Generation Distiller Owner and Manager at Glenfarclas on The Whisky Guy Podcast Episode #7

George Grant – 6th Generation Distiller Owner and Manager at Glenfarclas on The Whisky Guy Podcast Episode #7

It’s Whisky Wednesday – Time for a dram!

Published Dec 9, 2015

In this episode of The Whisky Guy Podcast:

Live from Washington DC – Hello YouTube!

After Repeal Day celebrations till the wee hours on Saturday, I was up early Sunday for a flight to Washington DC for a visit to the Catoctin Creek Distillery.  In an upcoming episode of the podcast you’ll hear from Scott at Catoctin Creek about the history of the distillery and their rye-based spirits, but right now you can see a tour of their distillery.  Visit The Whisky Guy on YouTube – Part 1 is up already and Part 2 will be added shortly, with lots more videos to come.  Please Subscribe to The Whisky Guy on YouTube and give the videos a Thumbs Up!

Subscribe to The Whisky Guy on YouTube!

Subscribe to The Whisky Guy on YouTube!

Thank You Patrons!

The Whisky Guy is listener supported!  It’s free and ad-free because of Patrons through the Patreon crowdfunding platform.  Becoming a Patron is fast and easy.  As low as $1 per episode lets you walk a little taller, knowing you’re supporting The Whisky Guy and keeping all the great info coming, and also keeps The Whisky Guy free and ad-free.  Learn more about my Patreon campaign, and become a Patron today by visiting The Whisky Guy on Patreon.  Thank You Patrons!

Your support keeps The Whisky Guy free and ad-free. Become a Patron today!

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Interview with George Grant of Glenfarclas Distillery

One of the few remaining independent distilleries in Scotland, Glenfarclas now has its 6th generation owner – George Grant – traveling the world and talking about his family’s distillery.  He was in Seattle in early November for a tasting with members of the Washington State Bartenders Guild (a USBG chapter).  I had a chance to sit with him for a short interview before a tasting that lasted over an hour.  The tasting will be broken into 2 episodes; Part 1 today will cover Glenfarclas 10, 12, and 17 year old.  Part 2, which will release early 2016 in episode 9 of The Whisky Guy Podcast, will cover the 21 and 25 year old, and the 105 Proof.  This episode is best listened to on headphones; some of the questions from the audience are a little quiet.  Also, I was live tweeting using #GlenfarclasWA – another way to follow along!

The Still house at the Glenfarclas Distillery

The Still house at the Glenfarclas Distillery

Interview

  • George Grant is 6th Generation owner of the Glenfarclas distillery, and current Director of Sales
  • George’s first time in Seattle in 7-8 years
  • Distillery roots are a little unknown – First license to distill was in 1836 tho records go back much further; at least 1791 and likely earlier
  • John Grant family purchased the distillery on June 8, 1865, 150 years ago
  • Sales price was £511.19; approximately $800 in today’s US dollars
  • After John Grant, in succession, was George, then George, then George, then John, and today – George
  • With the birth of Prince William and Kate’s son George, “after 36 years, my name is finally cool”
  • George Grant has 2 daughters – Kaitlyn and Sofie
  • Distilleries across Scotland (and around the world) all have unique selling points – 2 things make Glenfarclas special:
    • Largest stills in Speyside with direct fire heated stills
    • Only using dunnage-style warehouses, keeping casks to a limit of 3 high which helps all casks mature at the same rate
  • Excited to see global whiskies growing – new distilleries coming online helps more people appreciate whisk(e)y
  • The average blended whisky drinker will have 1 bottle at home – the average malt whisky drinker will have 12 bottles at home
Casks rest in the maturation warehouse at the Glenfarclas Distillery

Casks rest in the maturation warehouse at the Glenfarclas Distillery

Tasting

  • Recap of history covered in the interview
  • Best guess is the distilleries was build in the 1750’s
  • Some bottles of Glenfarclas sell today for 40x the purchase price of the distillery in 1865
  • Glenfarclas whisky is sold in over 100 countries, with Germany being the top 2 markets – both domestic sales and duty free
  • Growth is strong globally.  36 new distilleries just opened or opening soon in Scotland
  • Whisk(e)y drinkers are easy to buy gifts for
  • At WhiskyFest in New York, a group of gentlemen stopped by the Glenfarclas table for their first taste after walking past others, just because it had the word ‘Glen’ in the name
  • Glenfarclas is matured in Oloroso sherry casks
  • Distillery is in Speyside, and has both the words Highland and Speyside on the label
  • Speyside, as a named region, has only existed since 1972 – many distilleries in the region have the word Highland, even though they sit in Speyside, after Glenlivet distillery took ownership of the name for which many of the distilleries in the area were adding to their title.  For example, Glenfarclas was Glenfarclas Glenlivet for some time
  • Part of the name change was to limit confusion over ownership
  • All Speyside whiskies are Highland, but not all Highland whiskies are Speyside
  • Location hasn’t changed – on a slight slope that helped gravity-feed the stills until electricity was more common
  • Only Water, Malted Barley and Yeast go into making malt whisky, and the water is the only truly unique ingredient
  • Glenfarclas stopped doing their own maltings in 1972
  • First taste – Glenfarclas 10 year old
    • No added color in Glenfarclas whiskies – all color from the Oloroso Sherry casks, from Jerez, Spain
    • Sherry casks are approx 10x the cost of Bourbon casks
    • Glenfarclas uses a combination of 60% 1st and 2nd fill casks, and 40% 3rd and 4th fill casks married together
    • 10 year is balanced but has a short finish
    • “Good every day drinking whisky”
    • Difficult to sell for a while in the US as it was lower proof than many other Scotch whiskies sold, but 40% is more common today
  • Many distilleries are removing age statements, but Glenfarclas still has theirs even at 10 years
  • George is sad about the loss of age statements across the industry
  • Scotch whisky growth is helping Glenfarclas, as is the global growth of the internet allowing people to do their own research and find smaller brands like Glenfarclas
  • Whisky makes a great gift for hosts at dinner parties as it lasts longer/goes further
  • Glenfarclas is a ‘typical Speyside whisky’ – palatable, non-aggressive, not peated, easy to drink
  • Some distilleries in Speyside are experimenting with peated barley and casks
  • Second Taste – Glenfarclas 12 year old
    • George’s pick to represent the essence of Glenfarclas
    • Glenfarclas translates to ‘Valley of Green Grass Land’
    • Grassy-ness and sweetness, with dried fruit
    • Surprising departure from the 10, especially in the finish – a much longer finish
    • Creme Brule, Vanilla and Caramel flavors – a ‘bigger, longer whisky’
    • 12 year old is export only – not sold in the UK at all.  UK has 10 and 15 where US has 12 and 17 year old
  • Late 60’s Glenfarclas bottlings have a slight peat influence, mostly as it was used as a fuel source but not introduced intentionally
  • Peat in Speyside is much different than Islay peat – much lighter
  • George tried his hand working as an accountant before going into whisky, first as a Maltster, then for Inver House distillers at Old Pulteney, Speyburn, Balblair and AnCnoc distilleries before Glenfarclas
  • Working at Glenfarclas is not a right when being born into the Grant family – by George’s great grandfather’s decree, you must work at another distillery before working at Glenfarclas, so ‘any mistakes you make are made at someone else’s distillery’
  • George worked in Hong Kong circa 1998 as a salesman
  • Glenfarclas 10 and 12 are ‘before dinner drinks’ – 17 year old ‘covers all the bases
  • Third Taste – Glenfarclas 17 year old
    • Good before, during or after dinner
    • Still has some of the aggression of a younger whisky, but has the depth and finesse of an older whisky.  Very balanced.
    • Only sold in North America and Asia
    • Started as a Japan exclusive to limit discounting sales through importing from cheaper markets
    • George buys bottles when he travels as he can’t purchase it at all in the UK, even as the owner
    • Flavor – Eating cotton candy.  Sweetness dancing across the tongue.  Toffee, marmalade zestiness, typical Glenfarclas bitter chocolate finish
  • Question: Please speak to the age statement issue and distilleries removing the age statement
    • Answer: Mostly about having trouble growing and not having enough stock, true at Glenfarclas as well, tho Glenfarclas has chosen to drop expressions from the line-up entirely or limit the bottles to certain regions instead of removing age statements.  Distilleries have little incentive to re-introduce age statements after replacing them with lower production cost whiskies.
  • Question: Where does the slight peat character in the tasting notes come from in Glenfarclas if it’s a non-peated whisky?
    • Answer: Aside from George smoking, just by malting barley you get approx 3 parts per million of peat in the grain.
The unique watersource for whisky making at the Glenfarclas Distillery

The unique watersource for whisky making at the Glenfarclas Distillery

End of Part 1 of the tasting with George Grant – Episode 9 of The Whisky Guy Podcast will have part 2 of the tasting.  After the tasting, George conducted a 20 minute Q&A session.  The audio from that session is available to Patrons; lean how to keep The Whisky Guy free and ad-free while also getting access to that sort of exclusive content by becoming a Patron of The Whisky Guy here.  Thank You to George Grant, The Glenfarclas Distillery and the Washington State Bartenders Guild for letting me sit in!  Find George and the Glenfarclas Distillery on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and on the web.

Tasting Notes: Aberlour 12 Double Cask Matured

Disclosure – I’ve done paid ambassador work for Aberlour

The color of the whisky and its viscosity are very exciting.  A medium amber with long, stick legs.  The aroma really highlights the sherry cask influence of the whisky – Cardamom, Tamarind, and late-season dark tree fruits.  On the palate it has a great medium creaminess to it and a nice medium finish, but diluting the whisky brings out some challenges.

At approx. $50 and 40% ABV, it packs a lot of flavor, depth and complexity and earns a regular place on the second shelf.

Aberlour 12 Double Cask Matured - Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Aberlour 12 Double Cask Matured – Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Connect with The Whisky Guy Socially!

Next time on The Whisky Guy Podcast…

Look for episode 8 in 2 weeks, on December 23, 2015, when I’ll speak with Joshua Hatton and Jason Johnstone-Yellin, both whisk(e)y bloggers and co-founders of the Single Cask Nation, about their processes for tasting whisk(e)y.  Subscribe to The Whisky Guy podcast today so the episode downloads automatically!

Happy Jerry Thomas Day!

December 15 is Jerry Thomas Day – the anniversary of his death.  Jerry Thomas is considered by many to be the first ‘celebrity bartender’ – head to your local that day and order a Blue Blazer, one of his signature drinks.

Sláinte!

 

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