::格蘭花格 Glenfarclas::

「Malt Advocate Whisky Awards」雜誌的評比揭曉，「格蘭花格40年威士忌」榮獲年度最佳蘇格蘭單一純麥威士忌大獎。 (由John Hansell發稿)

格蘭花格在其產製威士忌的175年歷史過程中，迄今仍是少數由家族所擁有和經營的酒廠之一。對於家族而言，其優點在於握有酒廠的所有權，可以為所欲為、劍及履及，而毋須向公司的董事會解釋問題及提出答案。對於消費者而言，其好處在於該酒廠可以隨心所欲、極盡所能地作各種不同的配置和包裝，而實際上，他們也是採取這種作法。例如從「格蘭花格10年威士忌」到最近的（以及最早期的）「格蘭花格40年威士忌」，皆是如此。這意味著，在其多樣產品中，一定會有一種威士忌可以滿足您的需求口味和支出預算。

 然而，家族獨立經營亦有其缺失。最常見者，乃是沒有充裕的市場行銷預算，足以將威士忌的知名度，傳至所有可能會享用它的人們。從諸多方面來看，獨家擁有格蘭花格酒廠的Grant家族，其實是放手讓威士忌本身去替自己發言宣傳。（假如我們向初步入門而十分熱衷於威士忌的新手，詢問他們喜歡何種品牌時，他們總是從許多相似風格的知名品牌中提出一種。此時如再進一步追問，您曾經品嘗過格蘭花格威士忌嗎？截至目前為止，就記憶所及，還沒有任何一個回答曾經令人失望。）

「格蘭花格40年威士忌」的品味非常優美。它是複合而圓潤的，帶有濃郁卻不過頭的橡木味。它的氣味芬芳，融合甜蜜的柑橘味（尤其是柳橙味）、老式鍋壺蒸餾出來的蘭姆酒香、楓糖漿味、無花果香、烘焙過的堅果味、色澤光亮的皮革味，略有一丁點兒摩卡香味、薑糖味和煙草味。它的質地帶有些許油脂（我們發現它具有鎮定作用），後味則饒富丹寧酸的口感。總之，它確是一款名符其實，經典而陳年的格蘭花格威士忌。

請大家明天再回到我們的網站吧！明天就要正式揭曉「年度世界威士忌大獎」的得獎名單了。

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 Malt Advocate Whisky Awards “Scotch Whisky Single Malt of the Year”: Glenfarclas 40 year old  (John Hansell)

 Now in its 175th year of whisky-making, Glenfarclas is one of the few distilleries that IS still family owned and operated. Family ownership has its advantages. They can do as they please, without having a corporate board to answer to. To our benefit, this means they can put out as many different expressions as they want, And indeed they have. From the Glenfarclas 10 year old, through to their newest (and oldest) 40 year old, there’s sure to be a whisky to satisfy your palate and budget.

 However, one of the disadvantages of being family owned is that there usually isn’t a massive marketing budget to make the whisky known to all the people who might enjoy it. In many respects, the Grant family (who owns the distillery) relies on the whisky itself to do the talking. (When you ask a relatively new whisky enthusiast what brand they like, they usually mention one of the more famous whisky brands with a similar flavor profile. Ask them, “But have you tried Glenfarclas?” We don’t recall anyone ever being disappointed.)

 It tastes very good. It’s complex and well-rounded, with great depth and no excessive oak. Lush, candied citrus (especially orange), old pot still rum, maple syrup, fig, roasted nuts, and polished leather, with hints of mocha, candied ginger, and tobacco. A bit oily in texture (which we find soothing) with good tannic grip on the finish. A classic, well-matured Glenfarclas.

Check back tomorrow. The “World Whisky of the Year” award winner will be announced.