🥃 Glenfarclas The Family Casks 1988 (Rare & Hard to Find)
This 1988 vintage single‑cask release from the Glenfarclas “The Family Casks” range is highly sought after by collectors. It originates from a single sherry‑matured cask, bottled at cask strength, in very limited numbers. A special miniature version was also produced for the Vietnamese mini‑bottle collectors club (MBCCVN), making it even more of a rarity.
⭐ Features & Details
Brand: Glenfarclas
Expression: The Family Casks – Vintage 1988 (Single Cask)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Region / Origin: Speyside, Scotland
ABV: Varies by specific bottling (for example: 53.3%, 52.4%, or 60.2% in miniatures)
Bottle Size: Standard 700 ml; MBCCVN miniature version is 50 ml (5 cl)
Maturation / Cask Details: Matured in sherry butt or hogshead casks (depending on release). Single‑cask release.
Status: Extremely rare — single‑cask release, small bottle counts, highly collectible and expensive.
👃 Tasting Notes
Nose: Rich sherry saturation — dried fruits (raisins, figs, sultanas), dark chocolate, orange peel, walnut, and old oak warehouse aromas.
Palate: Full-bodied and intense; fruitcake, toffee, roasted nuts, sherry sweetness, polished oak, and warm spice.
Finish: Long and warming, with lingering dried fruit, oak tannins, subtle tobacco/leather hints, and a sweet-spice tail.
🧭 Independent Review Highlights
- Widely regarded as one of Glenfarclas’ top single-cask offers from that era.
- Collectors value the small bottle counts and unique cask numbers extremely highly.
- The MBCCVN miniature version (cask #7133, 60.2% ABV, 192 miniatures) is a niche variant that adds additional rarity and international interest.
- Because these are cask-strength and single-cask, variation between specific bottles (cask numbers) is significant — provenance matters.
💎 Presentation & Collectibility
Ideal For:
Serious whisky enthusiasts and collectors seeking a rare Speyside sherried single malt from a highly respected distillery; perfect as a trophy bottle or investment piece.
Serving Suggestion:
Best enjoyed neat to appreciate its full character. A few drops of water might help open up aromas and smooth the palate. Use a tulip or Glencairn glass and allow time for the whisky to breathe.
Collectible Notes:
- Condition matters: intact seal, original wooden box (if present), and clear labeling of vintage and cask number enhance value.
- Bottle counts are small (e.g., 507 bottles in major releases) and many vintage cask releases are highly sought after.
- The MBCCVN miniature release is especially rare and prized by niche collectors of miniatures and region-specific editions.
- Each bottle is somewhat one-of-a-kind due to cask type, maturation time, and warehouse conditions.


