Glenfarclas

In 1952 a new law let distillers brew, or mash, and distil at the same time, and Glenfarclas made more spirit for the blenders.^4,7,8 In 1960 the distillery grew from 2 stills to 4.^6,7,14 In 1968, faced with losing blending sales, George S. Grant began laying down more casks to sell as Glenfarclas single malt.^4,13 The distillery's own floor maltings, which burned peat dug on the property, closed in 1972, and malt was bought in after that.^6,7,14 In 1973 Glenfarclas opened one of the first distillery visitor centres.^4,6,11 Production doubled in 1975 to 1.3 million litres of alcohol a year, and 2 more stills brought the total to 6 in 1976.^6,7,8

George S. Grant's son, John L. S. Grant, joined the business in 1974 and became managing director in 1979.^1,7,11 In 1981 a trial of steam heating gave a weaker, blander new spirit, so the distillery went back to direct fire.^6,7,15 As the industry cut production in the 1980s, Glenfarclas kept making whisky, and production rose again after its 150th anniversary in 1986.^4,6,16 When demand returned, it had the stock to sell.^4,6,16 Recherlich Farm, worked alongside the distillery since the 1790s, stopped operating in 1988.⁶

George Grant, the sixth generation of the family, joined the business in 2000.¹⁷ George S. Grant died in 2002 after 52 years as chairman, and John L. S. Grant, the fifth generation, became chairman.^1,4,9 Callum Fraser, who had managed Deanston distillery, became distillery manager in 2012.^5,18 In March 2025 work began on 6 new dunnage warehouses, due in early 2026, which will bring the total to 48.¹

Its water comes from Ben Rinnes, and its malt comes from Muntons and Simpsons.^5,6,11 Its malt is peated to 1-3ppm.^6,16 It has 12 washbacks, the tanks where the wash ferments, made of stainless steel with wooden lids.^6,14,16 Fermentation lasts at least 72 hours.^6,16 It has 3 wash stills and 3 spirit stills.^6,11,16 The spirit is distilled twice in stills with a boiling ball shape.^5,6