As you might expect, we have quite a collection of old labels and bottles at the distillery.  Despite this bottle having been long since emptied, it remains rather special. It is the oldest example of a specially labelled bottle of Glenfarclas in the distillery’s possession. On to a standard label of the time, the second George Grant has typed a message to his son, the third George Grant, before sending it to Egypt, where George was on active service during the war. The special labelling reads ‘Twentyone Years’s old. 1923. George Scott Grant. 1944 20 up’. Giving someone a bottle of their favourite malt, distilled in the year of their birth, is not a new idea.

In the early 1930s, shortly after prohibition ended, the bottling company of J.G. Thompson of The Vaults, Leith, shipped fifty wooden cases of Glenfarclas to H Albrecht and Company of Illinois.  Not that unusual you might think, but one of those fifty cases remains unopened to this day, and as such is the oldest unopened case of Glenfarclas. One Mr Shrive, an engineer, purchased six cases from H Albrecht and Company in 1936. Whilst the occasional bottle was enjoyed over the next six decades, by 1994, Mr Shrive’s son, now in his seventies, felt the remaining couple of cases might be rather special, so he wrote to the distillery.  Malcolm Greenwood, our Sales Director at the time, received the letter, and realising the rarity of such an old unopened case, set out to return the case to Scotland with John Grant.

 

 

This exceptional expression of Glenfarclas was distilled on the 16th June 1954 and bottled on the bottled 27th July 2000, hence this is 46 years old. The bottling produced only 1193 bottles and some are still available from specialist retailers. Jim Murray reviewed the Glenfarclas 1954 for his 2007 Whisky Bible, as follows;

Nose; Score 24.
The clarity of the sherry defies belief; just a fraction too much oak for perfection but the kumquat and most subtle coriander give this such a delightful lift. A squirt of soft peat balances it out gloriously.

Taste; Score 25.
Faultless. Absolute perfect harmonization on the palate as the dissolving oloroso integrates seamlessly with the rich barley and developing spices. The chewiness is provided by German-style caramelized biscuit, the elegance by a clever mixture and intriguing of Muscovado and Demerara sugars.

Finish; Score 23.
Edges towards oak-fuelled bitterness, but some soft peats generate an excellent sweet repost; the oak is big and slightly bitter towards the end.

Balance; Score 24.
Sincere apologies for missing out on this is in earlier editions of the Bible. Apparently, though, this can still be found. Buy two: one to drink, the other to be buried with.

Total score of 96 out of 100.

Limited edition, distilled on Christmas Day 1959, and bottled in 2002.

Colour: Dark Amber old

Aroma: Complex with a hint of fine Oloroso Sherry

Flavour: Elegant dark Single Malt, aromas of exotic fruits and vanilla, with a delicate not dominating touch of oak

Bottled as an exclusive for the US market, the 1968 expression has been aged for 36 years in sherry casks. North America’s leading whisky magazine, the Malt Advocate named the Glenfarclas 1968 the ‘Imported Whisky of the Year’ in 2004.

Glenfarclas 1968 Vintage 43% Vol.
Tasting Notes by George Grant

Colour:  Dark, Amber-Gold.

Nose:  A complex full-bodied Glenfarclas. The aromas are intense, with rich tones of honey, vanilla, liquorice, cinnamon and a hint of peat smoke.

Flavour/Finish:  Gloriously smooth, smoky and long lasting.