Glenfarclas unveils 70-Year-Old single malt

Glenfarclas has released its oldest whisky to date, a 70-Year-Old single malt distilled on 20 November 1953. Matured in first-fill sherry casks in the Speyside distillery’s traditional dunnage warehouses, the expression represents more than seven decades of patient ageing and continuity.

The cask has been overseen by six distillery managers across its lifetime and is one of the few remaining from this era. Just 262 bottles are available worldwide, with 15 allocated to Australian distributor Vintage House Wine and Spirits.

John Grant, chairman and fifth generation of the Grant family to own and operate Glenfarclas, said the release represents a milestone in the family’s custodianship.

“As Chairman of a family-owned distillery I am committed to overseeing the production of our exceptional malt whisky, just as my forefathers did before me,” he said.

“We take great pride in maintaining complete control over every aspect of production, preserving our time-honoured traditional methods – most notably, the use of direct-fired stills, which creates a robust and full-bodied spirit.

Remarkably, this particular cask has been maturing almost as long as I’ve been alive. Releasing it now marks a true milestone, and one that Callum and I have considered carefully and with great respect for its legacy.”

Callum A. Fraser, Distillery Manager, added: “This is true Glenfarclas and this expression captures the very DNA of the distillery. What we did 30 or 40 or even 70 years ago is very much what we still do today. The warehouses are still here, holding decades of stories in their walls. At the heart of it all, tradition remains key.”

Tasting notes describe a polished dark teak colour, with stewed fruits with a gentle touch of Speyside peat on the nose. A palate of dark chocolate, spiced dried fruits, treacle toffee and deep coffee in layered complexity with a long, evolving and deeply satisfying finish.

The release is presented in the distillery’s understated red packaging, consistent with the Glenfarclas Warehouse Series, which also includes 30-, 35- and 40-Year-Old expressions.

The recommended retail price is AUD $40,000 and the whisky is available through Vintage House Wine and Spirits.