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Glenfarclas
unveils its oldest whisky to date, the
Glenfarclas 70 Year Old which was
distilled back in 1953 and matured in
first-fill sherry casks which produced
only 262 bottles after 70 years.
If you are a fan of old sherried oak
drams then here is something very rare
for you from one of Speyside's
specialists in just that,
Glenfarclas, one of the last
family-owned and operated distilleries
in Scotland, who has just announced the release
of its oldest expression to date—the
Glenfarclas 70 Year Old. Distilled on
November 20, 1953, this extraordinary
whisky represents more than seven
decades of craftsmanship, patience, and
tradition.
Matured in first-fill sherry casks
within the distillery’s traditional
dunnage warehouses in Speyside, this
historic spirit has passed through the
hands of six distillery managers. Now,
it makes its international debut,
offering collectors and connoisseurs a
rare opportunity to own a piece of
Glenfarclas history.
Back in 1953, the distillery’s malt barn
was a bustling hub, where barley was
turned by hand on malting floors. Today,
that same space serves as the tun
room—symbolic of how time has shaped
both the distillery and this remarkable
whisky. Drawn from one of the few
surviving casks of its kind, the
Glenfarclas 70 Year Old is a singular
release.
Only 262 bottles are available
worldwide, making this a true
collector’s gem—steeped in heritage,
scarcity, and provenance.
Glenfarclas tells me the the 70 Year Old
is visually striking with its polished dark
teak colour, they say that the whisky immediately
captivates. They tell me that nose offers aromas of
stewed fruits and a whisper of Speyside
peat. The palate reveals rich, layered
flavours of dark chocolate, spiced dried
fruits, treacle toffee, and deep coffee
notes.
The finish is long, evolving, and
profoundly satisfying—a whisky that
lingers not just on the palate, but in
memory.
At 70 years of age, this expression now
stands as the oldest release in the
Glenfarclas Warehouse Series, surpassing
the previous 30-, 35-, and 40-Year-Old
bottling's. Housed in the series’
signature red packaging, its
presentation remains purposefully
understated—a conscious decision by the
family to allow the whisky’s character
to take centre stage. This approach
reflects Glenfarclas's enduring
commitment to simplicity, authenticity,
and integrity.
Callum A. Fraser, Distillery Manager at
Glenfarclas commented: "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.
"This whisky has waited seventy years to
be enjoyed. Through wars, the reign of a
queen and now a king, the world has
changed — but this spirit has endured,
and it stands as a rare and timeless
testament to patience and craft."
John Grant, chairman and fifth
generation of the Grant family to have
owned and run Glenfarclas distillery,
added: "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. 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."
The Glenfarclas 70 Year Old 1953
Warehouse Series has been bottled at
42.9% ABV, you will obviously need deep
pockets if you want to taste such a
rarity, it has a RRP of £20,000 and will
be available from this month from specialist online whisky
shops such as
The Whisky Exchange
and
Master of Malt
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