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A Toast to Time: Glenfarclas release exceptional 70 year old Speyside whisky
By Tessa Crowley | 19 June 2025 | Food & Drink, Indulge
Celebrating patience and provenance, this ultra-rare expression from one of Scotland’s most respected distilleries is elegant, enduring and unmistakably Glenfarclas
Glenfarclas, one of Speyside’s few remaining family-owned and managed whisky distilleries, has today announced the release of its oldest whisky to date, a prestigious 70 year old expression.
Famed for its rich, sherry-cask matured single malts, Glenfarclas has been crafting exceptional whiskies for exactly 160 years, since 1865. Over 16 decades, Glenfarclas has carved out a name for its traditional methods, independence, and impressive range, from the approachable 10 year to more robust aged offerings.
Distilled on 20 November 1953, the Glenfarclas 70-Year-Old was matured in the distillery’s traditional dunnage warehouses in Speyside, laid down in first-fill sherry casks. The whisky has been overseen by six different distillery managers over its seventy years, exemplifying Glenfarclas’ patience and commitment to custom, passing the distillery’s expertise and wisdom from one generation to the next.
Current Distillery Manager, Callum A. Fraser, explains: “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.”
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Yet, while the essence of Glenfarclas has been safeguarded, with many traditions and practices remaining the same, the 70-Year-Old has also seen a few changes to this historic distillery. Back in 1953, when this whisky was distilled, the malt barn would have been a central to production, with barley being hand-turned on the malting floors. Today, the space has been re-purposed as the tun room. This whisky comes from one of the few remaining casks of this era.
John Grant (below), chairman and fifth generation of the Grant family to have owned and run Glenfarclas distillery, remarks: “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.”
Callum expands: “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.”
So, for those lucky enough to sample this venerable expression, what can they expect? With its polished dark teak hue, the Glenfarclas 70-Year-Old promises aromas of stewed fruits, Scottish dumpling and a gentle touch of Speyside peat on the nose. On the palate, rich notes of dark chocolate, spiced dried fruits, treacle toffee and deep coffee unfold in layers. The finish lingers, evolving with the return of delicate peat and grassy, green notes.
Testament to its scarcity and with a nod to the angels, a scant 262 bottles are available globally. The Glenfarclas 70-Year-Old is a landmark release that embodies rarity, provenance, and heritage.