1970 Glenury Royal 36 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

A rare official distillery release, distilled in 1970 and bottled at cask strength. 1926 bottles were produced. Collector's alert - Glenury is a demolished distillery (closed 1985). According to MaltManiacs, this relelase is THE LAST ever official bottling on the market.

The history of Glenury is partly a chapter of accidents. Founded in 1825 on Scotland's East coast by Robert Barclay, it was sited just outside of the fishing town of Stonehaven. It took the first part of its name from the glen that runs through the Ury district. The second part was added by Barclay, who was also a Member of Parliament and managed to get permission from King William IV to insert the world "Royal" in the title.

Weeks after opening, a fire destroyed stocks of barley, along with the kiln and parts of the malting floor. Two weeks after the fire, worker James Clark died in an accident with the boiler. Robert Barclay died in 1854, and the distillery was auctioned to William Richie three years later. The maltings of Glenury Royal were closed in 1968. The distillery then kept producing malt whisky for almost two more decades, but eventually it was mothballed on May 31, 1985.

In 1992 the owners decided to cease malt whisky production for good. The buildings of the distillery were sold in 1993 to a property company who turned a section of them into apartments.

Tasting note: The pale gold appearance is considerably younger than the reality. Opening aroma is deep and captivating, initially sweet in the creme caramel / vanilla spectrum with later inspection finding the alcohol more apparent and the profile now focused on fresher scents of menthol / aniseed infused honey. Plenty of fire still present in this old-timer, with the initially light, waxy entry crescendoing into a lively, concentrated, mildly bittersweet attack; some attractive toffee and caramel moments towards the finish, finally swamped by the drying oak. 57.9% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... With so much dark, threatening oak around, the delivery defies belief or logic. Cracking stuff!
- Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2014