Glencraig 42 Years Old Signatory 30th Anniversary Cask 4283 42% 1976

Professional reviews

Serge Valentin (89)

Good, Clencraig was made at Glenburgie between 1956 and 1981, using some Lomond still. It used to be Glenburgie’s Mosstowie, if you like, but I think they were making Glencraig in much smaller quantities. No need to tell you that Glencraig has become extremely rare, so this is yet another crazy coup by SigV. Colour: gold. Nose: ooh, love this. Mangos and, most of all, crazy guavas. Add good retsina (not the ones for tourists), halva, pistachios, heather honey, pink bananas, then rather flowers, lillies, orange blossom, rose petals, wallflowers, woodruff… It is all very subtle and complex, and yet not shy at all. And the barrel was first-grade. Mouth: first all things from a proper beehive, then more soft wood/tea spices. So, beeswax, all-flower honey, pollen and mead, and then rather balsa wood, soft cinnamon, marzipan and Szechuan pepper. The freshness is impressive, even if the oak’s about to take over. Just about. Finish: medium, complex, on some kind of wonderful fresh fruitcake covered with the subtlest spices. Apples and cinnamon in the aftertaste. Comments: in truth it was a tad fragile and uncertain here and there, but the enjoyment remains massive. The nose was just otherworldly.

BOW (90)