Glenfiddich 8 Year Old Pure Malt (1980s Edition) 1lt
100cl / 43%86 Proof%
£99.00
- Malt type: Single Malt
- Region: Speyside
- Chilfiltered: No
- Coloring: No
Tasting Notes
Fresh and fruity notes with hints of nuts and coconut
Sweet, slight herbal hints and bitter oak notes
Long dusty finish with licorice aftertaste
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Export/duty-free 1L version of Glenfiddich’s 8-year-old pure malt, 43% ABV, bottled in the 1980s and sold through Asian travel retail.
At-a-Glance
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Distillery / Region | Glenfiddich, Dufftown, Speyside |
| Category | Pure malt/single malt Scotch whisky (pre-2000s wording) |
| Age / Bottled | 8 Years Old / Bottled 1980s |
| ABV & Size(s) | 43% ABV / 1L |
| Cask / Treatment | Standard Glenfiddich bourbon-led maturation |
| Natural Colour | Not stated by the producer |
| Non-Chill-Filtered | No |
| Cask Strength | No |
| Bottle count / Outturn | Not stated; travel/duty-free line |
| Intended channel | Asian duty free (notably Singapore), export |
| Packaging | 1980s Glenfiddich livery, sometimes with travel carton |
| Notes on discrepancies | 750ml 8yo pure malt at 43% also exists; EU sites show 1L 1980s around £175; always quote exact volume and ABV on intake. |
Historical Context
The UK market gravitated to 12 years old as the standard Glenfiddich age statement, but during the late 1970s and 1980s the distillery also produced younger pure-malt expressions for export and duty free. These 8-year-old bottlings were designed as a gateway into single malt at a friendlier price, at a time when the category was still being explained to travellers. Putting it in a 1-litre, 43% format made it attractive to duty-free shoppers: more liquid than a domestic 70cl, and a slightly higher strength than the 40% commonly seen on supermarket shelves. Today the bottle is interesting because it shows the old "Pure Malt" wording, the older label style, and an export size that is no longer routine.
Technical Specification & Variant Map
2.1 Documented variants
-
8 Year Old Pure Malt, 1L, 43%, 1980s, Asian duty-free/export.
-
8 Year Old Pure Malt, 750ml, 43%, 1970s/80s export, broadly the same liquid but smaller.
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Pure Malt, 1L, 1980s, without an age statement (separate SKU and should not be merged with the 8yo).
Variant Matrix
| ABV | Volume | Market | Era cues | Relative desirability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43% | 1L | 1980s duty free (Singapore/Asia) | Label states 8 Years, 1 Litre, 43% | Highest |
| 43% | 750ml | 1970s/80s export | Label states 8 Years, 750ml | High |
| 40% | 70/75cl | 1980s general | May lack the 8-year statement and the litre size | Lower |
2.2 Packaging & authenticity checklist
-
The front label must say "8 Years Old".
-
The bottle must state "1 Litre" (or 1.0L) and 43% ABV.
-
Duty-free or import stickers from Asian airports are consistent with the provenance.
-
A carton is often missing after 40 years; note presence/absence.
2.3 Regulatory/terminology notes
-
"Pure Malt" is the period Glenfiddich term for what is now called single malt; keep wording faithful to the bottle.
-
Standard colouring and chill filtration should be assumed.
Liquid Profile
-
Nose: Light pear and apple, barley sweetness, vanilla, light honey.
-
Palate: Soft Speyside sweetness, barley sugar, vanilla and gentle oak; the 43% strength gives a touch more texture than later 40% bottlings.
-
Finish: Medium, clean, cereal and orchard-fruit notes.
-
With water: Optional only.
Pricing & Market Dynamics (GBP)
-
UK specialist/vintage sellers list 1L 1980s pure malt Glenfiddich around £150–£175, with £175 a common upper anchor for very clean examples.
-
The 750ml 8-year-old at 43% is often found in EU shops around the €110 level, which is about £96.80 at 1 EUR = 0.88 GBP on 07 Nov 2025. FX: 1 EUR = 0.88 GBP on 07 Nov 2025.
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At auction, similar 1980s Glenfiddich litre bottles without unusual packaging tend to clear in the £70–£110 corridor depending on fill, label condition and box.
-
Stratification: 1L 43% with clear age statement and carton at the top; 1L bottle-only in the middle; 750ml and/or scuffed labels towards the lower end.
Price Snapshot
| Channel | Date | Bottle spec | Price (GBP) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK specialist | 2025 | 1L, 43%, 1980s | 175 | Current-type listing |
| EU specialist | 2025 | 750ml, 43%, 8yo | 96.80 | From €110 |
| UK auction (typical) | 2024–25 | 1L, 43%, 8yo | 70–110 | Condition-led |
Distillery/Bottler Snapshot
Glenfiddich has always prioritised a fruity, consistent, approachable style. This 8-year-old is that style in its simplest 1980s duty-free form, slightly stronger and bigger than a domestic bottle, which is why collectors and bar owners still pick it up.
Sourcing
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Target 1L, 43%, clear "8 Years Old", ideally with duty-free provenance.
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Avoid low-fill or heavily scuffed labels which are common on travel-stock bottles of this age.
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Buying in the £100–£120 range allows listing around £160–£180 in a vintage/specialist context.
