Glenfiddich Special Old Reserve The House of Stewart 75cl (1980s)
75cl / 40%
£129.00
- Malt type: Single Malt
- Region: Speyside
- Chilfiltered: No
- Coloring: No
Tasting Notes
Fresh, Fruity, Nuts and Coconut
Sweet, Herbal, Bitter Oak
Long Finish, Dusty, Liquorice
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1980s triangular-bottle Glenfiddich, labelled Pure Malt/Special Old Reserve, in the clan-themed House of Stewart presentation.
At-a-Glance
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Distillery / Bottler / Country & Region | Glenfiddich Distillery (Official) / Scotland (Speyside Single Malt) |
| Category | Single/Pure Malt Scotch Whisky (Clan Series, vintage) |
| Age / Vintage / Bottled | NAS / Bottled 1980s |
| ABV & Size(s) | Typically 40% ABV (UK/EU) or 43% ABV (export/duty free) / 75cl |
| Cask / Treatment | Primarily American oak ex-bourbon |
| Natural Colour | No (colouring used) |
| Non-Chill-Filtered | No |
| Cask Strength | No |
| Bottle count / Outturn | Not stated; regular-line whisky in special packaging |
| Intended channel | Global retail, gift and later collector market |
| Packaging | Triangular green bottle; metal/presentation box with Clan Stewart tartan and notes |
| Notes on discrepancies | ABV varies by market; Pure Malt wording predates the modern “Single Malt” phrasing |
Historical Context
In the 1970s–1980s Glenfiddich turned its already-successful single malt into a collectable by issuing the “Clans of the Highlands” series, each box or tin depicting a Scottish clan. The liquid inside was their core pure malt, sold then as Special Old Reserve. The House of Stewart edition is one of these clan presentations. The whisky reflects the lighter, fruity Speyside style of Glenfiddich at the time and the 75cl volume fixes it firmly in the pre-1990s shift to 70cl for Europe. Because these clan packs were bought as gifts, boxed, complete examples still sell well.
Technical Specification & Variant Map
NAS single malt (then “pure malt”), coloured and chill filtered, 40–43% ABV, 75cl, with clan-specific outer.
Documented variants
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40% ABV, 75cl, Clan Stewart, triangular bottle, 1980s
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43% ABV, 75cl, Clan Stewart, triangular bottle, 1980s (often export or duty free)
-
Other clans (Macpherson, Grant, etc.) in the same series
Variant Matrix
| ABV | Volume | Packaging | Era cues | Relative desirability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43% | 75cl | Clan Stewart tin/box | Export/duty free, fuller flavour | Highest |
| 40% | 75cl | Clan Stewart tin/box | UK/EU, 1980s | High |
| 40–43% | 70cl (later) | Clan tin | Later issue, smaller | Moderate |
Packaging & authenticity checklist
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Triangular green Glenfiddich bottle must match the clan box.
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Label must read “Special Old Reserve” and/or “Pure Malt.”
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Check fill (40% 1980s bottles can evaporate).
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Confirm Clan Stewart artwork – mismatched bottle/box lowers value.
Regulatory/terminology notes
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“Pure Malt” at the time was Glenfiddich’s way of saying 100% malt from one distillery.
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Standard filtering and colouring apply.
Liquid Profile (from verifiable notes)
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Nose: Pear, apple, vanilla, light malt sweetness, cut grass.
-
Palate: Light, smooth, malty, a little oak, gentle fruit.
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Finish: Clean, short-to-medium, fruity.
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With water: Not needed at 40%.
Pricing & Market Dynamics (GBP)
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Original RRP: not stated (mid-range single malt of the era, c. £15–£25 then).
-
Current UK retail: £129–£150 for good, boxed 75cl clan bottles.
-
Auction: £80–£110 for bottle-only 40% examples; 43% and boxed go higher.
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Stratification: 43% + box at top; 40% + box mid; bottle-only low.
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Liquidity: steady – widely recognised series.
Price Snapshot
| Channel | Date | Bottle spec | Price (GBP) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail | Recent | 75cl, 40%, boxed | 150 | Specialist vintage listing |
| Auction | Recent | 75cl, 40%, bottle only | 80 | Average condition |
| Auction | Recent | 75cl, 43%, boxed | 110 | Higher ABV and complete |
Sourcing
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Prefer boxed 43% 75cl.
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Avoid low-fill or mixed clan/bottle sets.
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Photograph packaging details for catalogue entries.
