Glenfarclas 40 Year Old vs Glenury Royal 36 Year Old 1968 (Special Release 2005)

Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.

Glenfarclas 40 Year OldGlenury Royal 36 Year Old 1968 (Special Release 2005)
DistilleryGlenfarclasGlenury
RegionSpeysideHighland
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeSingle MaltSingle Malt
ABV43%51.2%
Age40 yr36 yr
Price£1275£1500
Rating5.00/5

Glenfarclas 40 Year Old

Smoke0/100
Sweetness66/100
Beginner85/100
Value4/100

Glenury Royal 36 Year Old 1968 (Special Release 2005)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness50/100
Beginner45/100
Value0/100

Glenfarclas 40 Year Old

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Glenury Royal 36 Year Old 1968 (Special Release 2005)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Glenfarclas 40 Year Old is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Glenfarclas 40 Year Old is better value at £1275 vs £1500.

For beginners: Glenfarclas 40 Year Old is more approachable (85/100 beginner score).

Glenfarclas 40 Year Old

Pros

  • +Approachable and beginner-friendly sweetness
  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)

Cons

  • Niche style — may not suit all palates

Glenury Royal 36 Year Old 1968 (Special Release 2005)

Pros

  • +Vibrant, fresh fruit character

Cons

  • High ABV (51.2%) — may need water
  • More expensive (£1500 vs £1275)
  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Who should buy Glenfarclas?

Glenfarclas 40 Year Old is an ideal first whisky — sweet, approachable, and widely available. It's a great gift and a safe choice for anyone new to whisky or who prefers lighter, friendlier drams.

Who should buy Glenury?

Glenury Royal 36 Year Old 1968 (Special Release 2005) is for enthusiasts who appreciate cask-strength intensity. Best enjoyed with a few drops of water to open up the flavours. Not ideal for casual drinking or beginners.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

Old WoodDried Fruit

Only Glenfarclas 40 Year Old

SherriedHoneyChocolate

Only Glenury Royal 36 Year Old 1968 (Special Release 2005)

LeatheryHay-likeTobacco

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