Exclusive Glenfarclas Whisky is off to a flying start at UK airports
Published Date: 25th September 2025
Connoisseurs of fine whisky won’t want to miss this rare taste of heritage and craftsmanship as they travel through the UK’s main airports, as Glenfarclas Highland Single Malt Whisky has launched two expressions - one of which is new and exclusive to the channel – in Avolta’s World Duty Free airport stores. This marks the return of this iconic brand to travel retail after an absence of a number of years.
The old adage of it being better to travel than to arrive is supported by this particular shopping opportunity for globetrotters. The two whiskies are:
- Glenfarclas 11-Year-Old (11YO), a newly launched natural colour, non-chill filtered expression, that has been selected as ‘Malt of the Month’ for September by World Duty Free. This Travel Retail exclusive expression is bottled at 46% ABV (1L / RSP £49.99).
- Glenfarclas 105, renowned as the pioneer of cask strength whisky release (1L / RSP £77.59 / 60% ABV), remains a benchmark for intensity, smoothness and character.
Glenfarclas Distillery Manager, Callum Fraser, conducted special bottle signings and tastings over the past two weeks at Edinburgh Airport, London Heathrow and London Gatwick, which contributed to Glenfarclas flying off the shelves.
The travel retail range is completed by two other expressions: Glenfarclas 16YO (non-chill filtered / 46% ABV / 70cl / RSP £79.99), which is again a travel retail exclusive and the much-loved aged expression, Glenfarclas 35YO (43% ABV /70cl / RSP £765). Every bottle of Glenfarclas embodies nearly two centuries of unbroken family stewardship. Since 1865, five generations of the Grant family have nurtured the oldest family-owned distillery in Speyside nestled at the foothills of Ben Rinnes. Glenfarclas continues to champion traditional techniques – including the rare use of direct-fired stills – and matures its whiskies predominantly in the finest Oloroso sherry casks sourced from Jerez, Spain.
William Ovens heads up Global Travel Retail at Ian Macleod Distillers – another successful family-owned whisky firm - which has recently been appointed as distributor of Glenfarclas in Global Travel Retail. William Ovens said: “Glenfarclas is one of the most admired single malts in the world and we are delighted to be bringing these remarkable expressions to international travellers.”
Tasting notes for the >Glenfarclas travel retail exclusive expressions
Glenfarclas 11YO Tasting Notes
- Colour: Light amber gold
- Nose: Fresh zesty notes balanced with a smooth butterscotch
- Palate: A warm spiciness harmoniously intertwined with the sweetness of stewed orchard fruits, complimented by the smoothness of decadent toffee
- Finish: Deliciously smooth, enhanced by hints of sherry.
Glenfarclas 105 Tasting Notes
- Colour: Golden mahogany
- Nose: Medley of chocolate orange, tempting dark toffee sweetness and coffee beans
- Palate: Dry and assertive, develops quickly to reveal a rich spiciness with a twist of brown sugar and sherried fruit
- Finish: Amazingly smooth for the strength, wonderfully warming with a lingering spiciness.
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