The fact that Glencraig has SMWS number 104 indicates that it’s a rare distillery. In fact it’s not even a real distillery, the name was used for the Lomond stills that were operating inside the Glenburgie distillery.
I’ve only been able to taste one Glencraig before, and interestingly it was from the same year: Glencraig 1974 (Duncan Taylor cask #2922). I still have that sample so I’m using it as a benchmark. This Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottling was tagged “Church incense in naughty dungeons”.
Glencraig 34 yo 1974
(50,5%, SMWS 2008, 104.9, 204 btl.)
Glencraig 34 yo 1974 Nose: certainly in the same vein as the other 1974. Very much on garden fruits. Flower blossoms, green apple and nice hints of wax. Light, grassy notes and some cereals. Quite oily. This one is a bit more expressive and more complex. Incense? Well, if you taste them side by side, then yes, there are hints of dusty cellars and churches, but it would be difficult to notice on its own.
Mouth: close to the other one at first, but then growing sweeter and evolving on pink grapefruit, apple candy and spices from the oak. Cinnamon and liquorice.
Finish: half fruity, half spicy. Quite long.
Compared to its Duncan Taylor sibling, this Glencraig 1974by SMWS is better across the board. It’s more complex on the nose and wider on the palate. Very pleasant whisky with a nice development. Two extra points. Worth around € 150 in auctions.
Score: 86/100