The beauty of working within the rare scotch whisky sphere is that I get to see some fantastic old and rare bottles, produced many decades ago. These bottles were sold at prices that seem jaw-droppingly low in today’s ever-expanding market. However, they can offer valuable glimpses into scotch whisky history and industry practices during a certain period.
So, today I have put together a list of some of my favorite scotch whiskies bottled in the 1970s, all available on The Whiskey Wash Shop. From distilleries long since lost to recently revived plants, each of these whiskies offers something special for scotch whisky history fans and collectors.
How Do We Know When A Whisky Was Bottled?
Working as the Senior Bottle Valuer at Mark Littler Ltd, I have been fortunate enough to develop an understanding of how to tell when a scotch whisky was bottled. Whilst there are exceptions to the rules, generally speaking, if a whisky lists its volume in fluid ounces (e.g. 26 ⅔ Fluid Ounces) then it was more than likely bottled in the 1970s.
It is not uncommon to see 1960s bottlings that give no indication of alcoholic strength or volume, due to lax laws at the time.
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In 1977, it became industry standard to state the bottle volume in fluid ounces and the alcoholic strength in alcohol by volume (ABV), which gives us more surety when dating a bottle to between 1977 and 1980. Prior to this, the alcoholic strength was usually given in proof.
In 1980, the system changed again, and the bottle volume was given in centiliters. As such, if the bottle volume is given as 75cl, then it was bottled between 1980 and 1992.
You will come across bottles that give dual measurements, usually indicating some crossover in bottling legislation at the time that a whisky was bottled.
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Other factors such as packaging changes can also offer clues as to when a whisky was bottled.
To find out more about how to date your bottle of whisky, click here. Now, without further ado, let’s take a look at the bottles.
Clynelish 12 Year Old Ainslie & Heilbron, Bottled 1970s
BUY NOW: $1,826
Scotch whisky historians will know that Clynelish and Brora Distilleries shared a fascinating history. The Clynelish Distillery as we know it today was opened in 1967, directly next to another distillery – the original Clynelish Distillery built in 1819. This older distillery was rechristened Brora, and the Clynelish name was given to the new plant. Confusingly, the original distillery (now Brora) was closed in 1968 and reopened in 1969 whilst the new distillery (now Clynelish) continued production.
This Clynelish 12 Year Old was likely bottled sometime in the 1970s, meaning the whisky inside was distilled no later than 1967. This means that the whisky inside the bottle comes from the original Clynelish Distillery – now Brora.
It is not only the whisky inside the bottle that makes this expression special, but also the bottling company. In line with DCL’s approach, Clynelish was initially licensed to one of its portfolio blending companies – specifically, Ainslie & Heilbron. This arrangement was fitting, as Ainslie & Heilbron had historical ties to the distillery, with James Ainslie & Co, a part of this group, owning Clynelish until 1912.
This bottling has become highly coveted by scotch whisky collectors, particularly those with an interest in Clynelish and Brora’s shared history. Since Brora’s reopening in 2021, the appetite for such bottlings has only increased.
The Glenlivet 25 Year Old Special Jubilee Reserve, Bottled 1977
BUY NOW: $1,525
The Glenlivet 25 Year Old Special Jubilee Reserve, released in 1977 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee, embodies a unique chapter in whisky history. Distilled from spirit going back to 1952—the year of the Queen’s accession—this whisky captures a royal legacy within a single malt format. Unlike more prominent commemorative bottles, the Jubilee Reserve remains elusive, appearing only occasionally on the secondary market. As I mentioned in this article, bottling numbers hint at a limited run, perhaps less than 1,000 bottles.
The Jubilee Reserve underscores The Glenlivet’s esteemed reputation, aligning the distillery’s craftsmanship with British Royal heritage. And yet, it has somehow flown under the radar, creating a surprising allure for collectors. Its scarcity and connection to a major royal milestone add something of a dual appeal, positioning this expression as both a whisky time capsule and a hidden royal gem.
This whisky’s relatively quiet existence contrasts with The Glenlivet’s influential role in scotch history and its impact on the wider whisky market (think ‘The Glenlivet suffix’ and its instrumental role in global scotch marketing). For those in search of a truly unique bottle with deep historical ties and a taste of a bygone era, the Jubilee Reserve offers both.
Isle of Jura 8 Year Old Pure Malt, Bottled 1970s
BUY NOW: $336
The Isle of Jura is one of the most remote spots in the Hebrides – an improbable place to house a distillery. However, the island has a rich distilling heritage, and historians even make reference to Jura locals distilling spirit from rowan berries in the 18th century.
First opened as Small Isles Distillery in 1810, Jura was revived in the 1960s by Charles Mackinlay & Co. It was hoped that the reopening would stimulate the island’s dwindling population. The first spirit flowed from the stills in 1963.
Despite Jura’s peaty landscape, the distillery produced an un-peated spirit for use in blends, echoing Jura’s quirkiness and defying expectations. Over time, the distillery introduced peated varieties, with notable expressions like the Jura Superstition launched in 2003.
The 8 year old expression was first introduced in 1974, and eventually replaced in the core range by a 10 year old, courtesy of then-owners Invergordon Distilleries.
For collectors, this bottle offers a piece of Jura’s narrative—crafted on an isolated island, backed by a rich lineage of blending houses, and rare enough to appeal to aficionados seeking something unique.
Glen Flagler Rare All-Malt Scotch Whisky, Bottled 1970s
BUY NOW: $953
You may not have heard of this one, and I would not blame you. This “all-malt” whisky hails from the Glen Flagler Distillery, a short-lived plant founded in 1965 by Inver House Distillers. The distillery was located within the Moffat complex in Airdrie, Scotland, which was home to a grain distillery named Garnheath. Killyloch Distillery was also located within the compound.
Slightly peated and gently floral, single malts from Glen Flagler were used for fillings in Inver House’s blends, most notably Inver House, Pinwinnie, and Mac Arthur’s. However, it has also appeared as a single malt with 5 and 8 year age statements, as well as no-age-statement (NAS) whiskies such as this one. A 30 year old was also released in 2003, and independent bottler Signatory Vintage also dipped a toe in Glen Flagler during the 1990s.
The Moffat complex had a short lifespan, with every distillery closed and the site demolished by 1988. Glen Flagler itself ceased operations in 1985.
This “Rare All-Malt Scotch Whisky” is an NAS Glen Flagler expression that is not often seen on the secondary market. Not a well-known brand in the modern scotch whisky industry, this bottle will appeal to avid scotch whisky historians and those who yearn for distilleries past.
Sherriff’s Bowmore Over 8 Years Old Islay Single Malt Whisky, Bottled 1970s
BUY NOW: $2,388
(Allegedly) Founded in 1779, Bowmore is Islay’s oldest distillery, known for crafting some of Scotland’s most collectible malts.
Acquired by broker Stanley P. Morrison in 1963, Bowmore entered a golden era, producing famed releases like the Black Bowmore 1964, considered a milestone in whisky collecting. Today, under Suntory’s ownership, Bowmore’s distinct profile endures, enhanced by its rare use of floor maltings for 40% of its malt.
Its older, rarer, and vintage bottlings have become extremely sought-after on the secondary market. In 2023, the Bowmore STAC 55 Year Old broke the record for the most expensive Bowmore ever sold when the hammer came down on the £562,500 sale.
This incredibly rare 1970s bottle from the Morrison era, labeled under JB Sherriff & Co., is a coveted release. JB Sherriff & Co were the Bomwore proprietors from 1925-1950. As such, the fact that the so-called ‘Sherriff’s Bowmore’ still bears the company’s name has become something of a novelty for scotch collectors.
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