Birthday present: help me choose?

[airi]

My boyfriend is turning 40 soon. Perfect birthday present: 40 year old whisky, or one distilled in 1971.

We live in Norway, where the import rules are pretty strict, so I'm going to have to go for what they have available here. So far I've found four:
Strathisla Lonach Cask Strenght 40 Y.O.
Glenfarclas Single Malt 40 Y.O.
Banff 1971
Glenfarclas The Family Casks 1971 Cask #140

Problem is: I have no idea about these. Clueless. I've found a few tasting notes, but none really stood out as more interesting than the rest. I think I'm leaning towards the Banff because it's rather unusual.

Anybody got any opinions at all?

[Muskrat Portage]

Personally, I really enjoy Glenfarclas offerings so that would be my recommendation. Either one. That being said, I've not had the opportunity to taste either of these. Canadian laws are even more Draconian than yours.

My alternate would be the Banff '71 simply because it's so rare over here. Maybe someone like C57, Ganga or Mikeymad could lend a more educated opinion as they've probably sampled one or more of these.

Muskrat Portage

[MARS]

Il will go for the glenfarclas 40 years.

But, I don't see who bottled the banff!

MARS

[Ganga]

Glenfarclas typically does very well with age. The newer Glenfarclas 40 is not supposed to be quite as good as what people normally would like. However, the Glenfarclas 40, 105 (60%) is a very good whisky. Strathisla also usually does well with age however Lonach bottlings have typically gone past peak.

Myself, I would be very curious about the family cask Glenfarclas and the Banff.

[airi]

Thanks, guys!
Hm, I think it's either the Glenfarclas 40 or Banff then. Or possibly the G family cask.
@Mars: nope, and neither do I. The information on those pages is pretty limited. :-/

[bredman]

Old Banff are usually very nice indeed. And it's a distillery that is no more. I'm also 40 this year, if the Mrs bought me a 40yo i'd be most impressed with the Banff.

[jazz lover]

Go with the Farclas 71
I just finished a bottle of Farclas 40 and IMO overrated..

[mikeymad]

I am with Jazz - Glenfarclas '71 - It is more rare (single cask) and it is at Cask Strength (more bang for the buck).

cheers,
Mikey

[MacDeffe]

The "quality" of the family casks bottlings do vary, I havent been that impressed with the "very few" I tried, I actually found the 40yo OB better. It's probably half price so you gotta see what you get for you $$ as well

The Banff sounds exciting and would be my choice if I had to choose

A quick google search of "Banff 1971" reveals only "Rare and Old Platinum" bottlings , if it's one of these you can get I would regard this a no-brainer , as the Platinum range is almost a sure hit

Steffen

[airi]

Thanks again!

I just found out the Banff is a Part des Anges/Closed distileries bottling. Not quite sure what to make of that?

[dramtastic]

Well airi,
From the recommendations so far, at least your choices have been narrowed down to the 2 Glenfarclas's, the Banff and the Strathisla. Hope that's been a help.

[Ganga]

Go with the Farclas 71
I just finished a bottle of Farclas 40 and IMO overrated..

I didn't want to speak for you. I did recall your thoughts when asked about a month ago.

Please let us know what your final decision was and it would be really nice to know what the reaction turns out to be.

[airi]

I just ordered the Banff!
Curiosity got the best of me. And the distillery's history didn't exactly help:

1824 Banff Distillery was first established in 1824 as the "Mill of Banff", then "Inverboyndie Distillery" by James (Mc)Killigan.

1863 A new Banff distillery is rebuilt on a different site after fire damage by James Simpson Jr.

1877 Distillery is rebuilt after another fire.

1941 On August 16th 1941 a single enemy aircraft bombed the site in the second world war. Intoxicates local animal population.

1959 One of the stills explode whilst being repaired by a coppersmith, destroying the still and earning Scottish Malt Distillers a £15 fine for contravening safety regulations.

1983 Whisky production finally stops and distillery was demolished.

1991 The last building of the distillery was destroyed by a fire.

His birthday is at the end of the month, I'll keep you updated! Thanks again!

[steveblack]

airi where do I find girlfriend like you... Birthday or no birthday, all that my wife gives me is a curious look every time she sees my 40 odd bottles

Hope the Bday is a grand party.

[MARS]

Nice present.
I didn't have any information on this bottling and didn't try it myself. So, I am interested about what your husband think of this one.

MARS

[airi]

airi where do I find girlfriend like you...

Norway, of course!

MARS: his birthday is on the 26th, I'll update once we've tried it!

[Muskrat Portage]

MARS: We also are lucky enough to have wives over here that are the same. Norway doesn't have the market cornered on wonderful, generous whisky - giving wives. Mrs Musky brought me back a First Release Port Ellen one year when she came home from Worlds' Curling. Insisted I open and drink it rather than leave it on a shelf, or she'd never pick me up another one.

Airi, good for you, I hope your boyfriend really appreciates the bottle.

Another happy spouse.

Musky

[MARS]

Thanks in advance for the update.

Didn't try the port ellen first release yet. It's way too expensive for my budget.
But we have the chance to have plenty of very good whisky at very good price.

MARS

[Fscott]

Well, it seems that Spaniards make good wives as well. Mine gave me a Speymalt 1971 Macallan for my birthday, with orders to open it and drink it. I just finished a dram and it was incredible. I didn't let the 27º C stop me either. As it was bottled in 2009, I might post some notes in the April live tasting. (if we do the 00s in the end)
Anyway good on you Airi and Mrs. Muskrat and of course my lovely wife.

[Muskrat Portage]

Well, it seems that Spaniards make good wives as well. Mine gave me a Speymalt 1971 Macallan for my birthday, with orders to open it and drink it. I just finished a dram and it was incredible. I didn't let the 27º C stop me either. As it was bottled in 2009, I might post some notes in the April live tasting. (if we do the 00s in the end)
Anyway good on you Airi and Mrs. Muskrat and of course my lovely wife.

Sounds like both our lovely wives are cut from the "same cloth" Fscott! Generous and adamant that we enjoy their gift, not squirrel it away to look at. I've often stated that the Stillman didn't work his craft to have it put on a shelf to be viewed. It was made to drink and enjoy! A 38 yo bottle of Macallan is certainly something to be enjoyed.
Musky