Garnheath 1974 44 Year Old XOP DL12779 | Douglas Laing

A Rare Closed Distillery Grain Release

Distilled at the now-closed Garnheath grain distillery in February 1974 and bottled in August 2018 by Douglas Laing for the renowned XOP (Xtra Old Particular) series, this exceptionally mature 44 year old single grain whisky spent its full maturation in a single refill barrel, cask DL12779. Bottled at natural cask strength without colouring or chill filtration, only 152 bottles were produced, capturing a style of aged Lowland grain whisky that has become increasingly scarce and highly collectible.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Strawberry cheesecake, vanilla custard, creamy cereal notes, icing sugar, polished oak, and soft tropical fruit.
• Palate: Silky and mature with buttery pastries, vanilla cream, raspberry jam, candy floss, gentle spice, and mellow oak sweetness.
• Finish: Long, elegant, and dessert-like with lingering ginger beer spice, ripe banana, vanilla oak, and fading sweetness.

Specifications

• Classification: Scotch Whisky
• Style: Single Grain
• Region: Lowlands, Scotland
• Distillery: Garnheath
• Bottler: Douglas Laing
• Series: XOP (Xtra Old Particular)
• Distilled: February 1974
• Bottled: August 2018
• Age: 44 Years Old
• ABV: 47.8%
• Cask Type: Refill Barrel
• Cask Number: DL12779
• Bottle Number: 061
• Bottle Count: 152 Bottles
• Colouring: Natural Colour
• Filtration: Non-Chill Filtered
• Volume: 700ml
• Style of Bottling: Natural Cask Strength
• Presentation: Includes Original Wooden Presentation Case and COA Insert

About the Distillery

Garnheath operated within the Moffat distillery complex in the Lowlands before eventually closing in the mid-1980s, leaving behind only a small and diminishing number of surviving casks. Mature Garnheath releases have become increasingly uncommon in the modern market, particularly well-aged single cask bottlings exceeding four decades of maturation. The distillery’s old-style grain profile often develops remarkable dessert-like sweetness and complexity over extended ageing, making older releases especially sought after among grain whisky collectors.

About the Bottling

Douglas Laing’s XOP series represents some of the company’s most mature and limited single cask selections, bottled with minimal intervention to preserve individual cask character. Long-aged grain whiskies have become an increasingly respected category among collectors due to their rarity, evolving complexity, and the declining availability of closed distillery stock. This 44 year old Garnheath reflects that style beautifully, combining elegant maturity with the rich sweetness and texture that only extended grain maturation can deliver.

Archive Notes

Please review all product images carefully. Minor cosmetic wear, scratches, or imperfections to labels, capsules, wooden cases, cartons, or presentation materials may be present due to age, long-term storage, or secondary-market sourcing.

Natural variation in fill level, packaging condition, and label ageing can occur in older releases and forms part of the character of mature collectible whisky.

Archive Release

Privately sourced and released in strictly limited quantities. Availability is finite and unlikely to be repeated once sold.

Not every bottle is meant to be found.