GORDON & MACPHAIL COMMEMORATES 125th ANNIVERSARY WITH ‘LAST CASK’ RELEASES

 

— 47YO Coleburn first in the series of four rarely seen whiskies —

Gordon & MacPhail has revealed plans to launch four rarely seen single malt Scotch whiskies to commemorate the company’s 125-year history.

Exceptionally scarce, each whisky – either from a closed distillery or made on Lomond Stills no longer in production – is from the last cask held in Gordon & MacPhail’s famous warehouse in Elgin. The rare single malts will be released periodically during the rest of 2020, providing a fitting tribute to 125 years spent in pursuit of perfection of the art of maturation. Since 1895 Gordon & MacPhail has released single malts from over 100 celebrated, little-known, or closed distilleries.

The first of the anniversary whiskies to be revealed is the Gordon & MacPhail 1972 from Coleburn Distillery in Speyside. Coleburn Distillery, situated just four miles from the company’s Elgin home, started production in 1897 and it remained active until 1985.

 

Gordon & MacPhail 1972 from Coleburn Distillery [RSP $2,499.99]

Just 363 bottles of the sweet, intense and complex 47-Year-Old whisky from Coleburn Distillery are available. After spending its entire maturation in cask 3511, a refill sherry puncheon, the golden-hued whisky has been bottled at cask strength (62.4% ABV), developing a sweet aroma with butterscotch notes.

This sweetness is carried into the taste of the whisky, with apricots flavours, cooked apples and mint giving way to a medium finish with autumnal fruit and a slight herbal finish.

 

Stephen Rankin, a fourth-generation member of Gordon & MacPhail’s owning family and the company’s Director of Prestige, said: “The whiskies we have chosen to commemorate our 125th Anniversary are all truly unique and seldom seen in the market.

“They are bottled from the last remaining casks we have from these distilleries, and marks an emotional moment for my family as they leave the Gordon & MacPhail warehouse after being left to mature by my grandfather many decades ago.

“These single malts represent not only the skills and expertise in whisky maturation built and passed down through generations, but also the passion we have in advocating the discovery of rare whiskies from some of Scotland’s lesser known, but much sought after, distilleries.

“We intend to reveal details of the other three whiskies over the coming year, with each single malt honouring this important milestone for Gordon & MacPhail.”

 

For more information visit www.gordonandmacphail.com.

#GordonandMacPhail

*Prices in international markets may vary due to local taxes and import duties.

For more information, contact Morag MacDonald or Stacey Bridges at Weber Shandwick on:

morag.macdonald@webershandwick.com/ sbridges@webershandwick.com or 0141 343 3253/ 0131 460 3007

 

Tasting notes

Gordon & MacPhail 1972 from Coleburn Distillery

Matured in cask 3511, a refill sherry puncheon and bottled at 62.4% ABV.

 

Colour: Golden

Aroma: Sweet butterscotch, ripe fruit and subtle floral aromas. Caramelised sugar develops alongside waxy citrus peel, slowly transforming into fresh guava.

Taste: Intensely sweet; fruity flavours of apricot and cooked apple with a subtle mouth-warming chilli spice edge. Subtle charred oak flavours give way to a soft undertone of mint leaves.

Finish: A medium finish with sweet and ripe autumnal fruit and a lingering dry herbal note.

 

Gordon & MacPhail Whiskies

Established in 1895, family-owned Gordon & MacPhail is curator of some of the world’s finest and rarest single malt Scotch whiskies from over 100 distilleries. Four generations of the Urquhart family have continued to pursue the perfect partnership between spirit and cask.

Since its foundation, Gordon & MacPhail has carefully matched spirit to the highest quality oak casks which are sent to distilleries throughout Scotland, filled with new-make spirit, and matured either at the distillery of origin or in the firm’s own bonded warehouse in Elgin.

 

It is this simple but endlessly complex pairing that creates an intriguing and unique portfolio of expressions – single malts that Scotch whisky lovers will not find anywhere else.

 

In April 2018, the company unveiled its streamlined portfolio:

  • ‘Discovery’ – Utterly dependable, this flavour-led range is the perfect introduction to our portfolio of quality single malt Scotch whiskies.
  • ‘Distillery Labels’ – A range celebrating our long-standing relationships with Scotland’s distilleries.
  • ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ – The heart of our portfolio – always unique, these non-chill-filtered, natural coloured, small batch expressions are genuine one-offs.
  • ‘Private Collection’ – Greatly-aged single malts from celebrated, little-known, or closed distilleries specially selected by members of the Urquhart family.
  • ‘Generations’ – A prestigious collection of old, rare, and exclusive masterpieces.

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