.glenturret - 2002-2015 - the macphails collection - g&m

Except for the teaspoons of whisky disappearing in the Famous Grouse blends (if that still happens), you don't see a lot of Glenturret whiskies out there. Every now and then an indy bottler releases a little something, and recently, the tiny distillery is releasing their own bottlings too.

43% abv, €50
single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: sweet, ripe fruit, red apples, yellow pears, white grapes

Palate: sweet, fruit, apples, nuts, almonds, chocolate milk, citrus, oranges, a hint of tobacco leaves

Finish: sweet, milk chocolate, medium long, sweetened pipe tobacco
Mark: +++++ 

Conclusion: Good stuff, you will not be disappointed.

More info: distilled in 2002, matured in first fill ex Sherry puncheons, and bottled on 21/12/2015.

.highland park - 8yo - macphail's collection - g&m

We were on Orkney recently, and found the Highland Park distillery to be very welcoming to us. The excavations at Skara Brea were a little disappointing to us, so we skipped to the store and found a sample of this young Highland Park.

43% abv, €40
single malt

Nose: sweet, a hint of marshmallows, a slight floral touch, heather, violets, fresh cut grass

Palate: spicy, white pepper, sweet, thin honey, red fruit, res berries, raspberries

Finish: warm, sweet, vanilla, red fruit, a hint of smoke and a touch of mint
Mark: +++++ 

Conclusion: Not very quick on the nose, this one, I had to add a splash of water to get her going, and then still... Fair game, but not a stunner.
Funny how things can be worlds apart in our tasting notes, with only so little time in between.

.the glenlivet - 1974 - rare vintage - g&m

43% abv, €450

single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: sweet, deep, warm honey, fruit, pears, red apples, floral, honeysuckle, heather, creamy, bees wax, sweet hints of marshmallow, vanilla and citrus, tangerine peel, milk chocolate

Palate: spicy, white pepper, a whiff of cinnamon and all spice, nutty, walnuts, fruity, apples, pears, sweetened whipped cream, a touch of sweetness from vanilla, citrus, tangerines

Finish: long, nutty, walnuts, fruity, ripe pears, mango, dried fruit, strong apricot, dried mango, citrus, marmalade, a hint of vanilla and again a peel of sweet oranges or tangerines
Mark: +++++ 

Conclusion: Very beautiful and very unavailable for my budget. This would be a dram to gulp away over ice on a hot summer's day while flipping a burger. Just kidding of course - it would be a dram to savour in your favourite luxury leather chair, the lights dimmed, with a crackling fire in the hearth, warming your feet while spinning a record of your all time favourite band. Or whatever gets you going...

More info: Distilled in 1974, bottled on 10/11/2011

.many thanks to Gordon & Macphail for sharing this sample from their #WoodMTW campaign

.strathisla - 1967 - rare vintage - g&m

Huh. Weird stuff... Not the whisky, but the fact that this seems to be my first Strathisla whisky tasting note. Strathisla is probably the most photographed distillery of the Speyside region, and with that, the most photographed distillery - period. And so did I, from the exact same spot as everybody else takes theirs. But, the distillery may be pretty as a picture, what about their product - or at least, their product as they made it in 1967?

43% abv, €600
single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: sweet, vanilla, toffee, coffee, fruit, juicy red apples, caramelised apples, citrus, grapefruit, floral, young (green) lavender, mint

Palate: sweet, vanilla, toffee, very dry mouth feel, spice, cinnamon, fresh, mint, menthol, eucalyptus, fruitcake, raisins, dried banana

Finish: sweet, dried banana, dry, long, fresh tobacco leaf, noticeable bitter tannins
Mark: +++/++ 

Conclusion: There are worse first times imaginable. Older as I am myself, and with a similar amount of shortcomings, erhm... experiences - slightly bitter, dry, but still full of spirit and a fruity character...

More info: Distilled in 1967, bottled on 26/01/2015

.many thanks to Gordon & Macphail for sharing this sample from their #WoodMTW programme

.pretty as a picture, isn't she?

.imperial - 1991 - g&m

We have found a sample of this Imperial, a demolished distillery that has made room for the new (and improved) Dalmunach distillery we recently visited - a better timing to taste the sample was hard to find. A sample with not too much information, but if the research on the bottling code (JF / JJBH) is correct, this may be a bottling from 2006. Corrections are welcome.

43% abv, €45?
single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: sweet, honey, honeycomb, fruit, banana, ripe mango, citrus, blood orange, green malt, chalkboard, spice, candied ginger, cinnamon

Palate: sweet, honey, mouth coating, creamy, honeycomb, fruity, ripe apples, bananas, citrus, very ripe blood oranges, pomegranate, candied ginger, cinnamon sticks

Finish: medium long, creamy, slight dry, dried fruit, cranberries, apricots, citrus, candied orange peel
Mark: ++++/+

Conclusion: The chalkboard on the nose is the one thing keeping me from crawling to every shop in the neighbourhood (well, beyond, because there are not many whisky-specialist shops around here). But, if the price is right when we do find a bottle, I will not have to think long and/or hard about purchasing one. Or two.

.photo and research credits go to the Mrs. 

.ledaig - 1999-2015 - g&m - cc

Ledaig, the peated version of the Tobermory distillery on the island of Mull on the West-coast of Scotland, is often found at a fairly young age and as such, does really well between six and ten years. At 15-16 years, it certainly is not unheard of, but one could say it is rather unexpected.

46% abv, €80
single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: malt vinegar, briny, seaweed, smoke, ash, salty red apples (I don't know, but this could be a thing someday), a hint of eucalyptus

Palate: mildly sweet, a hint of vanilla, slightly briny, spicy, white pepper, sweet juicy golden delicious apples

Finish: tobacco leaves, bacon, quite a lot of ash, long
Mark: +++/++ 

Conclusion: If you are into the light and fruity, but smoky malts, she might just be your thing. Peaty, but not Islay peaty, fruity, but not Speyside fruity. Maybe quirky is a nice descriptor. She definitely has a character of her own. Which is nice. 

More info: distilled somewhere in 1999, matured in refill remade Hogsheads and bottled at 24/03/2015

.many thanks to Gordon & Macphail for sending us samples to review their #WoodMTW campain

.tormore - 1997-2014 - g&m - cc

Seems that I have a lot of catching up to do. I just found out this is going to be my very first Tormore review, whilst having been to the distillery and bringing home some samples to taste. A gorgeous looking distillery from the outside as well as the inside, mainly producing for blenders with only a small percentage ending up as a single malt - which in turn disappears mostly into their largest market; France. This cask from Indie bottling from our friends at Gordon & Macphail has found its way into a completely different territory and has now ended up in my glass for a note.

46% abv, €75
single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: sweet, toffee, vanilla, mocha, coffee beans, milk chocolate, fruit, red apples, ripe pears, citrus, blood oranges

Palate: sweet, toffee, vanilla, spicy, white pepper, cinnamon, fruit, warm apple sauce, mango, citrus, lemon zest, sweet blood oranges, a hint of grapefruit

Finish: long, medium dry, sweet, citrus. orange zest, sweet blood oranges. BOOM! Sweet grapefruit, then; milk chocolate with bits of grapefruit...
Mark: +++++

Conclusion: after a couple of seconds in the finish, you feel like you have just swallowed a grapefruit. A whole grapefruit. In one go. Fairly unexpected to be completely honest, but not unpleasant at all. Very likeable and different.
[rummages through old samples for more Tormores]

More info: Distilled in 1997, matured in a first fill ex-Bourbon cask and bottled on 06/05/2014

.many thanks to Gordon and Macphail for my first official and memorable Tormore experience

.bunnahabhain - 2006-2015 - g&m

When your boat arrives in Port Askaig on the isls of Islay, the most famous whisky island of Scotland, you can choose to drive to the 'Sound of Islay', the first distillery on your right, or you choose to drive a little further, turn right at the sign and meander another seven miles until you reach the end of the road and reach the 'Mouth of the River' - the Bunnahabhain distillery.

43% abv, €30
single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: thick sweet soy sauce, sweet heather honey, floral, honeycomb, dried fruit, mango, apricot, citrus, orange juice and zest

Palate: fresh, not too sweet but still a hint of vanilla, spicy, white pepper, cinnamon, dried fruits, apricots, rather dry mouth feel

Finish: medium long, creamy, sweet, vanilla, citrus, lemon peel
Mark: +++/++ 

Conclusion: It is good, bottled at the right time, or the Sherry notes might have taken over the beauty of the spirit itself. A very nice daily dram, very likeable, very affordable.

More info: distilled in 2008, bottled on 02/04/2015, after having matured in a combination of first and refill ex-Sherry Hogsheads.

.many thanks to Gordon & Macphail for sending us this sample from their #WoodMTW campaign

.tomatin - 1997-2014 - g&m - cc

The "Wood Makes the Whisky" campaign of Gordon & Macphail has reached our doorstep once more, this time, one of the selection proved to be a Tomatin from 1997, matured in a refilled ex-Bourbon cask, long after the distillery had been the largest in Scotland. Refill ex-Bourbon casks and maturing Tomatin spirit always have seemed to please my palate...

46% abv, €75
single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: sweet, vanilla, fruity, apples, unripe pears, mangos, red fruit, berries, gooseberries, a hint of floral notes, sweet roses

Palate: sweet, a hint of vanilla, berries, gooseberries, fruit, ripe bananas, citrus, orange peel, nuts, almonds, a touch floral, roses, green herbs, basil, spicy, white pepper

Finish: medium long, green herbs, basil. It diminishes at first, but comes back with fruitiness and a vanilla cream coating.
Mark: +++++ 

Conclusion: Very pleasing indeed. A dram to enjoy in the late hours of Summer or early Autumn, with the last embers on the barbecue still trying to show their orange glow in the grey charcoal and... Well, you get the idea. Besides that, pick your own moment. I find it very enjoyable.

.the benriach - 1997-2012 - g&m - cc

In the Northern areas of the Speyside region lies the Benriach distillery, known for a rich and fruity character of their spirit. In 1997, independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail purchased a batch of this spirit and matured it in their own refill ex-Sherry Hogsheads, to be bottled in 2012 for their 'Connoisseurs Choice' label, their very successful range of exclusive single malts.

46% abv, €60
single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: sweet, marzipan, fruity, fresh raspberries, dried fruits, raisins, herbal, laurel, sage, nuts, almonds

Palate: sweet, creamy, spicy, cloves, black pepper, nuts, almonds, macadamia nuts,

Finish: sweet, nuts, macadamia nuts, hazel nuts, medium long, light
Mark: +++/++ 

Conclusion: quite spicy, yet light and fruity. Very likeable.

.many thanks to Gordon & Macphail for sending us a sample to review

.brora - 1982-2008 - g&m - cc

From the mothballed Brora distillery on the Clynelish site - one of my all-time favourite single malts, this was a highly anticipated dram to me. After having built the 'new' Clynelish site in 1969, the original site was shortly closed, to be reopened as 'Brora' and produce 'Caol Ila' style whisky for blending. Due to its own popularity, the distillery kept distilling until 1983, and is since then closed and mothballed.

My first ever Brora...


43% abv, €600

single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Neh. No notes, only leaving a mark.

Mark: +++++ 

Conclusion: Brilliant stuff, but not as brilliant as I had hoped. If you are looking for a nice beefy peated malt, look for a Caol Ila, which is far better available and affordable, also for similar aged products.

.glen grant - 1954 - g&m

A true example of what time and wood can do with a good spirit. 58 years in a cask has matured this whisky to her zenith very nicely, and Gordon & Macphail were there just in time to bottle and share it with us.

.ardmore - 1996 - g&m

Gordon and Macphail have a series of bottlings they have released with the 'official' labels from these distilleries. In the past, Ardmore did not release their own bottlings, and they still hardly have any, although they can be found as single malts via many independent bottlers and blenders.

.speyburn - 1989-2013 - g&m - cc

The Speyburn distillery has a history of creating whisky solely for the blenders around Scotland. Every now and then an independent bottler got hold of a cask or two and managed to fill a couple of bottles for us to enjoy. Gordon and Macphail are one of the better known bottlers and filled a series for their the Wood makes the Whisky philosophy.

.the macallan - 9yo - g&m

"Gordon & MacPhail bottles a series of single malt whiskies from one of the world's most famous distilleries - Macallan. Established in 1824 the distillery overlooks some of the finest fishing beats on the River Spey."

.the glenrothes - 8yo - g&m

From the MacPhail's Collection of Gordon & MacPhail's the Wood makes the Whisky programme, a nice, creamy and fruity Glenrothes.

.rosebank - 1991 - 2009 - g&m - cc

Some distilleries are closed for mysterious reasons. Rosebank is one of these distilleries...

.ardmore - 17yo - 1997 - cask# 5555

Our whisky friend Stefaan, from Whisky with Friends surprised us with a sample of this Ardmore, which he had received from Whisky Warehouse, the Belgian importer for Gordon & MacPhail. This particular cask, #5555, was bottled especially for the importer and this particular bottle was shared with other whisky bloggers and enthusiasts to sample and review. I am quite possible last of the Mohicans, and am not even sure the bottle is still available, but, you know, stuff came up and such.

.bunnahabhain - 8yo - heavily peated - g&m

A heavily peated version of Bunnahabhain, where the "standard" whiskies are ordinarily non-peated. She has matured in a refill ex-Sherry butt and is bottled on 18/04/2014.

.jura - 1995-2010 - connoisseurs choice

43% abv, €45, single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: briny, salty, sweet, fudge, soft caramel, toffee, fruity, sweet pineapple, bees-wax
Palate: spicy, hot, band-aids, briny, a whiff of smoke, metallic
Finish: long, briny, smoke, ash, band-aids
Mark: +++++