Gordon & Macphail launches 67-year-old whisky from Glen Grant as first of annual 'legacy' series
Published Date: 4th May 2021
A greatly aged and ultra-rare single malt has been released to honour the man described by whisky legend Charlie MacLean as the 'father of single malt'.
Just 355 bottles are available of the Gordon & MacPhail Mr George Legacy 1953 from Glen Grant Distillery, the first edition of a single-cask release planned each year. The 67-year-old whisky was laid down on instruction of Mr George Urquhart, or 'Mr George', as he was fondly known by those who knew him best.
Mr George was a member of the second generation of the family that owns Gordon & MacPhail, and the release marks the culmination of the company's 125th-anniversary celebrations. Keen to champion Scotland's single malts when the vast majority of the stock was used for blending purposes, Mr George travelled far and wide from the 1950s, introducing a variety of whiskies to countries around Europe. Word spread, and Gordon & MacPhail's Elgin base became a must-visit location for delegations from the US and Japan, among others, looking to strike export deals.
Distilled on Christmas Eve 1953 and spending its whole life in cask no. 4209, a first-fill Sherry butt, the first edition of the Legacy Series [RSP £5000*] was bottled on Tuesday 5th January 2021 at cask strength of 59.4% ABV, remarkable given the age of the whisky.
On the nose, the deep mahogany whisky has soft aromas of beeswax polish, stewed fruit and hazelnuts. The taste is characterised by a warming autumnal spice, with notes of plum, blackcurrant and treacle. This gives way to a long, lingering finish with fruit, spice and a hint of bonfire embers.
The support campaign charts Mr George's international adventures, often at the wheel of his Lancia Gamma loaded with cases of precious single malts from distilleries all over Scotland, matured in Gordon & MacPhail's own casks. Over this time, he built close relationships with importers in countries such as Italy and France which would go on to become some of the world's first markets of significant scale for single malt Scotch.
Glen Grant was specially selected as the first single malt in the Legacy series as Mr George held a particular fondness for the Speyside distillery.
Stephen Rankin, grandson of Mr George and Gordon & MacPhail's Director of Prestige, said: "My grandfather possessed a passion for taking single malts beyond these shores. Over many decades, he built and nurtured close relationships with some of Scotland's leading distilleries and proudly took as much as he could carry on his international trips. I have fond memories of joining him, meeting new people, and telling stories about the casks he'd chosen to bring out the best in the different types of spirit.
"He always had a soft spot for Glen Grant Distillery. The Legacy series allows us to explore some of these stories, providing some exceptional whiskies in fitting tribute to Mr George's life's work."
Celebrating its 125th anniversary over the last year, Gordon & MacPhail has built up an impressive collection of whiskies from over 100 distilleries housed in its liquid library, a testament to the close relationships forged with Scotland's distilleries over many decades.
Stephen continued: "It's the foundations of trust and mutual respect – for our partners and the whisky itself – that still very much guides the way we do things. Mr George was regarded as a master of Scotch whisky maturation; something that has been passed down through the generations."
Charles Maclean, whisky expert noted: “This is a remarkable whisky. It is full of the complexity that long maturation can bring, yet it remains astonishingly vivacious. Frankly, as good as it gets!"
For more information, visit www.gordonandmacphail.com
More Whisky News
News: Bushmills - 22nd September 2023
Planet Whiskies Distillery of the Month: Bushmills Distillery
News: Whisky Advent Calendars 2023 - 22th September 2023
Whisky Advent Calendars 2023: Available to buy online now
News: Highland Park - 21st September 2023
Highland Park Partner With The Single Malt Shop To Reveal New Whisky: Only 513 bottles of new single malt Scotch Whisky available
News: Fettercairn - 12th September 2023
Fettercairn Distillery Unveil 16 Year Old Single Malt Whisky, 2023 Edition
News: Bushmills - 7th August 2023
Bushmills Irish Whiskey Launches New 'World Wood' Series With Rare 15 and 21 Year Old Single Malts, Exclusive To Global Travel Retail
News: KANDOBLANC - 6th September 2023
Award Winning Master Blender Dhavall Gandhi Launches KANDOBLANC: Exquisitely crafted objects rooted in the art of duality
Distillery of the Month: September 2023
Whisky Advent Calendars 2023
Advertisement
Stay Connected
Get Newsletter
Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest news, popular news and exclusive updates.
Latest Whisky News
Advertisement
Find out more about Scottish Distillery
Planet Whiskies Distillery Tours
Master Distillers Q&A
-
Keith Law: Master Distiller of Diageo
There are now two special pages on this website all about the views of Keith Law, the Master Distiller at Diageo. First page is about Blended Whisky and Food and the second page is a question and answer session relating to Keith's past experiences.... VIEW ANSWERS