Scotch Single Malt A-Z

Aultmore distillery produces an aromatic and fresh spirit, and when paired with American oak such as this single cask, creates a juicy and lush style, redolent of tropical fruit salad, with pineapple and green apple notes. A flavour of orange marmalade comes through with a touch of jasmine adding the quintessential Speyside floral quality.

This new expression comes from Gordon & MacPhail's 'discovery' range, offering fine examples of some of the distinctive cask and spirit types in Scotland. Bottled from sherry casks from the Bunnahabhain distillery, this is not dominantly peaty at all - rich and sweet with sherry cask fruitcake notes, with vanilla, a touch of orange marmalade. Finishing with a rounded milk chocolate note in the finish and the faintest thread of smoke and salt.

Matured for a total of 13 years, the final 2 years of this Caol Ila were spent finishing in ex-Sassicaia red wine casks, a 'super Tuscan' red wine from Italy. The cask shows its character immediately with blackcurrant, dried fig and black forrest fruityness wrapping around Caol Ila's meaty peat smoke. The smoke and fruit mingle together, combining to create a distinctive fruity, peaty concoction that has made this on-going release from G&M so popular.

Distilled at the long-lost Convalmore of Dufftown, this single cask bottling from Gordon & MacPhail is a rare example of the distitillery which closed in 1985. Bottled from a single refill American oak Hogshead cask, after 46 years of maturing the yeild was just 138 bottles.

Since its closure, there have been just a small number of releases from the distillery, making it one of the most rare and elusive of all the closed producers in Scotland.

Bottled from a single first-fill ex-sherry hogshead, this dark and brooding Dailuaine offers an explosion of sherry-driven notes - autumnal spice, medjool dates and stewed raisin flavours. A dry edge of roasted coffee beans joins a faint herbal note, with summer fruits and old wooded notes to round out the finish. Bottled at natural strength without the addition of water or colouring.

Distilled in 1965 for a truly staggering 54 long years, this Glen Grant was matured in a single refill sherry butt. The nose is sweet and festive, mixed spices, rich sherry influence, juicy clementine, autumn fruits, toasted almonds and menthol. Mouth warming palate, fresh ginger with stewed plums. Rich morello cherries, all surrounded by traces of charred oak. The finish is long and lingering with notes of aniseed. A rare gem from the depths of G&M's remarkable archives of old casks from the 1960's.

A new addition to the 'Discovery' range from Gordon & MacPhail, this expression comes entirely from American oak casks from the GlenAllachie distillery in Speyside, Scotland. This wood profile is typified by creamy custard, fruity notes of apple and banana, and a flavour of blossom honey. A great example of this traditional style, and a distillery that is very rarely seen independently bottled like this.

Specially selected from the Glenburgie distillery by Gordon & MacPhail, this 16 year old single cask oozes the uniquely tropical, fruity and exotic tones of a classic Speyside Scotch whisky. A fresh and fragrant quality of coconut, marzipan and herbal flavours can be found as well, typical of the American oak used to make this fine single malt.

This ancient single cask bottling comes from arguably the most famous distillery in Scotland, The Glenlivet, and was filled, selected and bottled exclusively by Gordon & MacPhail. Distilled in 1954, this cask has sat undisturbed for 64 years, under the supervision of 2 generations of the Urquhart family, owners of Gordon & MacPhail. At 41% ABV, this cask has slowly shed its alcohol strength over 5 decades - any longer in the cask this could well have been lost to evaporation. Among the millions of casks maturing in Scotland, an incredibly small quantity will ever achieve a maturation period as long as this.

Cask #1412, ex-refill sherry butt. Filled 15th April 1954, bottled 27th April 2018. Outturn, just 222 bottles.

As the stocks from this era continue to evaporate and become extinct, G&M are one of the only companies in the world able to mature and bottle such remarkable liquid history.

For the full tasting notes, please view this video from G&M: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Uou4fgwmFU&feature=youtu.be

This 11 year old Glenrothes is an excellent addition to the Gordon & MacPhail 'Discovery' range. An example of everything you'd want from a sherry cask matured whisky; on the nose there is a distinctive note reminiscent of a box of Sun-Maid raisins and rich toffee. To taste, raspberries and blackberries mingle with hints of cinnamon and charred oak. This whisky boasts a beautifully creamy mouthfeel with a lingering finish of butterscotch sauce, milk chocolate and a suggestion of orange.

An exceptional single cask bottling from Highland Park distillery located on Orkney. Gordon & MacPhail have selected this cask at part of their ‘Private Collection’ which focus on greatly-aged single malts. Distilled in 1984 this whisky rested for 37 years in a single refill American hogshead cask, bottled at 46.3% with a yield of 116 bottles. Fragrant lemon intertwines with honeydew melon and sweet demerara sugar. Notes of grapefruit zest and walnuts develop alongside crisp red apple. The palate is loaded with fruit. Zesty citrus gives way to guava with a side of cured meats. Dried mango, toasted almonds and spicy pepper appear before leaving you on the finish with subtle smoke, green apple and spiced poached pears.

The peated whisky made at the Tobermory distillery is called Ledaig (pronounced le-chig) and this new whisky comes from the 'smoky' selection of the discovery series by Gordon & MacPhail. On first sniff, there is a rich plume of peat smoke, becoming tinged with a rubbery (burnt tires) notes and cured smoky meat. To taste there is a weighty, oily sweetness, with vanilla and stewed fruits coming through, followed by lime and a kick of peat smoke again, and chocolate in the finish.

Distilled at Linkwood in Speyside in 1991, this single cask was chosen by Gordon & MacPhail after 30 long years years of maturation. The cask, previously used to make sherry, yielded 549 bottles at a natural strength of 53.1%. A richly sherried nose has hints of blueberry and citrus, with plenty of stewed raisin flavours. Autumnal wood spice surrounds the whisky, showing off 3 decades of maturation in fine oak.

Matured for 25 years years exclusively in ex-Sherry casks, this acclaimed bottling by Gordon & MacPhail comes from the famous Linkwood distillery in Scotland. A very rich whisky that shows its wood influence well, with stewed fruits (apples, raisin, cherries) all at the fore, with a delicate floral note underneath. An aroma of old polished oak also comes through, leading to a flavour of date, prune and raisin with a nutty edge. A very balanced whisky that is never overwhelmed by the wood, with the distillery character still shining after 25 years.

Distilled in 1981, this exceptionally rare bottling from Gordon & MacPhail comes from the long-lost Lochside distillery in Montrose on the east coast of Scotland. Through its history there have been few expressions of Lochside, and even when it was still producing, there were scant number of whiskies released under the name. While the exact number of casks that remain maturing in Scotland is unknown, it would be among the most uncommon and rarest. This release was chosen from a single ex-refill sherry hogshead cask, matured for 41 years and yielding just 124 bottles.

We are very proud to be able to offer such a rare bottle, available in-store and online.

Tasting notes:

Rich stewed fruit aromas combine with medjool dates and citrus peel. Pressed apple and sultanas develop alongside subtle aniseed. Smooth flavours of seville orange gives way to baked apple and a hint of aged leather. Toasted almonds lead to herbal influences.

Milton distillery, was built in 1786 in the village of Keith, and it still remains in production on the original site. As the oldest continuously operating distillery in Speyside., how is it this name is little-known outside of old whisky books and locals? Milton operated under its original name until 1951 when it was re-named by the new owners (Chivas Bro's.) to Strathisla, now one of the most recognised and sought-after whiskies in Scotland.

Gordon & MacPhail have purchased spirit from Milton and then Strathisla for decades, and over the years we have seen a number of old expressions from them, but only ever under the Strathisla name..

In 2022, Gordon & MacPhail took the historic step of bottling this, their final ever cask bearing the name Milton, producing just 180 bottles. This 1949, 72 year old is the oldest expressions to be released under either the Milton or Strathisla name, and is officially the last cask of its kind from G&M.

For further details on this special release, please click here for a catalogue.

Part of famed independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail's new 'Discovery' range, this 10 year old Miltonduff from Speyside, falls under their 'sherry' profile, an introduction to the bold flavour ranges that Scotch has to offer. Dry, sherry aromas mingle with stewed raisin and roasted hazelnut, complemented by a fresh citrus edge. Creamy milk chocolate and orange zest flavours lead to spiced stewed fruits. The finish is fruity with lingering citrus.

This Mortlach 25 year old is part of Gordon & MacPhail's famous 'distillery label' series, with selected distilleries who entrust the Urquhart family to carefully mature and bottle their spirit. This Mortlach offers rich and complex flavours - macerated rum-soaked raisin notes, beeswax polish and a subtle note of meaty, savoury qualities. The palate has a taste of stewed summer berries along with cloves, cinnamon and a zesty hint of orange peel. A very fine old single malt from the great Mortlach distillery.

Distilled at the St. Magdalene (also known as Linlithgow distillery) in 1982, this limited edition release from Gordon & MacPhail is part of the 'Recollection' series, offering a rare glimpse of some of Scotland's long-lost closed distilleries. Distilled a year before its closure, this cask matured for 39 years prior to bottling, with a yield of just 165 bottles.

This is an exceptional example of this iconic Lowland distillery.

Bottled under Gordon & MacPhail's acclaimed 'distilery label' series, this Strathisla was distilled in 2009 and bottled in 2022. This is exactly what you'd expect from Strathisla - ginger and clove spice at the fore, with baked apple and a touch of forest fruits. There is a herbal influence in the finish, drying slightly and again with wooded spice tones.

Filled from casks that were laid down at the Tomatin distillery in 2009, this new 'Discovery' release from G&M sees the exclusive use of American oak ex-bourbon barrels to produce a sweet and smooth single malt. The nose is intense with honey and fragrant pear, with a background note of spring blossoms. The palate is fruity with melon and white peach, leading to vanilla custard and a herbal finish that builds softly with oak spice.