G&M CC Speyburn 1989
$339.99
Bottled at 46% under Gordon Macphail's revamped Connoisseurs Choice label. Matured in Refil American Oak Hogsheads. Only 6 bottles coming to KWM.
Producer's Tasting Note
"Aroma Fresh and delicate: vanilla weaves into mango, kiwi, and pear, delightful elderflower. Zesty lemon transforms into green moss, and garden herbs. Taste Mouth-warming chilli followed by mature oak opens into plump, mature strawberries and raspberries coated with white chocolate. A subtle herbal undertone adds depth. Finish Gentle and soft, pronounced pear and ripe banana fade into oak."
About Speyburn Distillery (Courtesy Gordon Macphail)
"For over 25 years Miltonduff Distillery produced 2 different Single Malt Whiskies. In 1955 due to the increased demand within Hiram Walker for different styles of whisky, a chemical engineer, Alistair Cunningham designed the Lomond Still. This type of still had a wide neck which housed three rectifying plates. These plates were used to vary the amount of reflux that took place within the still thus altering the spirit produced. The plates could either be filled with cool liquid or left dry. They could be rotated - the horizontal position would maximise reflux while the vertical position would reduce reflux. Due to increased demand for Ballantines Blend in the 1980s, the Mosstowie stills were altered to produce Miltonduff - the key component of Ballantines."
G&M Discovery Tormore 13 Year
$89.99
Matured in ex-Bourbon casks for a lucky 13 years and bottled at 43%.
G&M Discovery Miltonduff 10 Year
$89.99
Bottled in 2018 as part of Gordon & MacPhail's Discovery Range - this Miltonduff was aged in ex-sherry casks and bottled at 10 years of age and 43% ABV.
G&M Rare Old Glencraig 1975
$1,899.99
Distilled in 1975 and matured in Refill American Oak Hogsheads the whisky was bottled in 2012 at 37 years of age and 46%. Only 3 bottles coming to KWM. Glencraig is not a distillery, but a single malt distilled between 1958 and 1981 at Glenburgie Distillery.
Producer's Tasting Note
"Aroma Sweet and fruity with tropical fruit and sweet vanilla notes. A spicy edge with charred oak and orange peel aromas. Taste Dry and earthy initially with a subtle spiciness, hints of dark chocolate, and orange zest. Aroma with Water Floral aromas with Parma Violets and a refreshing lemon and lime citrus note. Taste with Water Cedarwood with lime zest and a floral edge, Parma Violet. Body Medium with a pleasant complexity. Finish Medium; smooth and fruity."
About Glencraig Whisky (From Gordon Macphail)
"Glencraig is the name of the spirit briefly distilled by the Glenburgie Distillery for twenty-three years, between 1958 and 1981. This spirit is unique and unusual as it was distilled using the now exceptionally rare Lomond stills. Lomond stills differ from a standard pot still; their swan neck is cylindrical in shape and the addition of a water jacket at the top controls the amount of reflux during distillation. As the characteristics of the whisky differed to that of Glenburgie, the producers named it Glencraig, after the production director at the time, William Craig. A noteworthy fact, Mr Craig is one of a few people to have a single malt whisky named after them. We continue to nurture these casks and bottle this spirit in our 'Rare Old' range."
G&M Rare Old Tomintoul 1968
$1,899.99
Filled into Refill Sherry Hogsheads in 1968, the whisky was bottled in 2012 after 44 years at 45.5%. Only 3 bottles are coming to KWM.
Producer's Tasting Note
"Aroma Subtle Sherry influences with hints of marzipan and milk chocolate. A touch of beeswax polish develops with fresh fruit aromas: ripe banana, peach, and lemon. Taste Chilli spice initially with honey, orange zest, and gooseberry flavours. These combine with a lingering menthol and peppermint edge. Aroma with Water Sweet with citrus aromas, treacle, orange, and lemon. Peppermint and tobacco notes develop with a trace of sugared almonds. Taste with Water Sweet and creamy with strawberry, raspberry, and milk chocolate. A slight nuttiness develops - almonds and brazil nuts. Body Medium. Finish Long; sweet and creamy."
About Tomintoul Distillery (Courtesy Gordon Macphail)
"Tomintoul distillery was founded by the whisky broking firms W&S Strong and Hay & MacLeod, and despite being over 50 years old, is one of the newer Speyside distilleries having opened in 1964. The operation, based on the banks of the River Avon, just south of Glenlivet, grew quickly and in 1974 the number of stills had doubled from two to four, when it first came to market as a single malt in its own right."
G&M Rare Old Convalmore 1975
$1,253.74
COMING SOON - !!ONLY 3 Bottles for KWM!!
Bottled after 40 years after maturing in Refill American Hogsheads at 46%. Only 3 bottles are coming to KWM.
Producer's Tasting Note
"Aroma Sweet honeycomb, ripe banana, and underlying beeswax aromas. Vanilla and hints of butterscotch combine with toasted almond notes. Taste Cracked black pepper leading to pear, plum, and blueberry flavours with subtle charred oak undertone mingles with a lingering milk chocolate edge. Aroma with Water Apricot jam, flambéed pineapple, and vanilla ice cream aromas initially. A subtle eucalyptus edge develops. Taste with Water Sweet and creamy with hints of Parma Violet, apricot, pineapple, and crystallised ginger. A charred oak flavour develops and combines with a dark chocolate finish. Body Medium. Finish Long and sweet with traces of smoke."
More About Convalmore (Courtesy Gordon Macphail)
"Convalmore takes its name from the Conval hills to the west of the distillery, this is where it gets its water supply from. The distillery was established in 1893 by Convalmore - Glenlivet Distillery Company and production began in February of 1894. Ten years later the distillery went into liquidation and it was then sold to W P Lowrie & Company. After facing financial troubles in 1906 Lowrie sold the distillery to James Buchanan, their best customer. DCL took over the distillery in 1930, and in 1985 it was mothballed. Wm Grant & Sons purchased the site for its warehouse space. Convalmore has only been bottled as a single malt by independent bottlers."
G&M Rare Old Glenlochy 1979
$1,199.99
Distilled in 1979 and bottled in 2015 at 46% after maturing in a Refill Sherry Hogshead. Only 3 bottles are coming to KWM.
Prodcer's Tasting Note
"Aroma Campino boiled sweets and fresh apple pie. Freshly cut green grass and driftwood aromas. Taste Initially sweet and salty - toasted digestive biscuits - with a hint of smoke. Aroma with Water Aromas of Manzanilla Sherry and hot sand on the beach. Dark chocolate and freshly ground black pepper notes emerge. Taste with Water A subtle smokiness with flavours of freshly baked shortcrust pastry and oiled wood developing. Body Medium. Finish Long."
About Glenlochy Distillery
"This western highland distillery was built in 1898 by the Glenlochy - Fort William Distillery Co. Ltd, founded by David McAndie of Nairn. Glenlochy was in production until 1919. It then fell silent, apart from a short period during 1925. Thomas Rankin, a local car hirer, bought the distillery in 1937, but it was not long before he sold in onto a group who eventually acquired quite a portfolio of distilleries: including Bruichladdich, Benromach, Fettercairn, Glen Esk and Glenury Royal distilleries around the same time. Glenlochy was in production until 1983. In 1992 the site was then sold and demolished."
G&M Rare Old Coleburn 1981
$1,049.99
COMING SOON - Only 3 bottles for KWM!
This is one of but 2 or 3 bottlings of Coleburn we've ever seen at KWM. The whisky was bottled after 34 years from a Refill Sherry Hogshead at 46%. Only 3 bottles are coming to KWM. The distillery is one of the lesser known closed distilleries.
Producer's Tasting Note
"Aroma Subtle Sherry aromas lead to plum, red apple, and custard notes. A fresh lime undertone develops. Taste Peppery but creamy with lemon, grapefruit, and hints of cocoa powder. Charred oak flavours combine with a hint of liquorice. Aroma with Water Sweet vanilla, candied fruits, and pear aromas are complemented by hints of cocoa. Taste with Water Creamy and sweet with apple, summer berries, and grapefruit. An undertone of oak combines with a toasted hazelnut edge. Body Medium. Finish Long and mouth watering with a lingering trace of smoke."
About Coleburn (Courtesy Gordon Macphail)
"In 1896, John Robertson of Dundee strategically selected a spot between Elgin and Rothes to build the Coleburn Distillery. Located to the east of the River Lossie, the distillery was ideally placed to take advantage of both the local Glen Burn and Great Northern Railway. Robertson employed the services of the famous Elgin architect Charles Doig who was well known for his classic distillery buildings and the ‘Doig Ventilator’, the aesthetical pagodas used to draw in air and expel kiln smoke. In 1985 Coleburn was mothballed; most of the original buildings and warehouses remain onsite, a reminder of its past production. Coleburn produced an esoteric whisky used in a handful of blended whiskies and is rarely found as a single malt."
Cadenhead Ord 2005 Quaich Cask
$124.99
This Cadenhead Glen Ord was selected and bottled for the group known as the Companions of the Quaich. There are only 198 bottles available of this 13-year-old single malt, bottled at 55.1%.
This bottle was featured on Day 18 of our 2018 KWM Whisky Advent Calendar.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: malty, honeyed and sweet; raspberry and kirsch eau de vie; red shoelaces, vanilla pods and hibiscus syrup; a building spicy backboned with candied ginger and wood spices.
Palate: still sweet, honeyed and malty with a toasty-creamy mouthfeel; chunky barley with a flinty minerality and creamed honey; more red shoelaces, subtle floral tones, vanilla and hibiscus syrup; crisp citrus fruits and a coating oily body; the spices build with each sip: more candied ginger and wood spice.
Finish: coating, creamy, malty and oily with more ginger and wood spice; fresh and honeyed with orange and white fruits.
Comment: this bright, honeyed and spicy malt is a very well balanced dram, and a sessionable whisky; independent bottlings of this whisky are hard to come by making this a rare find.
Evan's Tasting Note
Nose: floral and spicy notes along with lots of toasty, malted grain. Sunflower seeds pistachios, a touch of canola oil, grapefruit rind, baked apples, cinnamon, yeast and bread, and dried grass clippings.
Palate: spicy ginger and black pepper meet creamy honey in a burst of flavour and sensation up front, pineapple, golden delicious apple and yellow plums, vanilla and light oak and wood notes.
Finish: The spice sticks around eventually makes more room for the sweet notes to linger. A touch nutty and dry on the very end.
Comment: The battle between spice and sweet is a lot of fun. It might take your palate a few sips to acclimate, but once it does there is no looking back.