Whisky is many things to many people – but for one whisky-making family, it has represented the means to chronicle the most pivotal moments of influential people, places, and events that occurred through the 20th century. These stories, gilded in liquid gold, have remained under the watchful custodianship of the Gordon family. Today led under the mantle of “House of Hazelwood” these whiskies are a tribute to their ancestral home.
It would be remiss to not acknowledge this family’s connection to the whisky-making giant, William Grant and Sons Ltd, by which the family has built its empire. Closer to home, the Gordons also deal in whisky – but unlike those produced by the liter at some of Scotland’s most loved distilleries – these whiskies are all highly aged and rare in their provenance: the result of a lifetime of laying down stocks from the great and late distilleries of the mid-century. These liquids were at first destined for personal consumption by the family, but in 2022 the decision was made to share these stocks for the first time with the wider as it would be impossible for just one family to consume such an expansive collection. This article explores their remarkable journey, featuring standout expressions and the stories behind them, from blending at birth to pushing the boundaries of grain and malt whisky profiles.
Liquid History, Bottled
Almost a century in the making, the whiskies held within the stocks of House of Hazelwood are a compelling proposition for even the most casual of whisky drinkers. The collection of stocks was initially curated by the family figurehead, Charles Gordon.
If the name seems familiar, it should come as no surprise that this individual, nicknamed “The Accelerator” by his colleagues for his entrepreneurial tenacity, is best associated with the revolutionary whisky-making processes instilled in the mid-century – processes which still greatly influence whisky-making today. He was also the creator of the great grain behemoth, Girvan Distillery, a distillery that would go on to produce the greatest amount of whisky annually in Scotland by volume.
Every cask laid down within the House of Hazelwood collection was done so with purpose – each chosen for an intended cause. The goal was always to create a highly enjoyable dram, but many of the whiskies laid to rest were subject to innovative and experimental practices – including some processes that even today are rarely seen within modern whisky making.
We need look no further than one of House of Hazelwood’s debut releases: Blended at Birth, a 1965 Vintage Blended Scotch Whisky – a scotch whisky that today could not be recreated due to constraints of Scotch Whisky Law. A prime example of the innovative mindset that has driven the Gordon family for decades, this whisky was made by blending new make, as opposed to after it had legally “aged up” into scotch.
Few considered this wildly unconventional practice – and it is for this reason, it is one of the first and only whiskies in the world to have used such a methodology – and very possibly the last remaining in the world, never to be repeated due to the law. The resulting whisky within the bottle is as unusual as its provenance: decadent with notes of fruitcake, marzipan, and leather, balanced against a curious combination of tannin-rich herbal tea and cooling mint.
Innovation, Imbued
Of course, for a family that has built its success on innovation, it comes as no surprise that stories of experimentation and unconventional maturation can be found throughout the entire inventory. For seekers of Single Grain, The Old Ways, a 1972 Single Grain Scotch Whisky, hailing from the family distillery of Girvan gives insight into whisky-making techniques long since lost.
The name alludes to the mashbills, washbacks, tools – and even the stillmen – those who are long since retired. Perhaps one of the few remaining examples of whisky making that relied upon intuition over automation to craft a truly compelling expression of Single Grain.
The palate alludes to its nostalgic origins with flavors that are distinctly Girvan in character, yet unique compared to their modern counterparts. Complex notes await within – camping stove burners and wax jackets, all underpinned with Muscovado sugar sweetness and stewed rhubarb.
Unconventional Characters
Of course, there is more to the collection than a historical retelling of whisky making. Take A Breath of Fresh Air, a 37 Year Old Blended Grain Scotch Whisky, as an example of how innovation is imbued throughout the range. Grains could be often regarded as dessert-like in their nature, overtly cereal-based and sweet, but for this character, the wonders of fermentation have yielded a distinct mentholic profile, with unexpected tasting notes of spearmint – far from the typical grain presentation.
A look further afield to the luscious landscapes of Speyside would leave a palate expecting a sherried sensation, but for Sunshine on Speyside, a 39 Year Old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, there are no regional cliches to be found. Instead, inspired by the Club Tropicana of its distillation decade circa. the 1980s, this expression yields the most tantalizing tastes of the tropical, brilliant in its vibrance of fresh pineapple and barbecued fruit.
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House of Hazelwood & Its Ties To History
Each House of Hazelwood expression is accompanied by a story that is both authentic and deeply rooted in heritage. Perhaps it should come as no surprise that for a whisky-making family, the Gordons curated a collection that could be considered an epicurean’s ultimate desire. Every drop moves beyond the realms of flavor and is an oral representation of moments in history – from the cultural retelling of the 1980s glamour to the seemingly insignificant moments in time when, in a vatting warehouse, an inspired blender of the 1960s decided to take a risk and blend at birth a whisky that would go on to be written into scotch whisky history.
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