Blended scotch whisky dominates the volume of worldwide sales. However in terms of value it is single malt that leads thanks to the focus on the premium side. House Of Hazelwood breaks the status quo, known for their ultra-premium blended scotch whiskies that must be at least 30 years old to even be considered for release.
With an usual focus and a fascinating origin story, we were thrilled to get a chance to speak with Jonathan Gibson and Elidh Muir, respectively Director and Blender at House of Hazelwood. They shared their insights about House Of Hazelwood and the family ethos that spans generations.
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The Origins Of House Of Hazelwood
House of Hazelwood’s collection is born out of the private whisky collection of The Gordon Family. This collection of whisky casks has been amassed by the family over the last seven decades and encompasses blends, blended malts and single grains.
Most of the stocks we have access to today were built up through the generations on a parcel-by-parcel basis from around the time that Charlie Gordon and his brother Sandy Gordon took control of the family business in the late 1950s / early 1960s. The wonderful thing about the collection is that the stocks reflect the nature of the whisky industry throughout this period and beyond, as well as the individual personalities of the family that built and curated the inventory over time.
These are whiskies that are the consequence at times of an experimental mindset, at times of casks held back to see how they developed, and at times because the stocks in question were of obvious historical significance—for example, the first drops of whisky that ran off the stills at Girvan. Much of this happened throughout periods when greatly aged scotch whisky was neither fashionable nor in demand. The collection demonstrates remarkable prescience within the family, and perhaps an instinct for what would come in the years ahead.
An Unrivaled Collection of Aged Whiskies
Over the years the collection has grown to a scale, breadth and depth that is truly unrivaled. They also reflect the creative freedom of the family that laid them down. One of the most exciting things about the collection is that there is no requirement to stick to one category (for example single malt or blended scotch), a particular house style (fruity, heavy sherry etc.) or age statement. This is empowering for us and undoubtedly the best part of our job is to work with the family to explore the stocks in detail before deciding on which are ready for release, which should be held back a little longer, and the best ways to articulate the complex, fascinating stories attached to each liquid.
The breadth and depth of whiskies is astonishing and those that have reached their peak are without exception remarkable liquids; the consequence of remarkable thinking, of brave decision-making and the luxury of time that private family ownership brings. The biggest challenge is picking our way through the inventory to bring together a collection that is at once diverse and yet that carries an identity of its own. When we do this, we set out to ensure that the whiskies we present today reflect the family and individuals that laid the original stocks down all those years ago—their mindset, their character, their ambitions. These all need to shine through in the releases we make available.
Laying Foundations
House Of Hazelwood is a business that we intend will be here in a hundred years’ time. The most important thing is laying the right foundations at this stage—both from creating the whisky to marketing it.
Our priority is to sell the whisky in the right way to people that can truly appreciate the stocks’ value, the rarity of the liquid and indeed its position within the history of the scotch whisky industry. We are fortunate in that the stories behind the whiskies are also truly remarkable, and we use these stories to communicate the rarity and unique style and flavor of the whisky.
A great example of the stories contained in our liquid is our 1964 Single Grain release: The First Drop. This is literally the very first drops of whisky to run off the stills from Girvan grain distillery—now one of the scotch whisky industry’s most important sites. That release sold out within weeks to people who appreciated the historical significance of the whisky—the wonderful thing for us is that this is now out in the world.
Stories Of Whisky
Stories from our more recent collections include The Queen of The Hebrides, a 36 Year Old Blended Malt, which is our first peaty whisky. This blend is using perhaps the rarest stocks within our collection—those traded malts from the isle of Islay. Or The Last Trace, 58 Year Old Blended Malt, is the rarest whisky in the collection. Never have we bottled a whisky that has lost so much of itself through its time in cask. Over fifty years of maturation in American oak, the casks blended to create this release have lost the majority of their contents to the angels, leaving a remarkable spirit in their wake. The Last Trace delivers wonderful contrasts of flavor that move between sweet coconut and earthier, damp notes. A complex, richly flavorsome, shapeshifting release delivering a nuanced character quite unlike anything we have seen before.
Naturally because House of Hazelwood whiskies all have 30 years plus maturation, there is a lot going on with the liquid, so it’s about making the decision as to whether we release it as a blended malt, blended grain or a blend which then dictates what journey the whisky takes. A key skill is about ensuring that each component shines through and balancing out their flavors. This is a skill that has passed down through the generations of blenders and custodians of the whisky—it’s both an art and a science, so not something you can easily quantify.
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When it comes to creating the whiskies, Eilidh Muir, blender added her thoughts on her responsibility:
“It is a real honor and privilege to get such unprecedented access to these casks which have been laid down through the generations by family members. While it is extremely special it is also a great responsibility to ensure that we do these whiskies justice. I am always conscious that it is not only about the liquid but also doing justice to all the people who have been involved in nurturing the whisky through its lifespan.”
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