Gordon & MacPhail Kicks Off A New Last Cask Rare Single Malt Series

Independent Scotch whisky bottler Gordon & MacPhail, as it celebrates its 125h anniversary this year, is tapping into some of its rarest Scotch whisky casks for a new limited edition series known as the Last Cask. It is, as the name implies, one off whiskies drawn from their respective last casks held in the bottler’s warehouse in Scotland.

The first expression in this series, according to those behind it, is the new Gordon & MacPhail 1972 from Coleburn Distillery. Aged for some 47 years, it is drawn from the bottler’s cask 3511, a refill sherry puncheon. The original distillery this whisky heralds from is Coleburn, which started production in 1897 and remained active until 1985.

“The whiskies we have chosen to commemorate our 125th Anniversary are all truly unique and seldom seen in the market,” said Stephen Rankin, a fourth-generation member of Gordon & MacPhail’s owning family and the company’s Director of Prestige, in a prepared statement. “They are bottled from the last remaining casks we have from these distilleries, and marks an emotional moment for my family as they leave the Gordon & MacPhail warehouse after being left to mature by my grandfather many decades ago.

“These single malts represent not only the skills and expertise in whisky maturation built and passed down through generations, but also the passion we have in advocating the discovery of rare whiskies from some of Scotland’s lesser known, but much sought after, distilleries.

“We intend to reveal details of the other three whiskies over the coming year, with each single malt honouring this important milestone for Gordon & MacPhail.”

As it stands right now plans call for just 363 bottles of this whisky to be released, bottled at 62.4% ABV and priced at £1500, or around $2,000 USD. You’ll find some official tasting notes below.

• Aroma:  Sweet butterscotch, ripe fruit and subtle floral aromas. Caramelised sugar develops alongside waxy citrus peel, slowly transforming into fresh guava.
• Taste: Intensely sweet; fruity flavours of apricot and cooked apple with a subtle mouth-warming chilli spice edge. Subtle charred oak flavours give way to a soft undertone of mint leaves.
• Finish: A medium finish with sweet and ripe autumnal fruit and a lingering dry herbal note.