Distilled on Christmas eve 1953, it took this Glen Grant 67 years to end up in my glass. Thanks to Mr George Urquhart, the second generation of the family that owns Gordon & MacPhail. He bought this cask and realized the potential of single malts at a time when most were used to creates blends.
Gordon & MacPhail are widely known for releasing some of the oldest whiskies ever, like the Glen Grant 1948 ‘Private Collection’ which is the oldest whisky I’ve been able to try (this new one comes in second). They’re also known for sourcing excellent wood, with some very rich sherry casks that seem to be airtight as well (59.4% ABV after so many years!).
In short, this could be another masterpiece from G&M.
Glen Grant 67 yo 1953 ‘Mr George Legacy’ (59,4%, Gordon & MacPhail 2021, first fill sherry butt #4209, 355 btl.)
Nose: pretty spectacular. Superbly ethereal notes of furniture polish and beeswax, mingling with herbal liqueur and lovely hints of aged balsamic vinegar. Prunes in armagnac, alongside raspberry and blackcurrant jams. Hints of tobacco and incense. Cedar wood and oriental spice. Orange peels. A little eucalyptus oil and spearmint. It’s striking how close this is coming to an old cognac or maybe rum agricole. A real nosing whisky that keeps you going for hours.
Mouth: some red fruits at first (bramble, plum, raisin, bergamot) before it evolves to mint drops, old Oloroso but also really old rum, cedar wood again and all sorts of oriental spices. Cardamom, cumin, more eucalyptus. Hints of marmalade, black tea, roasted hazelnuts and menthol. Just a few cloves and cigar leaves in the very end. It certainly has deep signs of age, but the tannins are well under control.
Finish: long, on herbal liqueurs, dark chocolate, fruit cake and some burnt orange peel.
Yet another masterpiece indeed. This Glen Grant is complex and surprisingly vibrant, a style of sherry cask that we don’t see often. Simply a wonderful tribute. Available from The Whisky Exchange, among others.