The Oldest Strathisla Whisky Ever Released Is About To Go On Sale

Famed Scottish unbiased whisky bottler and maker Gordon & MacPhail will launch a uncommon bottling of ultra-aged whisky from the Milton Distillery. The expression, among the many oldest launched by Gordon & MacPhail and among the many oldest Scotch whiskies ever launched, is the most recent version to the corporate’s Non-public Assortment vary of ultra-aged uncommon whiskies.

You’ve in all probability by no means heard of the Milton Distillery. The distillery, identified at present as Strathisla, is the oldest repeatedly working Scotch whisky distillery within the Scottish Highlands. It’s also probably the most picteresque. George Taylor and Alexander Milne initially based it in 1786 because the Milltown Distillery.

The title was modified to Milton Distillery when William Longmore acquired it in 1830. The distillery finally grew to become one of many foundations of William Longmorn & Firm Ltd. The title was modified to Strathisla in 1870.

The distillery was broken extensively because of a fireplace in 1876 and an explosion within the malt home in 1879. The ability was rebuilt and modernized, and the title was modified again to Milton Distillery in 1890.

Jay Pomeroy, an English financier, acquired William Longmore in 1940. Later convicted of fraud and tax invasion, the British authorities seized the distillery, and in 1950 it was auctioned off. Chivas Brothers, who had been acquired by Seagram the yr earlier than, was the profitable bidder. The title was modified again to Strathisla in 1951. It has been identified by that title ever since.

In 2000, Chivas Brothers was acquired by French drinks conglomerate Pernod-Ricard as a part of the breakup of Seagram’s beverage property.

Strathisla has lengthy been a core part of the Chivas Regal blended whisky. A lot of the present manufacturing of two.4 million liters is slated for Chivas.

A small amount of whiskey is bottled as a single malt, together with some expressions solely out there on the distillery’s reward retailer. There have been sporadic releases of bottlings aged between 10 and 18 years. The 12 YO expression is the most typical and is usually out there from specialist retailers.

A lot of the out there bottlings of Strathisla have been launched by unbiased bottlers. Gordon & MacPhail has been essentially the most energetic and has launched round 40 totally different expressions.

The Gordon & MacPhail bottling was distilled on Might 19, 1949. On the time, the distillery was nonetheless working below the Milton title – therefore the designation on the label.

It matured for greater than 72 years in a primary fill Oloroso Sherry puncheon, cask quantity 383. It was bottled on January 6, 2022. A complete of 180 bottles have been crammed. The ABV is 48.6%, fairly outstanding for a 72+-year-old Scotch whisky.

In response to Ewen Waterproof coat, Managing Director at Gordon & MacPhail:

Milton, or Strathisla as it’s identified at present, has small copper stills with a particular form that helps to present the spirit its wealthy, fruity and full-bodied character. Many years of expertise led us to fill the spirit right into a first-fill Sherry puncheon for long-term maturation.

Having fastidiously assessed its progress down the a long time, we really feel now could be lastly the fitting second to disclose this landmark single malt to lovers and collectors. When it comes to rarity, this deserves true ‘icon standing.’ A Gordon & MacPhail whisky of this age bearing the Milton title has by no means – and can by no means – be seen once more.

Beneath are tasting notes on the Gordon & MacPhail, From Milton Distillery, 1949 Single Malt Scotch Whisky Non-public Assortment, 72 YO, 78.6% ABV, 700 ml from a small pattern generously supplied by G & M.

The colour is wealthy, darkish gold. On the nostril, it exhibits pronounced Sherry influences of darkish dried fruit, particularly fig, candied orange and lemon zest and the rancio notes of furnishings wax and new leather-based typical of ultra-aged whiskies. There are extra vanilla notes, cinnamon, and a contact of nutmeg.

There are distinctive creamy caramel notes on the palate and flavors of baked apple and pear, candied citrus zest, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg spice. The darkish dried fruit notes appear much less pronounced on the palate than on the nostril.

The end may be very lengthy, with lingering notes of baked apple, some caramel and a little bit of nutmeg. Consider an alcoholic apple turnover. There may be additionally a really slight suggestion of smoke. It’s doubtless that in 1949 a small amount of the malted barley would have been barely peated, as was the customized in Speyside on the time.

That is an impressive whisky. Strathisla is amongst my favourite whiskies, particularly when it’s matured in first-fill Sherry casks. The G & M 1949 expression is a superb demonstration of what complexity and class Strathisla whiskies can attain when correctly aged in appropriate wooden.

Famed whisky author Charlie Maclean gave it a rating of 9¾ out of 10, among the many highest scores he has ever given to a Scotch whisky.

The whisky is predicted to hold a advised retail worth of $65,000.

It’s not low cost, however in case you can afford a bottle, seize it. It’s unlikely you’ll ever see one other one.

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