
GORDON & MACPHAIL OFFERS TASTE OF THE FUTURE WITH RANGE OF BLENDED MALTS

October 2025 – The Cairn Distillery owned by Gordon & MacPhail is inviting adventurous whisky drinkers to ‘taste the future today’, with its range of blended malts providing the flavours predicted to feature in the distillery’s single malt releases in years to come. One of the expressions – the CRN57° 70-year-old – is the world’s oldest blended malt Scotch whisky.
No date has yet been set for the release of The Cairn’s first single malts, but the CRN57° portfolio of blended malt Scotch whiskies has been crafted by the distillery’s whisky maker, Stuart Urquhart, using stock from Gordon & MacPhail’s unrivalled inventory. The distillery’s location has inspired the name, being 57 degrees north of the equator in the iconic Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands.
The CRN57° core range allows drinkers to explore flavours 12, 18, 25, 30 and 40 years into the future, with the premium expressions extending this journey to 57 and even 70 years ahead. There is also a non-age statement release: CRN57° Vision – created to align with the vision for the single malts of the future. The clear and simple tasting notes range from ‘tangy chocolate orange and banana’ to ‘toffee and strawberries and cream’. The younger blends have sweet, fruity and nutty notes, while citrus, spice and mint are more prominent in the premium expressions.

The Cairn’s future single malts are predicted to infuse the smooth flavours typical of a traditional Speyside whisky. Maturing in first-fill casks, the whiskies will be of the highest quality to be enjoyed neat or in easy-to-make cocktails.
Stuart Urquhart, Whisky Maker and Operations Director at Gordon & MacPhail, said: “Our CRN57° blended malts reflect our heritage and location, but also provides a glimpse into the future of The Cairn’s single malt whiskies. Whisky drinkers have a unique opportunity to transport their taste buds decades in the future, enjoying the notes of our 70-year-old single malt which won’t be released until 2092!
“For millennia, cairns – stacked piles of stones – have inspired people to explore and discover new paths, and that’s the direction we’ve followed for CRN57°. We want to unlock taste through exploration with a modern, simple twist. You don’t need to be a whisky connoisseur to enjoy our whiskies, just a sense of curiosity and a desire to try something new.”
The CRN57° range starts at £39.99 and is now available on www.thecairndistillery.com.

Tasting notes for the CRN57° series releases are as follows:
CRN57° VISION
ABV: 43%
Vol: 70cl
Nose: Vanilla and blueberry pie. Apple, gooseberries and fresh lime. Summer berries, cocoa powder and oak.
Palate: Apple and zesty citrus. Raspberries, figs, aniseed and brazil nuts.
Finish: Vibrant citrus and spicy pepper.
CRN57° 12 YEARS OLD
ABV: 43%
Vol: 70cl
Nose: Red apples, cinnamon and cloves. Orange marmalade and roasted walnuts.
Palate: Raspberry, apple and a touch of pepper. Sweet and spicy, along with tangy chocolate orange.
Finish: Fruity with a spicy oak finish.
CRN57° 18 YEARS OLD
ABV: 43%
Vol: 70cl
Nose: Crisp apples, blueberries and candied citrus peel. Raisins and toasted almonds topped with brown sugar.
Palate: Banana, milk chocolate and hazelnut. Strawberries and cream, and a touch of spice
Finish: Fresh lime, mint and a hint of pepper.
CRN57° 25 YEARS OLD
ABV: 43%
Vol: 70cl
Nose: Rum and raisin with brown sugar. Ripe fig and maple syrup and a hint of liquorice.
Palate: Raspberry and pistachio nut with apple and tangy orange peel.
Finish: Milk chocolate and oak.
CRN57° 30 YEARS OLD
ABV: 43%
Vol: 70cl
Nose: Rich fruitcake with candied peel and cinnamon. Toffee and Medjool dates.
Palate: Spice and pepper with sultanas, forest fruits, oak and floral notes.
Finish: Full and sweet with liquorice and spice.
CRN57° 40 YEARS OLD
ABV: 43%
Vol: 70cl
Nose: Rich Sherry with cinnamon and nutmeg, beeswax polish, dried fruits and orange peel.
Palate: Smooth and sweet. Dried tobacco, citrus and charred oak. Stewed apple, walnut and spicy pepper.
Finish: Nutty, with mature oak and roasted coffee beans.
CRN57° 57 YEARS OLD
ABV: 43.1%
Vol: 70cl
Nose: Zesty orange and rich fruitcake with baked apple and oak.
Palate: Crushed black pepper, dark fruit and butterscotch. Roasted coffee bean and dried tobacco.
Finish: Vibrant citrus and lingering spice.
CRN57° 70 YEARS OLD
ABV: 45%
Vol: 70cl
Nose: Cinnamon apple, clove spice and chocolate orange blossom.
Palate: Kumquat, aniseed and tobacco. Blackcurrant and black pepper.
Finish: Seville orange peel and mint.
About The Cairn
Nestled in the Cairngorms National Park, The Cairn Distillery is a modern home for the ancient craft of whisky-making ideal for adventure seekers and whisky lovers to be inspired by the very best Scotland has to offer.
The Cairn comes from a long line of pioneers and legacy builders – the family that owns Gordon & MacPhail and revived Benromach Distillery in 1998. The Cairn sets out to build a legacy of Scottish excellence and exceptional whisky that inspires future generations surrounded by inspiring views, passionate people and extraordinary tastes and flavours, shaped by the untamed wilderness.