ABOUT THE WHISKY

This expression, matured in sherry seasoned European oak casks, recognising Mackintosh’s time in Europe, presents a beautiful, deeply coloured whisky with flavour characteristics that have been allowed to develop naturally over time.

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TASTING NOTES
EXPLORE COLOUR, NOSE, PALATE & FINISH

COLOUR Deep oak.
NOSE Rich dried fruits, raisins and fig, polished oak, cherry, orange, almonds and treacle.
PALATE Sweet oak, raisins, vanilla and ginger, apple and a wisp of leaf tea.
FINISH Long, sweet, rich and full.
ABV 50.4%

The Macallan Distillery Experience,  The Macallan Distillers Ltd,  Easter Elchies,  Craigellachie,  Moray,  AB38 9RX,  Scotland

2010 Tormore 14/15 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive First Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt Finished Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival) $74.99 View

The Speyside Distillery Tormore was one of the first new distilleries that were built in the 20th century. It’s more known for its unique and pretty architecture than for its Whiskies which predominantly are used for Blends. Tormore Distillery was granted the status “listed buildings” in 1986 although it was less than 30 years old then. The Gaelic name “Torra Mhoir” means “the big hill”.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

GORDON & MACPHAIL UNVEILS FINAL RELEASE IN ‘MR GEORGE’ LEGACY SERIES

Gordon & MacPhail has revealed the fifth and final release in the Mr George Legacy Series – an ultra-rare 70-Year-Old whisky celebrating ‘The father of single malt Scotch whisky’, Mr George Urquhart, and his lifelong quest in pursuit of the perfect dram.

Only 130 bottles available worldwide, Mr George Legacy Series 1954 from Glen Grant Distillery honours the single malt whisky pioneer and marks Gordon & MacPhail’s 130^th anniversary. Due to ‘Mr George’s’ affection towards Glen Grant Distillery, this exclusive single malt follows the previous four in the series. The liquid was distilled on 24^th April 1954, having been left to mature in cask no. 1823, a first-fill sherry puncheon for 70 years.

Bottled in January 2025 at a cask strength of 50.5%, the whisky is bursting with fruity notes with vanilla fudge and coffee on the nose, and a smooth taste that includes red apple, walnut, dried orange peel, dark chocolate and toasted oak flavours. The release is priced at £8,000 and available to purchase worldwide. *

This edition’s packaging recognises ‘Mr George’s’ pursuit of perfection, and his life’s dedication to exploring different combinations of spirit, cask and time. Fondly known by those who knew him best as ‘Mr George’, second-generation member of the family that owns Gordon & MacPhail, played a pivotal role in the success and popularity of single malt Scotch whiskies.

In the late 1960s, Mr George launched the Connoisseurs Choice range. Since its creation, the range has featured over 2,000 releases from almost 100 distilleries. By harnessing relationships with Scotland’s distillers and sending Gordon & MacPhail’s casks to be filled with new-make spirit, ‘Mr George’ became a pioneer in the combination of spirit, cask and time, creating and bottling iconic single malt whiskies in the process.

Stuart Urquhart, Operations Director at Gordon & MacPhail, said: “The fifth and final release from the Mr George Legacy Series is the perfect tribute to my grandfather’s lifetime of work, which still impacts our approach today. As we celebrate our 130^th anniversary, we not only honour the past but also inspire future generations to continue the innovation and craftsmanship championed by ‘Mr George’.

“As a fourth-generation, family-owned business, we want to commemorate our historic roots and while the Mr George Legacy Series may culminate with this release, my grandfather’s quest for perfection lives on within Gordon & MacPhail.”

Charlie MacLean, whisky writer and expert, added: “Mr George joined his father, John, in the family business in 1933. Over the next seventy years, he established close relations with distilleries throughout Scotland. He was arguably the world’s foremost expert in combining spirit, oak and time, and is justifiably described as ‘The Father of Malt Whisky’.

“This final release in the series is surprisingly vibrant for such an old whisky, but with the multi-layered complexity that can only be developed by long-maturation in the right cask. A whisky worthy of Mr George Urquhart, who will have selected the cask and who would have been proud of the result.”

The Mr George Legacy Series 1954 from Glen Grant Distillery is available to purchase from www.gordonandmacphail.com. #GordonandMacPhail

*Prices may vary in international markets.

Tasting notes for all five Mr George Legacy series releases are as follows:

First edition: The Mr George Legacy Series 1953 from Glen Grant Distillery

ABV: 59.4%

Colour: Darkest mahogany

Nose: Soft aromas of beeswax polish give way to stewed fruit and toasted hazelnuts. Subtle orange peel complements rich ginger notes.

Taste: Autumnal spice and ripe plum flavours combine with light blackcurrant undertones. Treacle comes to the fore alongside a light touch of fresh mint.

Finish: A full-bodied and long finish with lingering fruit, spice and a delicate hint of bonfire embers.

Second edition: The Mr George Legacy Series 1957 from Glen Grant Distillery

ABV: 56.1%

Colour: Mahogany

Nose: Rich fruitcake aromas intertwine with festive spices; cinnamon and ginger. Notes of Orange marmalade are accompanied by dark treacle and a hint of beeswax polish.

Taste: Morello cherries are followed by subtle dried tobacco and garden mint. Ripe red apple undertones combine with citrus peel and soft aniseed.

Finish: A spicy full-bodied finish with lasting flavours of forest fruit and charred oak.

Third edition: The Mr George Legacy Series 1959 from Glen Grant Distillery

ABV: 56.5%

Colour: Amber

Nose: Autumnal spice aromas intertwine with sweet-dried fruit and demerara sugar. Soft citrus zest comes to the fore alongside beeswax polish and walnut.

Taste: Stewed red fruit flavours lead to Seville orange with a hint of garden mint. Tart raspberry notes develop accompanied by cocoa powder and mature oak.

Finish: A full finish with lingering cinnamon and forest fruits.

Fourth edition: The Mr George Legacy Series 1958 from Glen Grant Distillery

ABV: 56.5%

Colour: Mahogany

Nose: Rich beeswax aromas lead to underlying molasses, stewed prunes and warm spices. Subtle aged leather develops alongside mature oak and a hint of cocoa powder.

Taste: Smooth and full bodied. Seville orange peel and morello cherry flavours give way to dried tobacco and roasted coffee bean. Toasted oak notes comes to the fore with a touch of liquorice.

Finish: Long and balanced finish with a faint hint of smoke.

Fifth (and final) edition: The Mr George Legacy Series 1954 from Glen Grant Distillery 

ABV: 50.5%

Colour: Mahogany

Nose: Light leather aromas lead to stewed prune, spicy clove and hints of blueberry compote. Vanilla fudge and roast coffee notes develop alongside subtle cherry.

Taste: Smooth with red apple, walnut and dried orange peel flavours giving way to tobacco and caramelised banana. Dark chocolate and spices combine with toasted oak.

Finish: Medium finish with a hint of smoke and lingering fruit.

About Gordon & MacPhail Whiskies

For 130 years, Gordon & MacPhail has been driven by a simple mission: to create single malt Scotch whisky of exceptional quality. Through four generations of family ownership, the company has matched spirit from over 100 Scottish distilleries to its casks.  It is this unique depth and breadth of experience that enables Gordon & MacPhail to combine oak, spirit and time to create a portfolio of iconic whiskies found nowhere else in the world.

2014 Bowmore 10/11 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Refill Bourbon Barrel Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival) $99.99 View

This fabulous barrel of Bowmore was distilled on July 2nd of 2014 and filled into a 2nd fill bourbon barrel. The wonderful distillery on the banks of Lochindaal remains one of the most under appreciated properties in Scotland. While of course we know Bowmore has a track record of producing some of Scotland’s legendary expressions, for many years the distillery has done very little to continue the legacy of it’s previous offerings. Not to say the distillery isn’t producing excellent whisky, but the most exciting whiskies coming from this special distillery are always bottled by independents.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

WHAT IS AUSTRALIAN WHISKY?

Australia’s long-standing brewing and winemaking industries, combined with a strong craft culture, laid the foundation for a whisky movement that’s now in full swing.

A new generation of producers has embraced a locally driven approach. Many use casks that once held Australian fortified wines, which can add savoury, fruity depth to whisky. Others work with rye from single farms, which offer earthy, spicy or nutty notes. In places like Melbourne, dramatic swings between hot and cold speed up the ageing process, often leading to bolder, more intense flavours in a shorter time.

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Clan Denny Islay Blended Malt

Now Available Online

The Clan Denny Islay Blended Malt has just landed on our website – and it’s everything a smoky Whisky lover dreams of. This characterful dram opens with a bold nose of peat, smoke, Malt, and spice. On the palate, expect rich layers of citrus and subtle sweetness, balanced by deep, smoky phenols. It finishes long and dry, with a lingering drift of smoke that keeps calling you back. At just £28.50, it’s a welcome addition to any Islay fan’s collection.

Available now – while stocks last.

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Our Clan Denny range is home to Single Grain and Single Malt Scotch Whiskies and Blended Scotch Whiskies. Our Clan Denny Regional Malts range includes a Speyside Single Malt and an Islay Blended Malt, both of which are genuinely small batch bottlings, wrapped up in premium packaging ideal for the gift market.

2012 Laphroaig 13 Year Old “Old Particular” K&L Exclusive Refill Bourbon Barrel Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival) $109.99 View

Another incredible value from our dear friends at Douglas Laing. Most independent bottlers are charging double the cost of this special Islay gem for a bottle of 10+ year old Laphroaig these days. It’s extremely difficult to find in any age range, but finding something over 10 years old that’s even semi-reasonably priced is just impossible. So when this gorgeous barrel from Laphroaig’s spring production offers an extremely classical Laphroaig albeit with an eye to summer weather. It was distilled on April 12th of 2012 and filled into a used bourbon barrel for 12 long years. At the same time it’s both deeply powerful and smokey, offering seaweed and iodine, while exhibiting subtle fruit richness that is often not exhibited in this youthful stage. Excellently apportioned with all the trappings of a legendary deal. Bottled at cask strength without chillfiltration. ABV is an estimate as the product is still in cask.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

TALISKER THE WILD BLUE

Inspired by the rugged seas that surround the Isle of Skye, the Wild Blue is the first whisky from Talisker to be finished in red wine casks from South Africa’s Atlantic coast.

This interaction has created a powerful character filled with maritime smoke, sweet oak spice, and layers of red fruit and sea salt on the nose. The palate brings notes of beach bonfires, sultanas and figs, followed by peppery smoke and orchard fruits that linger in the finish.

Talisker has partnered with the Blue Marine Foundation to support coastal wildlife initiatives. Each purchase of the Wild Blue will help support ecosystem restoration, biodiversity, cleaner waters, and the revival of oyster beds and seagrass meadows.

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Every issue of Whisky Advocate is committed to helping you grow your whisky appreciation and knowledge.Summer 2025: Ireland Elevates Its Game

On Sale May 27th, 2025

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