Introducing Johnnie Walker Black Ruby

JOHNNIE WALKER BLACK RUBY

Black Ruby is the latest expression from Johnnie Walker, a dark fruit interpretation of its benchmark Black Label blend. The whiskies richer character comes from its red wine finish, resulting in layers of dried figs, plums, cherries and honeyed sweetness, lifted by fresh berries and warming spice. This is great neat, or a superb base for cocktails like the Rob Roy or Whisky Sour.

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Old Perth Unveils Limited Edition 21-Year-Old Whisky: a rare vatting of whisky distilled at Macallan & Highland Park Distilleries   

2nd Oct 2025 Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers (MSWD) is proud to announce the release of its Limited Edition Old Perth 21-Year-Old, an extraordinary and rare expression born from a unique moment in whisky history.

The whisky’s origins date back to 2015, when casks from two legendary Speyside and Orkney distilleries were combined. At the time, the Highland Park component, distilled in 2004, was already 10 or 11 years old, while the Macallan portion was significantly older. This unusual marriage was transferred into hand-selected Oloroso Sherry Butts, where it has matured gracefully for a further decade, making the youngest whisky in the vatting 21 Years Old.

First revealed to whisky enthusiasts as an Old Perth 12-Year-Old release in 2017, followed by 13- and 14-year-old expressions the year following under Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers, this vatting quickly became a sought-after gem. Now, Old Perth is proud to present it in its fully matured form: a 21-Year-Old limited edition—a whisky of remarkable depth, complexity, and heritage.

“This release is as much about serendipity as it is about craftsmanship,” said Graeme Mackeddie, Production Director at Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers. “An operational ‘accident’ back in 2015 has given us a whisky that can never be recreated. The union of Macallan and Highland Park, enhanced by long maturation in Oloroso sherry butts, has produced a liquid of exceptional character and rarity.”

Bottled at 43.6% ABV, the whisky is described as offering rich sherried fruit, warming spices, and gentle oak. Its long finish combines Macallan’s elegance with Highland Park’s subtle smokiness.

A limited number of bottles will be available from 3 October 2025 via specialist retailers in the UK and Europe, priced at RRP £178.

The Old Perth 21-Year-Old showcases:

• Distillery Heritage: A unique fusion of whiskies distilled at Macallan and Highland Park Distilleries.
• Cask Influence: Matured exclusively in Oloroso Sherry Butts.
• Unrepeatable Rarity: A whisky born of chance, bottled with intention.

This limited-edition release embodies the essence of Old Perth’s commitment to delivering whiskies of outstanding quality and provenance.

The Old Perth 21-Year-Old will be available in select specialist retailers in the UK and Europe for a RRP of £178 on the 3^rd October 2025.

Tasting Notes:

Rich layers of sherried fruit, warming spices, and gentle oak, with a lingering finish that speaks to both the Macallan’s elegance and Highland Park’s smoky complexity.

For more information, stockist listings or image assets, visit: www.oldperthwhisky.co.uk/stockists

Islay

We are in the beautiful Island of Islay home to heavily peated and maritime styles of whisky. This tiny island boasts ten distilleries each with its own unique smokey character, offering a chance to try the varying styles of peated whisky.   From new kid on the block Ardnahoe to old favourites like Bowmore, Laphroaig  and Lagavulin, there is something to enjoy for all!

HEBRIDEAN HEROES❯

Free Next Day Delivery for 12 Months For just £14.95 you can enjoy free next day delivery on all your orders for a whole year! Geographic restrictions apply, see full T&Cs. Find out more ❯

ARDBEG EXPERIMENTS WITH AMONTILLADO CASKS
FOR THE SECOND VINTAGE IN ITS MILLENNIUM SERIES

 < Nutty and smoky 24-year-old whisky is throwback collection’s rarest yet >

Ardbeg Islay single malt Scotch whisky today shares the second ultra-rare release in its millennium vintage series: the delicately nutty and smoky Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K 24 Years Old. Created at a pivotal moment in Ardbeg’s story, this highly limited bottling comprises some of the first Ardbeg ever finished in Amontillado sherry casks.

The year 2000 will go down in Islay history for many reasons. It was, of course, the era of the elusive millennium bug, which sparked fears of computerised chaos across the island and the world at large. But it also marked a new beginning at Ardbeg. Since being saved from extinction in 1997, the Distillery had been renovated and meticulously restored. And in 2000, it finally returned to full production. Created that year, each of the whiskies in Ardbeg’s Vintage_Y2K series is a smoky anomaly. They mark the malt’s revival by uniting unique spirit from the Distillery’s historic 51-year-old still (revered for its long service before being retired in 2001) with whisky-making techniques new to Ardbeg.

To celebrate that throwback spirit in the series’ second release, Ardbeg’s Director of Whisky Creation was inspired to experiment with his favourite sherry casks. And so, Dr Bill Lumsden MBE finished a parcel of that millennium stock in hand-selected Amontillado casks – a first for Ardbeg.  Combined with classic, bourbon-aged Ardbeg, the sherry casks bring to life an exceptionally delicate whisky, filled with notes of creamy toffee, almonds and tobacco. A year older and even more limited than the series’ first Vintage_Y2K release, the 24 Years Old bottling promises to be highly sought-after by collectors of Ardbeg. The whisky’s custom ABV of 47.8% has been especially selected to enhance its smoky flavours.

Dr Bill said: “The ultra-rare whiskies of our Vintage_Y2K series are hugely precious, since they mark the start of a new generation of Ardbeg. Older and even rarer than its predecessor, the 24 Years Old is a real treat for Ardbeg super-fans.

“Distilled in Ardbeg’s historic still, its spirit is some of the last created before it was retired. And while Amontillado sherry is an all-time favourite of mine, we have not used them before to finish an Ardbeg. Combined with classic Ardbeg, their wood creates a sublimely delicate whisky. Sherried notes of toffee and nuts meet bonfire embers and coal tar soap, with an edge of menthol. A fitting celebration of Ardbeg’s rebirth.”

The Ardbeg history books recorded another significant development at the Distillery in the millennium. As a few dedicated fans hatched a plan to ensure the Distillery’s doors never closed again, the Ardbeg Committee was born. A quarter-century later, that loyal fanbase is an Ardbeggian institution, spanning more than 140 countries and 200,000 strong. The Committee is free to join at ardbeg.com.

Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K 24 Years Old was recognised with a Double Gold award at the International Spirits Challenge 2024.

RRP: £680 

www.ardbeg.com

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Ardbeg Vintage Y2K 24 Years Old Tasting Notes:

ABV: 47.8%

Colour: Bright Amber

Aroma: Pungent, deep, aromatic and spicy, with beautiful notes of creamy toffee, flowering blackcurrants, creosote, coal tar soap, antique leather and almonds. With a splash of water, hints of charcoal, graphite and damp moss emerge, along with a distinct sooty note. 

Taste:   Astonishingly powerful and spicy on the palate, with a burst of deep intense, smoky flavours. Coal tar mingles with woodsmoke, while antiseptic lozenges meet bonfire embers. The Amontillado sherry casks are present, albeit in the background, with subtle notes of toffee, leather, cinnamon and clove.

Finish:   Long and lingering, with hints of menthol, eucalyptus, linseed oil and charcoal.

RRP: £680

Ardbeg

Ardbeg prides itself on being The Ultimate Islay Single Malt Whisky. Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts. Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’. During the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg suffered from an uncertain future, and it was not until the brand was purchased by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction. Since then, the Distillery has risen like a phoenix and today Ardbeg is well-established as a niche, cult malt, with a passionate following. Today, Ardbeg is one of the world’s most highly awarded smoky single malt whiskies. 

The Ardbeg Committee

The legacy of the whisky was safeguarded in 2000 by the formation of the Ardbeg Committee.  The Committee is made up of thousands of Ardbeg followers worldwide who are keen to ensure that “the doors of Ardbeg never close again”. Today there are more than 200,000 members of the Ardbeg Committee in over 140 countries.  Committee Members are regularly consulted on new bottlings and expressions and are offered exclusive Committee bottlings.  Members also receive invitations to special gatherings, tastings and events.  The Committee, chaired by Master Blender Gillian Macdonald and Visitor Centre Planner Bryony McNiven, is free to join at ardbeg.com.

Awards

Ardbeg is one of the world’s most highly awarded smoky single malt whiskies.  Since 2008, Ardbeg has won more than 50 gold and double gold medals in key whisky competitions.  Ardbeg has twice been awarded ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards (2010, 2013).  At the 2014 Global Icons of Whisky Awards, then Distillery Manager Mickey Heads was voted ‘Distillery Manager of the Year’.  The following year, Ardbeg’s expressions took the top three spots in Whisky Advocate magazine’s review of the best single malt Scotch whiskies under US$100.  Meanwhile, both Ardbeg Corryvreckan and Ardbeg Uigeadail have been awarded gold medals at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Ardbeg Ten Years Old also won the Best Single Malt Scotch 10 Year Old at the International Whisky Competition 2019, while the Ardbeg Distillery won the Distillery of the Year 2019. In 2020, the International Whisky Competition awarded Ardbeg Corryvreckan first place for Best Single Malt Scotch, Best Single Malt Scotch (No Age Statement), Best cask Strength (Over 57% ABV), Best Peated Scotch and Best Islay Single Malt. Ardbeg Wee Beastie also earned first place for Best Single Malt Scotch Under 10 Year Old and The Ardbeg Distillery achieved another Distillery of the Year award. In 2021, Dr Bill Lumsden was awarded Master Distiller of the Year for the fifth time, and Ardbeg Uigeadail won World Whisky of the Year in the International Whisky Competition. In 2022, at the International Whisky Competition, Ardbeg was awarded The Distillery of the Year Award, while Ardbeg Ardcore won first place in Best New Scotch Release, Best Peated Single Malt and Best Islay Single Malt. In 2023, Ardbeg was awarded four Gold and eight Silver medals at the International Spirits Competition, Silver in the International Wine & Spirits Competition and Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Ardbeg 25 Years Old was named the World’s Best Scotch Whisky at the 2023 New York Wine Spirits Competition, and received a Platinum medal at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. In 2025, Ardbeg 17 Years Old was awarded Best Scotch Islay Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards, and the Distillery was also recognised with the Category Winner awards for Ardbeg 25 Years Old and Ardbeg Corryvreckan. Ardbeg Ten Years OId and Ardbeg 25 Years Old both won Double Gold awards at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2025, and Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K 23 Years Old won Double Gold at the International Spirits Competition. 

Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K series

This series of highly limited smoky anomalies from 2000, celebrates a momentous year for Ardbeg. When the Glenmorangie Company purchased Ardbeg in 1997, it inherited a Distillery ravaged by neglect. It took three years of renovations before full production was able to resume. By then, Ardbeg was under the expert eye of Dr Bill Lumsden, who made a number of changes, including a new cut point and more rigorous cask selection. Created that year, the whiskies of Ardbeg’s Vintage_Y2K series mark Ardbeg’s revival by uniting some of the final spirit from the Distillery’s historic still, with the very best of Dr Bill’s modern whisky-making techniques.

• Released in 2024, Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K 23 Years Old was the series’ inaugural whisky. Crafted from some of Ardbeg’s very first spirit of the millennium, this single malt was aged in the finest bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks around, for notes of lemon balsam, linseed oil, soot and coffee.

Ardbeg’s historic still

While there were many changes during the Distillery’s renovation prior to 2000, the still in which the Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K whiskies were crafted was the same vessel which had served the Distillery for decades. However, the spirit of the Y2K series was some of the last to flow from that still, which was finally retired in 2001 after 51 years of operation. Now it stands proud in the Distillery’s courtyard, a landmark for the thousands of visitors who make the pilgrimage to Ardbeg each year. 

The Glenmorangie Company:

The Company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide and is part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Company produces Glenmorangie Single Highland Malt whisky and Ardbeg Single Islay Malt.

Harvest Series: Wychwood Harvest

We are delighted to announce the release of our fourth Harvest Series expression – Wychwood Harvest Single Malt Whisky (50% ABV).

This limited release of 1,500 bottles is crafted from a rare parcel of port and select bourbon casks laid down nearly ten years ago. It is our most accomplished tribute to port cask maturation to date and offers a bold and expressive single malt whisky.

Named after the ancient Wychwood Forest, near Witney in Oxfordshire, this latest release delivers a concentrated dark fruit character with structure and depth, featuring notes of stewed berries, blackcurrant, and dark fruit compote. These layers are complemented by soft vanilla from carefully selected bourbon barrels, with a gentle wisp of peat.

With its rich profile and striking presentation, Wychwood Harvest is a whisky to be savoured and collected.

This whisky is now available to buy on our website and in our three retail shops for £100 per bottle in Stourton, Broadway and Bourton-on-the-Water. Don’t miss out, buy yours while stocks last!

The liquid offers deep crimson hues from being aged in the Port casks and delivers a concentrated dark fruit character with structure and depth, featuring notes of stewed berries, blackcurrant and dark fruit compote.

These layers are complemented by soft vanilla from carefully selected bourbon barrels, with a gentle wisp of peat.

Head of Production – Alice Pearson

We release a new Harvest Series expression once a year, which celebrates the Cotswolds scenery through the art of painting by a local artist paired with our whisky is carefully selected by our Head of Production, Alice Pearson. This year’s release was inspired by a piece of art created by Oxfordshire-based artist Andrea Bates, which beautifully showcased the farming landscapes of the Cotswolds beneath a dramatic, cloudy sky.

At 25 years of age, our Head of Production, Alice Pearson, is one of the youngest female distillers in the UK. She personally selected the Port casks, which made this whisky such a distinctive expression, with its deep red colour and depth of flavour.

“I am really excited to introduce this latest Harvest expression both to UK and international consumers. We wanted to create a whisky that celebrates the traditions of the farming community which is bold and expressive.” – Alice Pearson

Listen to a snippet of Alice’s Harvest journey in her own words below. Keep your eyes peeled for the full video going live Friday 3rd October.

The Artist – Andrea Bates

The design for the presentation tube for this release was produced by Oxfordshire-based artist Andrea Bates, shown on the shelves in this image. Taking inspiration from the Cotswolds landscape and a nod to the farmland that produces the harvest, it depicts a stunning farming landscape set amongst a cloudy sky.

COMPASS BOX BRULEE ROYALE

The beloved, trailblazing blending house Compass Box has unveiled its latest release, Brulee Royale. This blended malt perfectly evokes the classic dessert, thanks to a stunning combination of single malts from Clynelish, Benrinnes, Speyburn and Ardbeg.

Silky vanilla custard and rich toffee notes define this limited edition blended malt from Compass Box. Combining single malts from Clynelish, Benrinnes, Speyburn and Ardbeg, it balances creamy sweetness with subtle smoky depth. Matured in ex-bourbon and custom American oak barrels, the whisky offers a layered flavour reminiscent of a caramelised dessert, with gentle spice and a hint of smoke.

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For the first time, Glenmorangie’s distillers give visitors behind-the-scenes tours

 — Meet the makers who star alongside Harrison Ford in Glenmorangie’s Once Upon a Time in Scotland film series —

Dougie Murray

Glenmorangie’s whisky makers are inviting visitors to go behind the scenes with them at their award-winning Distillery, for the very first time. For a limited time, some of the most seasoned Distillers of Tain are running Meet the Makers tours, offering their unique insights into the creation of Glenmorangie Highland single malt Scotch whisky. Since several of them star alongside Harrison Ford in Glenmorangie’s Once Upon a Time in Scotland series, filmed at the Distillery near Tain, visitors may want to take their selfie sticks with them…

For more than 180 years, the Distillers of Tain have been dedicated to Glenmorangie’s imaginative style of whisky making. With skills honed over generations, this small and close-knit team keep watch over their unusually tall stills, whose height allow for more taste and aroma. Then they age their elegant spirit in the world’s finest casks, to create Glenmorangie: one of the world’s most highly awarded Highland single malts. Revered for their skills around the globe, the Distillers play an important part in Glenmorangie’s witty and disruptive Once Upon a Time in Scotland series. Over 12 episodes, their expertise, character, warmth of personality – and their whisky – soon win over Ford, who plays himself.

Welcoming visitors for the Meet the Makers tours are Alan Duff Senior, his son Alan Duff Junior, Dougie Murray and Gordy Mackay. With almost a century of experience at Glenmorangie between them, these distillers are perfectly placed to explain the intricacies of their craft to visitors, taking the time to answer in-depth questions in the Still House and the Mash House – and share a few stories about their time at Glenmorangie. They may even reveal what it was like to star alongside Hollywood’s finest.

Gordy Mackay

Throughout the 12 episodes of Once Upon a Time in Scotland, ‘the Alans’ have enchanted global viewers with their cameos. The pair’s subtle Highland wit and obvious rapport with Ford, shine through in several memorable scenes. Meanwhile, Gordy is seen sharing a joke with Ford as the pair meet for the first time; Harrison mishears Gordy when he tells him he’s a Mash man in the distillery – to which Harrison responds: “There’s a mosh pit?!”.

In addition to the new Meet the Makers tour, the distillery will also be offering a daily Old & Rare Warehouse Tasting, where whisky fans can sample four rare Glenmorangies in one of the distillery’s traditional dunnage warehouses.

Glenmorangie’s Director of Hospitality and Corporate Affairs, Ellie Goss, said: “We are so excited to offer our unique Meet the Makers tours to visitors for the first time ever. This is a rare opportunity for whisky lovers, as well as locals who may have enjoyed our classic tour before, to learn about the inner workings of Glenmorangie from the real people who make it. With decades of expertise, our Distillers of Tain know everything there is to know about our exceptional single malt – and I have no doubt that they will give every visitor the same warm Highland welcome as they gave to Harrison Ford.”

To book a Meet the Makers Tour or an Old & Rare Warehouse tasting, visit www.glenmorangie.com/pages/distillery-tours

To see Glenmorangie’s team star alongside Ford in Once Upon A Time In Scotland, visit glenmorangie.com

Follow Glenmorangie on:

Instagram: @Glenmorangie 

For exclusive access to new releases, news and events, join Glenmorangie’s community at https://www.glenmorangie.com/members

About Glenmorangie:

Glenmorangie’s whisky makers use endless imagination and five key ingredients – wood, water, barley, yeast and time – to dream up delicious single malt whiskies. They’ve been honing their craft for 180 years. They create a delicate and fruity spirit in stills as tall as a giraffe to allow for more taste and aroma. Led by Director of Whisky Creation Dr Bill Lumsden, this team are on a mission to bring new flavours and possibilities to the world of single malt.

In 2025, Glenmorangie unveiled a new brand campaign, Once Upon a Time in Scotland, fronted by Harrison Ford. Taking the form of 12 episodes, the series explores Glenmorangie’s authentic truths, from its stunning Highland surroundings to the real people who create its complex and elegant whiskies.

About the Meet the Makers Tour:

After being welcomed by a tour guide, visitors will be taken to the Mash House and the Still House to learn about Glenmorangie’s craft from the makers themselves. The behind-the-scenes tour ends with a visit to a traditional warehouse, where Glenmorangie is aged. Each tour includes a three-dram tasting of Glenmorangie’s classic whiskies. For those who want to dive even deeper into Glenmorangie’s flavours, the Distillery also offers an Old & Rare whisky tasting in a warehouse, including four drams, daily.

About the Distillers of Tain:

For more than 180 years, Glenmorangie has been perfected by its craftsmen, the Distillers of Tain. Passed down through the generations, their skills owe as much to instinct and feel as they do to meticulous, uncompromising precision. Throughout Glenmorangie’s heritage, the Distillers, who now number 20, are known and revered by whisky lovers around the world. In the past, they have been depicted on limited-edition packaging – and even inspired a studio album by guitarist Allan Holdsworth – which was named after them.

Alan Duff Snr, who has spent 30 years at Glenmorangie and Gordy Mackay (18 years) work together in the Mash House, where they oversee the mashing and fermentation stages of the whisky-making process. Dougie Murray, who has spent 31 years at the Distillery, works alongside Alan Duff Jnr in the Still House, where they oversee the distillation process, creating Glenmorangie’s complex and elegant spirit that’s ripe for maturation in oak casks. While he has spent only nine years on the team, Glenmorangie has long been a part of Alan Jnr’s life – he remembers coming to Distillery as a child, to drop his father’s lunch off for him.

About the Distillers in Glenmorangie’s brand campaign:

Notable clips from Once Upon a Time in Scotland starring these men, include the following:

• In The Campaign (episode 2), Ford arrives at the Distillery. After mistaking “Alan from the Warehouse” (Alan Jnr) for “Alan from marketing”, he gets a lesson from Alan on how to pronounce Glenmorangie correctly;

• In The Distillery (episode 5), Ford meets the whole production team. “Ahhhh… he’s your fault,” he says to Alan Snr, who stands next to his son. Then Ford jokingly instructs Alan Jnr: “Look after me car.” It is a rare Eagle Speedster Jaguar E-type;
• In the same episode, Gordon Mackay is introduced to Harrison, and explains he is a mashman. Humorously misunderstanding, Ford asks: “There’s a mosh pit? Ooooh!”
• In Teamwork (episode 10), Alan Snr introduces Ford to a particularly special whisky. Impressed by the Distillery’s heritage and the craft, Ford raises his glass to toast “the good people of Glenmorangy”. With comic timing, Alan Jnr corrects him once again: “It’s Glenmorangie.”

ARTISTRY IN OAK
GORDON & MACPHAIL REVEALS DESIGN
BY ACCLAIMED ARCHITECT JEANNE GANG
FOR THE WORLD’S OLDEST SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

On Thursday 2 October 2025, Gordon & MacPhail is to reveal the ‘Artistry in Oak’ decanter design by internationally acclaimed American architect Jeanne Gang, marking the release of the oldest single malt Scotch ever bottled – Gordon & MacPhail 85 Years Old from Glenlivet Distillery.

Gordon & MacPhail sought to commission a creative partner to design a unique decanter to house their most precious whisky to date. A partnership built on common values and a shared commitment to leave a legacy for future generations, Jeanne Gang’s design is shaped through her close observation of growth and form in nature. The four branches which suspend the glass decanter are made from solid bronze, providing an armature that cradles the precious liquid in the same way the oak cask has nurtured the whisky for eight and a half decades.

Only 125 decanters are available worldwide, each with an RSP of £125,000.

Over the last 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 its own specially selected casks with spirit from over 100 Scottish distilleries. Managing a portfolio of casks requires a complex level of expertise which Gordon & MacPhail has honed to fully understand cask maturation matched to different styles of spirit. Patience is undoubtedly a virtue in this realm and Gordon & MacPhail’s whiskies are often the oldest expression ever to be released from a particular distillery.

The decanter design by Jeanne Gang is a celebration of the profound artistry, craft, care and time alongside nature that went into the liquid it encases. The maturation of whisky over very long periods of time is a very challenging proposition often quoted as more art than science. As the oldest single malt Scotch ever bottled, this release is the ultimate expression of this art and testament to the foresight of George Urquhart and his father, John, who selected cask 336 in 1940 to cradle this liquid for decades to come.

“One of the greatest challenges was that this has never been done before. We’re the first to mature a whisky for 85 years. Every year that goes by is a year into the unknown. We have to appreciate we’re always dealing with mother nature so the key traits of this process are patience and trust,” comments Stephen Rankin Director of Prestige at Gordon & MacPhail, and member of the fourth generation of the family that owns the company.

Embracing the creative theme of ‘Artistry in Oak’, the design evokes the idea of a tree slowly entwining a piece of amber. Four separate branches spiral upward, wrapping around a suspended glass vessel that contains the amber liquid originally distilled at Glenlivet Distillery. American oak informed the branches’ design, a nod to the wood used to comprise the Gordon & MacPhail cask which cradled the spirit for 85 years.

“It was of utmost importance that the quality of the whisky itself be manifest in the design of the decanter. Made from handblown glass and cast bronze, I thought about how each material would exhibit its own inherent qualities while fulfilling its purpose to hold and protect the liquid,” explains Jeanne Gang.

The design was conceived as a single object, with the suspended glass vessel relying on the branches for support, evoking the reciprocity between whisky and its cask. Jeanne chose bronze for the four entwining branches that cradle the vessel because it is an enduring material; one that evolves slowly and beautifully over time, much like whisky. As bronze develops a patina, it mirrors the way whisky deepens in colour and character over the years.

“Standing tall and strong, the patinated bronze entwines the vessel, suspending it while revealing the amber colour of the whisky within. Together, the elements depend on and complement each other, in a reciprocal dance whose form, like the whisky it holds, is a product of both natural growth and the nature of its materiality,” expresses Gang.

As part of this landmark release, Gordon & MacPhail is supporting American Forests, the oldest national nonprofit conservation organisation in the United States – a leader in forest restoration – via the online auction of Decanter #1 in partnership with Christie’s.

“Given the importance of oak in our craft, this partnership was a natural fit, aligning with our mission to leave a meaningful legacy for ongoing generations via fundraising for the sustainable future of American oak trees,” adds Stephen Rankin.

The auction conducted online by Christie’s, opening for bids on Friday 7th November and concluding on Friday 21st November 2025, will see proceeds of the lot (minus costs) donated to the American Forests, to support their work dedicated to creating healthy and resilient forests in cities and large landscapes, including the regeneration and long-term sustainability of America’s oak-dominated forests essential for whisky maturation.

As well as Decanter #1, the lot will include a personalised whisky tasting hosted by Gordon & MacPhail’s Director of Prestige Stephen Rankin or Richard Urquhart, Sales Director, both fourth generation family members; a framed, signed sketch of an oak tree by Jeanne Gang, which informed the decanter’s design; and the cask end of cask 336 which nurtured the single malt Scotch whisky, presented in a bespoke frame.

Adam Bilbey, Christie’s Global Head of Wine and Spirits says: “Partnering with Gordon & MacPhail for Artistry in Oak is a moment of pride for Christie’s. The unveiling of Decanter No. 1 from Gordon & MacPhail 85 Years Old is not just a highlight of our season—it’s a celebration of time, tradition, and craftsmanship. Over the last 85yrs this extraordinary spirit has been carefully and patiently nurtured by Gordon & MacPhail, culminating in the extraordinary moment.”

A TASTE OF LIQUID HISTORY

At 85 years old, this historical liquid has spent decades maturing in a unique cask that has had a profound impact on its flavour. Cask 336 had previously held mature sherry before being re-filled on 3 February 1940 with spirit at the Glenlivet Distillery. This was a time when production across Scotland was much reduced due to the raw materials required being diverted for other uses or there being a shortage in them created by the war.

This long maturation has imparted deep, complex flavours to the whisky, with vibrant, full-bodied notes that remain remarkably robust at 43.7% ABV. The influence of the cask, combined with the rarity and incredible scarcity of the liquid, creates a whisky that is not only extraordinary in its taste but also a living piece of history.

Aroma: Soft, aged leather aromas lead to apricot compote, cinnamon, and subtle waxy, citrus fruit notes. Vanilla gives way to dried sultana and aniseed with underlying beeswax polish. Subtle smoky undertones develop.
Flavours: Smooth and vibrant with cracked black pepper and sweet dried tobacco flavours, followed by Seville Orange peel. Morello cherry and plum flavours are balanced by subtle oak.
Finish: A full-bodied finish with lingering herbal notes.

This exceptional release represents the pinnacle of whisky craftsmanship – an 85-year-old single malt matured over four generations. Not only is it the oldest whisky ever bottled, but its extreme rarity, scarcity and provenance, coupled with the artistry of Jeanne Gang’s design, make it an unparalleled collector’s piece.

GORDON & MACPHAIL 85 YEARS OLD FROM GLENLIVET DISTILLERY
AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE FROM 2 OCTOBER 2025, PRICED AT £125,000
GORDON&MACPHAIL.COM

CHRISTIE’S ONLINE AUCTION OF DECANTER #1
FRIDAY 7TH NOVEMBER – FRIDAY 21ST NOVEMBER 2025
PROCEEDS OF THE LOT (MINUS COSTS) DONATED TO THE AMERICAN FORESTS
CHRISTIES.COM

@GORDONANDMACPHAIL

About Gordon & MacPhail

For more than 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 its own bespoke casks with spirit from over 100 Scottish distilleries. Managing a portfolio of casks is a complex level of expertise which Gordon & MacPhail has honed to fully understand cask maturation matched to different styles of spirit. It is this cask curation that allows Gordon & MacPhail to consistently deliver a range of perfectly matured whiskies. Their expert maturation management creates unique, complex but perfectly balanced single malts found nowhere else. At the very heart of business lies the sample room – an exceptional liquid library spanning more than a century of Scotch whiskies featuring a wide range of age profiles and character. But these exceptional snapshots in time are not heirlooms there to impress, they exist to help inform and shape future decision-making and provide an invaluable guide for generations to come.

GORDONANDMACPHAIL.COM

About Gordon & MacPhail’s Unique Relationship With Over 100 Scottish Distilleries Uniquely, Gordon & MacPhail is the only whisky company to have matched its casks to spirit from over 100 distilleries from all over Scotland. We then nurture it, often for many decades, then lean on experience handed down through four generations to know when to bottle it. Over its 130 history, Gordon & MacPhail built a strong bond of trust and mutual respect with these distilleries to allow the company to fill casks. These relationships were founded on the commitment that Gordon & MacPhail’s releases would complement not compete against those from the proprietary distillery, providing drinkers with interesting nuances in flavour. No other company has the
depth and breadth of whisky in terms of variety of source distillery of the original spirit and age up to 80 years.

About Jeanne Gang

Jeanne Gang is the founding partner of Studio Gang, an international architecture and urban design practice with offices in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Paris. Known for a distinctive design approach that expands beyond architecture’s conventional boundaries, she creates striking places that strengthen connections between people, their communities, and nature. Her diverse, award-winning portfolio across the Americas and Europe includes the Gilder Center at the American Museum of Natural History, which the New York Times called “a poetic, joyful, theatrical work of public architecture”; a new United States Embassy in Brazil; and an expansion of the Clinton Presidential Center. Intertwined with built work, Jeanne and the Studio develop research, publications, and exhibitions that push design’s ability to create public awareness and give rise to change – a practice Jeanne calls “actionable idealism.” A MacArthur Fellow and a Professor in Practice at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, Jeanne has been named one of TIME Magazine’s most influential people in the world.

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About Christie’s

Founded in 1766, Christie’s is a world-leading art and luxury business with a physical presence in 46 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific, and flagship international sales hubs in New York, London, Hong Kong, Paris and Geneva. Renowned and trusted for our expert live and online-only auctions, as well as bespoke Private Sales, Christie’s unparalleled network of specialists offers our clients a full portfolio of global services, including art appraisal, art financing, international real estate and education. Christie’s auctions span more than 80 art and luxury categories, at price points ranging from $500 to over $100 million. Christie’s has sold 7 of the 10 most important single-owner collections in history, achieved the world record price for an artwork at auction, launched the first fully on-chain auction platform dedicated to exceptional NFT art and manages an investment fund to support innovative start-ups in the art market. Christie’s is also committed to advancing responsible culture throughout its business and communities worldwide. To learn more, browse, bid, discover and join us for the best of art and luxury at christies.com or by downloading Christie’s apps.

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About American Forests

American Forests is the first national nonprofit conservation organization created in the U.S. Since its founding in 1875, the organization has been the pathfinders for the forest conservation movement. Its mission is to create healthy and resilient forests, from cities to large natural landscapes, that deliver essential benefits for climate, people, water and wildlife. The organization advances its mission through forestry, innovation, place-based partnerships to plant and restore forests, and movement building.

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