EXTREMELY RARE GLENCRAIG WHISKY COMPLETES GORDON & MACPHAIL’S 125^TH ANNIVERSARY SERIES

— 44YO Glencraig is final of four ‘last cask’ whiskies —

The much-anticipated final whisky in a series commemorating 125 years of whisky creator Gordon & MacPhail has been revealed.

The Gordon & MacPhail 1975 Glencraig from Glenburgie Distillery is the last of four extremely rare and unique whiskies, each from the last remaining casks from lost or closed distilleries matured within Gordon & MacPhail’s famed warehouse.

The 44-year-old whisky was distilled in Lomond Stills, which operated within Speyside’s Glenburgie Distillery, before production ceased after just 23 years.

The majority of the Glencraig whisky was destined for blended malts, with the scarcely seen light and fruity single malt becoming a prized addition to any whisky collection.

Gordon & MacPhail 1975 Glencraig from Glenburgie Distillery [RSP £1500*]

Matured in cask number 9686, a refill American hogshead, under the watchful eye of generations of family members at Gordon and MacPhail, the light and fruity new make spirit has developed into a warming, citrusy single malt with a delicate herbal edge.

Just 110 bottles are available of the Gordon & MacPhail 1975 Glencraig from Glenburgie Distillery, which was laid down on Thursday 30 October 1975 and bottled on Thursday 28 May 2020 at 54.2% ABV.

The golden-hued whisky offers aromas of honey, coconut and oak. The taste brings flavours of rich nectarines, white pepper, lime and cocoa beans, with a soft herbal edge. A medium finish follows, embodied with citrus and lingering floral notes.

Stephen Rankin, a fourth-generation member of Gordon & MacPhail’s owning family and the company’s Director of Prestige, said:  “While it’s bittersweet to share the last remaining drops of these ultra-rare whiskies, they embody a fitting tribute to 125 years spent in pursuit of perfection. These four releases provide a personal legacy for all who have worked at Gordon & MacPhail over the decades culminating in these exquisite and unique drams found nowhere else.”

Alongside the four commemorative whiskies, Gordon & MacPhail has also launched a new film serialisation charting the company’s story of 125 years in the industry. The ‘Chapters’ series of five short films includes personal reflections from over 20 contributors, with appearances from whisky writer Charlie Maclean and Ryder Cup golfer Stephen Gallacher among others.

The series is available to watch now at www.gordonandmacphail.com.

Stephen Rankin added: “In our anniversary year, the ‘Chapters’ series gives the viewer behind the scenes access to our 125 years in the industry, as told by those who know us best.”

#GordonandMacPhail       

*Prices in international markets may vary due to local taxes and import duties.

Tasting notes – Gordon & MacPhail 1975 Glencraig from Glenburgie Distillery

Matured in cask 9686, a refill American Hogshead, and bottled at 54.2% ABV. Outturn of 110 bottles. 

COLOUR Golden 

AROMA Fragrant HONEY and DESICCATED COCONUT aromas lead to CITRUS BLOSSOM. MALTED CEREAL notes come to the fore alongside tart GRAPEFRUIT with soft GINGER and subtle OAK. 

TASTE Rich NECTARINE flavours and mouth-warming WHITE PEPPER give way to refreshing LIME ZEST. COCOA BEANS and CRYSTALISED VIOLET complement ripe APPLE with a soft HERBAL edge. 

FINISH Medium-bodied with fresh CITRUS and lingering FLORAL notes on the finish.  

About Gordon & MacPhail Whiskies

For over 125 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 own bespoke 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.

• ‘Discovery’–This flavour-led range is the perfect introduction to our portfolio of quality single malt Scotch whiskies
• ‘Distillery Labels’–A range celebrating our long-standing relationships with Scotland’s distilleries
• ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ –The heart of our portfolio. Always unique, these non-chill-filtered, natural coloured, small batch expressions are genuine one-offs.
• ‘Private Collection’–Greatly-aged single malts from celebrated, little-known, or closed distilleries specially selected by members of the Urquhart family
• ‘Generations’–A prestigious collection of old, rare, and exclusive masterpieces

SCARABUS ISLAY SINGLE MALT

LAUNCHES TWO BRAND-NEW EXPRESSIONS 

Hunter Laing & Co. reveals the latest additions to their newest brand from the famed whisky island,

Scarabus 10 Year Old and Scarabus Batch Strength, will join Scarabus Specially Selected

The family owned Scotch whisky distiller, blender and bottler Hunter Laing & Co. introduces two brand-new bottlings to the Scarabus Islay Single Malt Whisky range. Scarabus 10 Year Old and Scarabus Batch Strength will be available to buy worldwide from 26^th November 2020. 

Scarabus 10 Year Old is priced at £45 for 70cl, bottled at 46% ABV and Scarabus Batch Strength is £49 for 70cl, bottled at 57% ABV. Both expressions will join Scarabus Specially Selected, available to buy at Ardnahoe Distillery and online at https://ardnahoedistilleryshop.com/.

The Scarabus 10 Year Old has the distinguished Scarabus profile of sweet Islay peat smoke but with extra complexity; every drop of Scarabus 10 Year Old is aged for a minimum of ten years in refill, ex-bourbon and virgin American oak casks.

To create the Scarabus Batch Strength edition, a small selection of Scarabus Islay single malt casks are chosen to be bottled at a higher strength of 57% ABV. The result is the signature sweet, peaty profile found in Scarabus, but with extra intensity, mouth feel and an even more lingering finish.

Scarabus, meaning ‘rocky place’ in Nordic, is named after a mystical area of Islay and is a whisky range for those with a curious mind and an eye for detail. The brand is bold and honest about its origins, and just a little mysterious about everything else.

Commenting on the release of the new expressions, Stewart Laing, Managing Director, said: “Following the success of the brand’s launch at Feis Ile 2019, it’s very exciting to add two brand-new expressions to the range. Scarabus is a brand which we are incredibly proud of, and to see Scarabus grow and develop like this is really wonderful.”

Adding to his father’s comments, Scott Laing, Business Development Director, said: “It’s always exciting when a new Islay expression launches and we are particularly proud of our Scarabus brand.

The flavour is unmistakable, the Islay peat, smoke and sea salt on the nose, followed by warming leather notes and a delightful vanilla sweetness in the mouth, leads to a rich, lingering finish, culminating all the elements which Islay whisky enthusiasts adore.

We’re very excited to see our ever-loyal Islay whisky fans react to both Scarabus 10 Year Old and Scarabus Batch Strength.”

The Scarabus range will be available to purchase online at https://ardnahoedistilleryshop.com/ from Ardnahoe Distillery, which is currently open to the public and hosting socially distanced tours.

Facebook: @Hunterlaingwhisky / @scarabuswhisky

Notes :

• Hunter Laing & Co is an independent distiller, blender and bottler based in Glasgow and run by the Laing Family – father Stewart with sons Andrew and Scott
• Hunter Laing has been operating since May 2013 and owns a portfolio of much-loved whisky brands including Kinship, Old Malt Cask, Old & Rare, Hepburn’s Choice and Sovereign.
• It distributes to 65 markets around the world in Europe, Asia, the Americas and Australasia.
• The Laing family are the owners of Ardnahoe Distillery on Islay, which began distilling in 2018.
• Ardnahoe Distillery has welcomed over 34,000 visitors to the distillery since 2018.

“The Eagle Has Landed” | Caol Ila 8 Year Old 2012

On July 20th 1969 Apollo 11 lunar lander call sign ‘Eagle’ undocked from command module Columbia and went into lunar orbit.

The World held its breath and watched.

Landing on the lunar surface, commander Neil Armstrong proclaimed

“Houston, Tranquillity Base here. The Eagle has landed.”

The eight bottling for the TWB Apollo series is from the darkest sherry cask whisky we have ever seen.

A total eclipse of driftwood bonfire layered in craters of sherry and gingerbread – delicious!

Shop – Caol Ila The Eagle Has Landed – £125 / €136* / $137*

Book now 

We’re delighted to return to Old Billingsgate for our 13th year! After bringing our beloved Whisky Show online for 2020, we’re excited to announce we’ll be back in the flesh at Old Billingsgate from 2-3 October 2021! You’ll also be happy to hear we’re bringing back our virtual element, ensuring Whisky Show 2021 will be our biggest and best show yet. 2021 tickets are on sale NOW. Don’t delay and grab yourself a fantastic deal with our early bird prices!

So, what are you waiting for? Ready, set, whisky!

Book early bird tickets 

SHOW DETAILS
2-3 October 2021
Saturday and Sunday: 11.30am-6.30pm

Venue:
Old Billingsgate
London EC2R 6DX

The Gift Guide

SHOP NOW

Please remember that our last day for shipping to hopefully deliver before Christmas is Friday 18th December. After this date, our doors will still be open and you can still click and collect until 12.30pm on Christmas Eve.

The English Whisky Co. St George’s Distillery Harling Road Roudham , Norfolk NR16 2QW

This is a friendly reminder that we will be offering our complimentary collection service in London on:

Sunday 13th December 2020
6-8pm by appointment only
St Paul’s Hotel, Hammersmith, W14 0QL

Collections are limited and by appointment only. If you would like to attend please complete the form which can be found here.

Please do not attend without an appointment or if you are feeling unwell in line with COVID 19 guidelines.

Additionally, please complete a Submission Sheet. This must be handed to the collections team.

A Winner in our auction? We are now offering a delivery (to collection point) service to customers who are dropping bottles off for a future auction. This service is charged at £12 (inc VAT), optional loss and breakage cover is available.

We are monitoring the COVID situation, this collection may be cancelled if infected numbers increase over the coming days.

Firstly a big hello to all our lovely customers.  We hope you have been keeping well.  Things have been quiet our end but most importantly we just hope everyone is keeping safe and as positive as can be in this time.

We couldn’t not release something for Christmas and came across a leaking cask so we have a very special low run of Laphroaig 2006.

– Laphroaig 2006  –
Aged 14 Years

Distilled 14.8.2006 – Bottled 16.8.2020 – 40.3%vol – Cask No. 01 – 48 bottles

£90

Click here to buy

Bartels Whisky

4 The Old Glebe

Loughborough, LecLE12 8LB

United Kingdom

Free, Next Day Delivery.
(order before 12pm)

With plenty of cosy nights in to be had this season, there’s no better time to stock up the home bar with some tasty tipples to keep you warm!

Get kitted out with deals from our latest Price Drop, featuring delicious drams from Bunnahabhain, Bowmore, Laphroaig and many more.

And with free UK shipping over all orders over £75, you can save while stocking up! Win-win.

Shop our Price Drop ›

This weeks episode of the #GoodDramShow https://youtu.be/mFCBE9TJJcU features the Series 011 releases from North Star Whisky

WELCOME THE WHISKY SEASON WITH MEMBERSHIP TO THE WORLD’S LEADING WHISKY CLUB 

The gift of membership to The Scotch Malt Whisky Society offers your loved ones the chance to discover new flavours and experiences with fellow whisky-lovers across the globe 

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) opens up a whole new world of adventures for the whisky-lover in your life. Unique whisky experiences that can be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home are at the heart of this colourful whisky club, and annual membership starts from just £65: https://smws.com/whisky-club-membership

The Society offers an ever-changing range of one-off whiskies, released each month in a new Outturn across the complete spectrum of flavour profiles. Membership includes access to these whiskies and tickets to a calendar of exciting and informative virtual events.

Every Society single malt whisky is hand-picked for its exceptional quality and intriguing character. Distinctive, diverse and strictly limited to the contents of one cask, each bottling is a case study in flavour and a precious opportunity to experience whisky in its purest form, straight from the cask.

But being part of its ever-growing community of over 27,000 whisky fans goes beyond the Society’s outstanding single-cask spirits. Membership provides exclusive access to Members’ Rooms in Edinburgh, London and Glasgow as well as a calendar of UK-wide virtual tasting events.

FESTIVE HOME ENTERTAINMENT WITH SMWS

The Society has adapted to its members’ needs with an extended programme of at-home entertainment over the festive period. The SMWS gives festivities a twist with virtual tastings, masterclasses, live music, podcasts, video content, music playlists and much more, all available to members at: https://smws.com/events 

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP  

A year’s membership to the Society costs £65 and provides whisky-lovers with benefits throughout the year, including access to the multi award-winning monthly Outturns of around 20 new single cask whiskies; free subscription to digital magazine Unfiltered, its award-winning monthly digital members’ magazine; and a calendar of colourful events and intriguing whisky experiences to share alongside other like-minded members.

Tailor your membership with a choice of extras:

• HAPPY HAMPER: SOCIETY HOSTING KIT (+£90): The brand new Society Tasting Kit, bringing you everything you’ll need to host a whisky tasting in the comfort of your own home: 2 Society glasses, whisky journal, water jug and pipette, tasting mat, 3 x 10cl Society whiskies.

• FLAVOUR FUN: BOTTLE OF THE MOMENT (+£45): Whatever your home entertainment plans, you’ll need some great whisky to see you through. Delve straight into the Society’s unique flavour spectrum of flavour, add your first 70cl bottle to your membership.

• EXPLORE: FIVE-DRAM DISCOVERY PACK & VIRTUAL TASTING (+£25): The perfect pack for self-exploration in the comfort of your own home. Kick-start your membership and take part in your first Society tasting online, where you’ll be guided through five 25ml drams by Society ambassador Bob Wenting. 

• CURL UP: THE FOUNDER’S TALE (+£14.99): Going hand-in-hand with a great whisky is a good read. Society founder Pip Hills has written a book about the Society’s origins and how it grew into the world’s leading whisky club.

To buy membership to The Scotch Malt Whisky Society as a gift this Christmas, visit: https://smws.com/whisky-club-membership 

VENUES

The SMWS has its spiritual home at The Vaults in Leith, Edinburgh as well as a Members’ Room at 28 Queen Street in the city centre. Non-members can also experience a range of single cask whiskies and other spirits at Queen Street’s Kaleidoscope Whisky bar, as well as a selection of fantastic food in the renowned Dining Room.

As well as locations in Edinburgh, the SMWS has an exclusive Members’ Room at 19 Greville Street in London’s Farringdon district, and opened a new Members’ Room at 38 Bath Street in Glasgow in early 2020, providing a perfect place for the high number of dedicated members in and around the city to share a dram.

SMWS Partner Bars are every bit as extraordinary as the Society’s malts. With nearly 100 worldwide locations, they’re ideal for experiencing a one-off single malt Scotch whisky.

https://www.smws.com/

f: https://www.facebook.com/thesmwsuk

i: https://www.instagram.com/smws_uk/

t: https://twitter.com/SMWSUK

yt: https://www.youtube.com/user/SMWSsilverscreen/videos

#SMWS 

Notes:

About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 

• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and now has more than 27,000 members and branches around the world
• The SMWS bottles rare single cask, single malt whisky, and a range of other spirits
• The Society bottles single malts, unique single casks and exclusive blends
• The Society has bottled whisky from more than 138 distilleries from Scotland and beyond
• The Society offers a new batch of around 20 single cask, single malt whiskies every month
• The Society offers a variety of membership packages which can be tailored. Please see https://bit.ly/2uqKanT
• For more information about the Society, visit https://bit.ly/2HHiNyC
• Twitter: @SMWSUK Facebook: @thesmwsuk Instagram: @smws_uk