Glen Albyn 42 Year Old 1980 Gordon & Macphail Dram Takers Collection Single Refill Sherry Puncheon #2327 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2023) 70cl

1 of 77 bottles from a single sherry puncheon.

Arguably the most famous independent bottler of Scotch whisky there is. Gordon & MacPhail was founded in Elgin in 1895 by James Gordon and John Alexander MacPhail. It is now owned by the Urquhart Family who have bow bottled over 350 different expressions from around 69 different distilleries. Gordon & MacPhail is the Trading name of Speymalt Whiskies while also owning the Benromach distillery, which they purchased in 1993. Some of the brands include Connoisseurs Choice, Cask Strength, Rare Old and Speymalt.

TASTING NOTES

Nose: Blueberry and ripe red apple complement sultanas. Toasted hazelnuts lead to citrus zest and toffee

Palate: Strawberry liquorice and stewed plums are balanced by spicy white pepper. Stewed plums and salted lemons give way to mature oak.

Finish: Full with lingering tobacco and peanut brittle. 

About Glen Albyn

Glen Albyn distillery was founded in 1846 by James Sutherland, provost of Inverness. Glen Albyn quickly became the largest distillery in the Highlands producing 75,000 gallons of Scotch whisky a year. Owing to the economic downturn in Scotland in the early 1980s the distillery was closed in 1983 by the global giant owner Guinness (now called Diageo).

Glen Albyn whisky brand was relaunched in December 2022 and its honorary president is Lord French, Baron de Freyne. The previous brand owner was the global multinational Diageo which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange with assets of $49 billion.

For much of its history most of Glen Albyn's produce was used for other blends so its single malt bottlings are very rare.  As a result of this, it sells at international auction houses such as Sotheby's, Christie's, and Bonhams with individual bottles often fetching up to $4000 each.  

Glen Albyn whisky is known for its distinctive flavor profile that captures the essence of the Highlands. The whisky is characterized by sweet, fresh fruits such as cherries and plums, with a slightly oily texture and a phenolic, peaty edge. The taste is sweet initially, with floral, dry grass flavors, and a slightly salty driftwood note. Roasted malt notes and a little peat smoke are present, leading to an earthy finish with some peat