Gordon & MacPhail unveiled an ultra-rare 39-year-old single malt as part of its Connoisseurs Choice Heritage Range.
This release honours George Urquhart, ‘the father of single malt’ by reimaging the iconic black label that adorned his Connoisseurs Choice range in the 1970s, before the brown labels. There was already a Longmorn 1968 with the same design.
Mind that this was the last Talisker cask from Gordon & MacPhail. You remember that in July 2023 G&M announced they had stopped filling / buying casks as an independent bottler and now focus on their own distilleries.
Talisker 39 yo 1987 (51,4%, Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice Heritage 2026, refill sherry butt #22601101, 451 btl.)
Nose: a very refined and pure spirit. Soft smoke, a dusty coal bin, rooty notes and cold Lapsang tea. Mild black pepper notes, a little vegetal oil and old leather. Then light hints of camphor with a bit of raisin sweetness and citrusy notes (dried orange peel and bergamot oil). The expected coastal side is not very prominent here, but there’s a hint of oyster juice in the background.
Mouth: great intensity, now more firmly coastal, I’d say. Black pepper again, along with salty notes, fish oil, hints of iodine and cold ashes. One or two Taggiasche olives. Beautiful ‘old’ peat smoke underneath. Mid-palate the citrus notes make it slightly rounder again. I’m not picking up the jammy sherry sweetness that the official seem to mention though. Then some herbal notes, light resinous notes, tobacco and hints of black tea towards the end.
Finish: just medium long, with more ashes, subtle pepper and a mild resinous / medicial edge.
Rather excellent Talisker, with a lot of finess, mature character and some of the typical coastal and peppery notes. Overall a worthy finale. You can register to buy from Gordon & MacPhail but it’s available from retailers like The Whisky Exchange.