THE last remaining bottles of one of the world’s oldest and most exclusive single malt Scotch whiskies went on sale at a special event in Canada yesterday (Thursday 20 September).
Gordon & MacPhail, the world’s leading malt whisky specialist, released the last 100 bottles of its Glenlivet 70 Years Old at the opening of the new World Duty Free at Vancouver International Airport.
The first batch of the Gordon & MacPhail Generations Glenlivet 70 Years Old was released in March 2011, following an exclusive event at Edinburgh Castle. The release was met with international acclaim from whisky enthusiasts and the world press. All 100 large decanters sold quickly to customers worldwide.
This second, and final, release from this cask is expected to create similar excitement as it offers one last chance for collectors and consumers to own a piece of Scotland’s liquid history. The product will be exclusively available at Vancouver International Airport until it is released to the rest of the world on 1 November 2012.
Michael Urquhart, joint managing director of Gordon & MacPhail, said:
“We have been overwhelmed by the international interest for our Generations range. It’s fitting that we’re able to mark the worldwide demand and appeal of Scotch malt whiskies with the second release of this sublime single malt at Vancouver International Airport, a gateway between the Far East, North America and Europe.”
Cask 339 was filled at Glenlivet Distillery on 3rd February 1940, to the instruction of John Urquhart, grandfather and great-grandfather of Gordon & MacPhail’s current owners. Successive generations of the Urquhart family waited for the day when it would be ready to share with fellow whisky enthusiasts. 70 years on, the whisky was bottled at cask strength (45.9 per cent).
David Urquhart, joint managing director of Gordon & MacPhail, added:
“Our family has passed its knowledge and expertise of Scotch whisky from generation to generation since we were founded over 115 years ago. This is clearly reflected in the Generations range and the Glenlivet 70 Year Old, is an exceptional single malt, matured in the highest quality cask. We’re proud to be able to share this with the rest of the world.”
World-renowned whisky expert, Charles Maclean, said:
“The Glenlivet 1940 comes from a distillery which has been the benchmark against which other malts have been measured since the 1820s. Such a whisky will never be seen again. It is incredibly rare, and therefore highly collectable. But, more importantly, it is also celestial on the palate.”
Each bottle is beautifully presented in a tear-shaped hand-blown crystal decanter with an elegant British Hallmarked silver stopper. The decanter nestles in a Sterling silver base and is framed in a handmade box, crafted in Scotland using Scottish Yew.
Gordon & MacPhail Generations Glenlivet 70 Years Old was matured in a First Fill Sherry Butt, and bottled at cask strength (45.9 per cent ABV). The decanter has a recommended retail price in the of $35,888 CAD. It is the second in a series of extremely rare malt whiskies to be released by Gordon & MacPhail under its Generations brand. In 2010 the family owned firm made history as it released Generations Mortlach 70 Years Old, in Scotland’s capital city, at Edinburgh Castle.
Prices may vary in different countries due to different excise and sales taxes and currency fluctuations.
For more information visit www.gordonandmacphail.com.
ENDS
Tasting note
The Glenlivet 1940 by Charles MacLean
70YO Single cask Speyside @45.9 per cent Vol
Appearance: Deep amber, with tawny lights. First fill sherry butt.
Aroma: A mild nose-feel. The first aroma is of an old cocktail cabinet, with sherry notes predominating: polished wood, soft leather and a trace of candlewax. Behind this are fruity notes, lightly baked apples (even Tarte Tatin), but also fresh orange juice, and a thread of smoke or ash in the distance Adding a drop of water suuresses the fruity notes and slightly enhances the sweetness (now tablet) and smokiness.
Taste: A waxy, teeth-coating, mouthfeel; smooth and voluptuous. The taste is sweetish to start, then savoury, with a trace of salt – might this be a rare example of ‘umami’ in whisky, the elusive fifth primary taste? The finish is long, with a faint smokiness in the aftertaste. Drinks well at natural strength. With a drop of water the flavours remain intact.
Development: Fades gracefully towards vanilla fudge and sanded wood.
Comment: A stupendous whisky! Although it resonates with aged character – and, indeed. characteristics from another era – it retains vitality, both on the nose and in the mouth.
About Gordon & MacPhail
Gordon & MacPhail is an independent, family-owned spirit and wine merchant which has been based in Elgin, Moray, since 1895. Four generations of the Urquhart family have continued the tradition of seeking out the best and rarest Scotch whiskies.
Since its foundation, Gordon & MacPhail’s policy has been to send casks to distilleries throughout Scotland, fill them with ‘new make’ spirit and mature them either at the distillery of origin or in the firm’s own bonded warehouses in Elgin.
Now one of the world’s leading malt whisky specialists, Gordon & MacPhail exports to more than 55 countries. It offers more than 300 presentations of own-bottled single malts. In 2009, Gordon & MacPhail was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.
In 2010 Gordon & MacPhail made history by bottling the oldest cask ever released – a 70 Year Old Mortlach, distilled in 1938. They followed this up by releasing 100 70cl and 175 20cl decanters of 70 Year Old Glenlivet in 2011. Now they have released the remaining 100 70cl decanters from this cask.
About World Duty Free
Vancouver is North America’s gateway to Asia where the old world meets the new. World Duty Free has made a commitment to further this connection by bringing together exceptional people with exceptional product. World Duty Free’s ‘Connoisseur Collection’ at Vancouver International Airport now offers one of the finest ranges of premium whiskey in the world.
For further information please contact Michael Williams Michael.Williams@wdfg.com
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