The brand new vary, drawn from whisky shares laid down by the Gordons for nearly a century and named after the household dwelling in Dufftown, includes The Charles Gordon Assortment – in 2022, 4 whiskies priced at £3,000-4,500 per bottle – and The Legacy Assortment – 4 whiskies priced at £950-1,450.
They embrace the primary spirit produced on the Girvan grain distillery in South Ayrshire in 1964, and a 56-year-old whisky, unusually blended as new make spirit earlier than its maturation.
‘It is a assortment of particular person spirits, representing distinctive cask trials which have taken place over time and mixtures which will by no means be seen once more,’ mentioned Jonathan Gibson, Home of Hazelwood advertising director.
‘Central to that is the philosophy that the maturing inventory is prepared when it’s prepared. The whiskies carried inside the assortment are distinctive and irreplaceable – single snapshots within the lengthy historical past of Scotch whisky.’
The 2022 releases can be found from the Home of Hazelwood net store, and retailers together with Hedonism Wines, Royal Mile Whiskies, The Whisky Store and Davidoff of London.
The Charles Gordon Assortment:
The Cask Trials, 53 Yr Previous Single Grain – 49.2%, £3,800/70cl
Blended at Beginning, 56 Yr Previous Mix – 47%, £4,500/70cl
The First Drop, 58 Yr Previous Single Grain – 41.5%, £3,000/70cl
The Lengthy Marriage, 56 Yr Previous Mix – 48.7%, £4,000/70cl
The Legacy Assortment:
The Tops, 33 Yr Previous Blended Malt – 51.6%, £1,450/70cl
Sunshine on Speyside, 39 Yr Previous Blended Malt – 42.5%, £950/70cl
The Spirit of Scotland, 46 Yr Previous Mix – 43.6%, £1,200/70cl
The Misplaced Property, 43 Yr Previous Blended Grain – 41.6%, £1,200/70cl
Tasting notes
The First Drop
A 58-year-old single grain whisky from the primary spirit run on the Girvan distillery in January 1964, this can be a extremely fragrant, classically candy grain with hints of White Chocolate Orange and Sugar Puffs. There’s additionally a transparent Bourbon thread: vanilla, black banana and a wealthy coconut word suggestive of Bounty bars.
Blended at Beginning
Lengthy ageing has wrought an alchemical transformation on this 1965 mix – unique notes of apricot, mango and passionfruit, plus pungent lily and jasmine scents. There’s mild vanilla fudge, then darker caramel, a silky texture and a scented end redolent of Parma Violets and an upmarket perfumier.
Sunshine on Speyside
This blended malt is hedonistically fruity on the nostril, with lifted aromas of guava, kiwi and cassis, main into darkish marmalade, hazelnut praline and chocolate ganache. Nevertheless it’s a shapeshifter, with the palate virtually austere by comparability – loads of construction, a whisper of earthy smoke and a mildly drying end.
The Spirit of Scotland
The best blends are masterclasses of concord and complexity: this 46-year-old presents a number of layers of ripe orchard fruits, then zesty mandarin slathered in vanilla cream – in addition to an undercurrent of malty cereal notes and an increasing trace of fragrant smoke. Not remotely showy, however advanced and endlessly fascinating.
