I deliberate to publish a brand new cognac session with seven current bottlings immediately, however that might be postponed to Friday – keep tuned. It additionally seems immediately is my birthday. At all times a pleasant event to have one thing particular, proper?
I picked this MacPhail’s 1951, an undisclosed single malt which Gordon & MacPhail launched round 1990-1991. Every kind of vintages exist with the identical label: 1945, 1946, 1950, 1964, 1973 and so forth, test Whiskybase. In line with rumours, not less than a few of them are Macallan whisky in disguise.
After all there’s additionally the MacPhail’s 1959/1960 Royal Marriage ceremony. Simply 40% ABV – in these days solely the Italians had been used to cask energy bottlings.
MacPhail’s 39 yo 1951 (40%, Gordon & MacPhail +/- 1991)
Nostril: a pleasant previous sherry cask, beginning on Havana cigars together with somewhat smoke, earlier than transferring to Christmas cake, caramelized nuts and leather-based. Additionally natural notes, whiffs of steel polish and some drops of natural liqueur (all of which might be an previous bottle impact). What’s nice is that there’s a beautiful fruitiness beneath, with dried apricots, nectarine, honeydew melon and shiny orange peels. Very expressive with a fantastic steadiness.
Mouth: somewhat delicate however not weak. Right here once more you get a pleasant (refill?) sherry model, on blackberry, marmalade, plum and raisin. It’s not overtaking the spirit although, leaving room for caramelized nuts and a few oily natural notes. The, there’s nonetheless a touch of smoke with a properly dusty oaky contact. Later some candied citrus and praline because it goes down.
End: medium lengthy, balancing the natural notes (cough drops) with sweeter caramelized notes and a touch of chocolate.
So there you’ve it, some distilleries have all the time most popular to remain nameless after they bought casks to unbiased bottlers. Previous Macallan? It actually has that model, and whereas it comes at a modest ABV it has loads of tales to inform. I assume this was reasonably reasonably priced when it hit the market, and my birthday is the right day to ask for a time machine. Fairly please?
