House of Hazelwood 1972 The Charles Gordon Collection The Old Ways 51 yo

 

 

 

50,1°

Distillery : Girvan - Lowlands

American Oak Cask 

Independent Bottling 

By House of Hazelwood

Limited Edition 

Single Grain 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Here we have a cask that may well have been overlooked amongst the countless batches distilled in 1972 at the Girvan distillery. Back then, Single Grain Whisky was very different. Today, wheat is mainly used, but at the time it was maize, imported directly from the USA. But the biggest difference was that the stills retained heavier flavours, as they were made entirely of copper and had three columns. Charles Gordon was the man running the distillery he had founded himself at that time, and that is why this cask, fortunately unearthed today, pays tribute to him. Neither the original distillery nor the age are indicated on the bottle, but the newspapers reporting on the release of this little gem make no secret of it. Only 123 bottles were put on sale.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Grainy cereals, vaporous fruits, mirabelle plums, cooked pears, dates. Melt-in-the-mouth toffee, brown sugar, barley sugar, a knob of butter. Shoe polish, candle wax, beeswax, cough syrup. Apple crumble, plenty of cinnamon and cardamom. A hint of pineapple and vanilla cream, buttered toast, spring freshness. On the palate, shortbread biscuits dipped in tea, olive oil with notes of orange, rhubarb and cotton candy, egg custard. Mountain honey, wild flowers, a few red berries and discreet spices. Extremely long finish, cooked apples, black tea, burnt rubber, melting dark chocolate, slightly syrupy raisins. 

 

In Short, 

It’s absolutely superb, with an incredible intensity, so much so that I was surprised to learn it had been aged in just a single American oak cask. The influence of the wood is decisive here, creating a riot of varied flavours. As for the price, it is unfortunately astronomical, and out of reach for any honest worker who lacks the know-how to get involved in high finance.

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           East Duo - Nisli & Ushguli

House of Hazelwood 1968 The Charles Gordon Collection The Cask Trials 53 yo

 

 

 

49,2°

Distillery : Girvan - Lowlands

1st Fill Spanish Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By House of Hazelwood 

Limited Edition 

Single Grain 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

The age may seem impressive, but of the thirty bottlings released by House of Hazelwood so far, this one isn’t even among the top five oldest. That said, 53 years is quite something. Especially when, like this one, it has been matured all that time in a single first-fill sherry butt sourced directly from Spain. 303 bottles have been produced. It is a grain whisky and, although the distillery’s name is not indicated on the bottle, it can only be Girvan, the distillery opened in 1963 by William Grant & Sons, who also own House of Hazelwood. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The sherry is very powerful, fermented fruits, Amarena cherries, luscious grapes, dried fruits too, dates, figs, apricots, pine resin, waterlogged wood, meat juices, red fruit coulis, blood oranges. Melt-in-the-mouth toffee, walnut oil, dark chocolate, cinnamon, acacia honey. Rare earthy and damp notes. Dried herbs, thyme, rosemary. On the palate, it is thick, marinated, oaky, ground coffee, macadamia nuts, a purée of assorted fruits, pears, raspberries, damsons, pineapple, rich citrus, heavy spices, nutmeg, cloves. Cod liver oil. An endless finish, far more powerful than I would have thought, splinters of wood dipped in chocolate, chestnut cream, liquorice, raisins, chopped dark tobacco leaves, and lastly some candied fruit, sugar pearls, peppermint. 

 

In Short, 

An incredible sherry, so intense it’s hard to believe, with unrivalled depth. You’re immersed in dark chocolate and coffee, with powerful woody notes and a wide variety of fruits. I’d love to be a millionaire just so I could afford this one – yes, because the price is actually completely prohibitive. 

Score : 92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           The Irrepressibles - In This Shirt

Girvan 1991 Cadenhead's Original Collection 33 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Girvan - Lowlands

Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By William Cadenhead Limited 

Limited Edition 

Single Grain 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Girvan is the famous distillery built in 9 months in 1963 by the Grant family, when Distillers Company Limited stopped supplying them with grain whisky produced in Cameronbridge. It is now the main source of Grant's Blends, particularly Triple Wood. Here, we have it as a Single Grain, aged in a single Bourbon Barrel, so that we can appreciate its full personality. No indication of the number of bottles.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The cereals are very varied and intense, ranging from airy oats to sweet corn, crispy wheat grains and puffed rice, malted barley, rustic rye, millet. Brioche, all coated in caramel. Ethereal almond, cloud of milk. On the palate, vanilla comes in, it's slightly fruity but the cereals remain predominant. Very light spices, mirabelle plums and green apples. Deep finish, but could be longer, custard, sponge cake, white raisins, fudge, resin, cinnamon.

 

In Short, 

A very good grain whisky, although I do regret that the alcohol content isn't a little higher, as it's a little light on the palate. As for the rest, it's sure to please grain whisky lovers. It's intense and rather complex. The price is a bit high, though.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Maria Williams - Humbled and Defanged