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

House of Hazelwood Legacy Collection Queen of the Hebrides 36 yo

 

 

 

43,4°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

American Oak Cask

Independent Bottling 

By House of Hazelwood 

Limited Edition 

Blended Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Heavily Peated

 

 

 

This time, the prestigious House of Hazelwood, founded in 2022, ventures to Islay and presents us with a wonderful 36-year-old blended malt. There is no clue as to its exact origin, all we know is that it was matured in a single American oak cask, yielding 274 bottles. As it was distilled around 1988, we can deduce that it is not Ardbeg, which was inactive at the time, nor Ardnahoe or Kilchoman, which were not yet open, nor Bruichladdich or Bunnahabhain, which did not produce peated whiskies. That leaves Bowmore, Caol Ila, Lagavulin and Laphroaig.  

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

An elegant wisp of smoke with a hint of minerality, gravel and quartz, but above all beautifully integrated coastal notes, sea spray and salt crystals, dried seaweed, and the iodine-rich air of the open sea. Behind this, discreet dried fruit, mellow honey, grainy cereals, and a slight touch of soot. The peat is just a bit more pronounced on the palate, with a rustic character, topped by very subtle vanilla and citrus. Grapefruit, agave, lime, herbaceous undertones, sun-bleached grass, reeds. Dates and quinces, delicate spices. A very long finish, not particularly strong but characterful, crushed hazelnuts and peanuts, fragments of rock, gypsum, a dash of mud, herbs, leaves of blond tobacco. Birch bark, autumnal scents, cigar ash on the retro-olfaction. 

 

In Short, 

It could be any one of the four distilleries mentioned above. The peat is very light, but that’s to be expected given its age. What really struck me were the coastal notes, blended with citrus and dried fruit, a lovely blend. One small reservation: for me, it lacks a bit of intensity, to the extent that I don’t recognise it as an Islay, I would have thought it was Highland Park or BenRiach instead. The price, on the other hand, is very steep, although, given how expensive old Islay whiskies are these days, it might be a bargain after all. 

Score : 89 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Tamino - Babylon

House of Hazelwood The Charles Gordon Collection The Garden At Hazelwood 47 yo

 

 

 

43,7°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Scotland

Independent Bottling 

By House of Hazelwood

Limited Edition 

Blended Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

As they are part of William Grant & Sons, the blenders at House of Hazelwood have access to the oldest casks. In this case, we’re talking about a 47-year-old whisky, which is quite rare. As only 137 bottles are being released, I imagine that very few whiskies have been used in the blend – probably no more than two. I heard the demonstrator mention the Highlands, but perhaps I misunderstood. I’m not entirely sure, as William Grant & Sons doesn’t own a distillery in the Highlands, but you never know. Charles Grant Gordon was the great-grandson of William Grant, the founder of the Glenfiddich and Balvenie distilleries, and of one of the largest whisky groups. It was under his leadership that Glenfiddich launched the first single malt in the history of whisky, during the 1960s. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It’s quite particular, generous notes of lemon, potimarron squash, orchard fruits, peaches, pears, very ripe apples, floral honey, fresh lavender, holly. Grass after the rain, autumnal freshness, dried herbs, plum pulp, dried apricots. On the palate, it becomes distinctly herbaceous, peppermint, thyme, leek soup. But also very honeyed. Fresh figs, cooked fruit, mirabelle plums. Very light, fruity spices. A finish that borders on perfection, immensely long, just the right amount of explosiveness, lacquered noble wood, fried caramel, pear coulis, melting chocolate. A hint of root notes underneath it all, warm chestnuts, hazelnuts.

 

In Short, 

I don’t know where it comes from, but I know just how good it is. The nose and finish are magnificent, and it’s truly astonishing given its very low alcohol content. On the palate, it lives up to expectations, fruity and herbal, very original. At this age, the character is intense, with no watery notes. The price, however, is completely crazy, you have to wonder whether it’s something to be enjoyed or something to speculate on. The second option is, unfortunately, the most likely. A shame, because it’s truly excellent. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                            Eolith - Ruminate

House of Hazelwood Legacy Collection The Lowlander 36 yo

 

 

 

45,9°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Lowlands

American White Oak Casks 

Independent Bottling 

By House of Hazelwood

Limited Edition 

Blended Scotch

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

House of Hazelwood is a very new company, founded in 2022. It is owned by the Gordon family, who also own William Grant & Sons. Suffice to say, they know a thing or two about blending. They have released only around thirty products so far, all of which are very mature. This one is made from different distilleries from the Lowlands region, it is a Blended Scotch, which means there is grain whisky in it. Now, the Gordon family owns the Girvan distillery in the Lowlands, so that is certainly where the grain whisky that contributed to this nectar comes from. However, they do not own a malt distillery in the Lowlands. But at the time, around 1988 and before, there were only three distilleries in operation in the region: Auchentoshan, Bladnoch and Glenkinchie. The latter two are owned by Diageo, which has a turbulent history with William Grant & Sons, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. 432 bottles are being released. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is superbly mellow, vanilla waffles, garden blossom honey, candied mandarins, powdery almonds, brown sugar. A zest of lemon. At the same time, crystalline salt, fresh grass, reeds and rich earth. Light mineral notes, freshly cut flint, sweet butter. On the palate, it is unfortunately very light, though perfectly balanced, pulpy fruit, greengages, Chasselas grapes, soft bananas. White chocolate. Shavings of waxed wood, hints of aniseed, cardamom, clove, then a very long but not particularly explosive finish, very ripe pear, crushed flowers, cooked egg yolk, hazelnut, a dash of peanut butter.

 

In Short, 

At first, I was a bit disappointed, as I found it very light, despite a superb nose. But on reflection, there is a great deal of subtlety to it, including on the palate and in the finish. It is truly a quintessential Lowland whisky, with gentle, understated spring-like flavours, very well-balanced and smooth. However, I was shocked by the price, clearly, it isn’t worth such extravagance. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                             Pitou - Knife