Whisky Focus - Gordon & MacPhail Rare Vintage Glen Grant 1954 Review

Review of Gordon & MacPhail Rare Vintage Glen Grant 1954.

Gordon & MacPhail Rare Vintage Glen Grant 1954 was matured in 1st Fill Sherry Casks and bottled at 40% ABV.

In partnership with each respective distillery, all whiskies in Gordon & MacPhail's Rare Vintage range are uniquely labelled. In years gone by many of these unique designs were used ‘officially’ to bottle the whisky under licence from the distillery. Today these trusted relationships with distillers enables Gordon & MacPhail to bottle exclusive vintages of single malt at various strengths – all with their unique distillery label.

William Morrison's Tasting Notes:

Nose:  Melon, peach and just the most delicate hint of smoke lurking in the background and lovely mature oak.

Taste: A dry mature oakiness is pushed back by melon, peach, burnt raisins, tangy orange, a touch of barley sugar and a touch of smoke still lurking in the background.

Finish: The oak is still kept in place by the sherried fruit, melon, burnt raisins slowly fade leaving slightly drying mild mature oak, outstanding.

Comment: Given its age I spent a lot of time nosing and tasting this. Perhaps I have expensive tastes but I just love old mature sherried drams that are done well (not all are) and in this age group I would say in my experience Gordon & MacPhail are experts at it. There cask management is excellent. I have had the pleasure of a few very mature outstanding G & M bottlings over the years, such as The Macallan Speymalt 1938, Mortlach 70 year old and Glenlivet 70 year old and this is right up there with them in quality. A stunning first fill sherry cask matured dram. I tell you what, if you have the funds and are looking for a stunning very rare sherried dram to pour this Christmas, there isn't much better, older and enjoyable than this around not at this price. A stunning very mature sherried dram.

SMW Score 94/100

You can find the full current Gordon & MacPhail Rare Vintage whisky range available from specialist Whisky retailers such as Master of Malt

To demonstrate Gordon & MacPhail's philosophy of ‘The Wood Makes the Whisky’ I have reviewed four single malt whiskies from Gordon & MacPhail's whisky Collections: Connoisseurs Choice, The MacPhail’s Collection and Rare Vintage, which demonstrate their philosophy of "The Wood Makes The Whisky".

• Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice Speyburn 1991
   
• Gordon & MacPhail Distillery Labels Ardmore 1996
   
• The MacPhail's Collection Bunnahabhain 8 Years Old
   
• Gordon & MacPhail Rare Vintage Glen Grant 1954

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