The long and the short of it: the new whisky that has collectors queueing
Gordon & MacPhail has revealed the latest addition to its prestigious Private Collection whiskies at Harrods - and it’s another humdinger.
The Longmorn Distillery 1961 twin cask has been selected by twin brothers Stuart and Richard Urquhart, members of the fourth generation of Urquhart family that owns Gordon & MacPhail, and as the oldest bottlings from Longmorn, the malt already has collectors queuing.
If it’s possible to do so, the whisky specialist has made a habit out of launching extraordinarily rare whiskies during the last 12 months. Last October it was a whisky with a link to World War Two in the form of a 1943 Glenlivet, an incredible malt that originally retailed for £30,000 but subsequently sold for £43,000 at auction in August. Then came the Private Collection Linkwood Distillery 1956, launched in March this year with only 53 decanters, selling for £22,000. Now they offer up a 1961, bottled in 97 sets of twin decanters, sold as a pair for £30,000.
The aim of the collection has been to prove that single malt maturation truly is an art. In the wrong hands such spirit could be overpoweringly oaky and, frankly, undrinkable. But as specialist with more than a century of expertise in this field, Gordon & MacPhail continue to prove it’s possible to marry the romance of history with a tasty dram.
The Longmorn 1961 is no exception to these achievements. Richard Urquhart’s whisky from the European Oak Cask 508 was bottled at 45% abv, while the whisky from American Oak Cask 512, selected by Stuart Urquhart, was bottled at 40.8% abv. In selecting from two different casks you are invited to appreciate how, even over a potentially exhausting spell of maturation, the wood has left a positive and unique imprint on these whiskies. There was an eyebrow raising subtlety in the floral and spice on the nose of Cask 508, and an equally appealing defined dry spice on the palate.
Meanwhile Cask 512 surprised with its delivery of sweeter fruits, the vanilla expected from American oak was in place, but proved rich and not overly dry. In both cases, the whisky is, as you’d expect, robust, but silky smooth and far from over oaked.
Taken from stock originally laid down to mature by their grandfather George Urquhart in 1961, what’s satisfying in a whisky like this is the sense of history. While George was working with the barrels, Yuri Gagarin was becoming the first man to orbit the earth and the Beatles were making their first appearance at the Cavern Club. This brings a great deal of contemplation to a sip.
As you’d expect from G&M, no detail has been over looked, the individually numbered hand-blown decanters come in beautifully detailed packaging, with a book written by renowned writer and rare whisky specialist, Jonny McCormick, along with a personally signed certificate of authenticity from each brother. And you can learn more about the whisky in the ‘twin’ films about the process.
As well as being in a number of UK specialist retail shops, the whisky is available from the Gordon & MacPhail Retail Shop, and decanters will also be offered for purchase online.
Tom Sandham is one of the Thinking Drinkers, drinks experts and comedy double act who are currently touring their unique theatrical drinks tastings around the UK. For details visit thinkingdrinkers.com
Sign up for the Telegraph Luxury newsletter for your weekly dose of exquisite taste and expert opinion.
