1956 Gordon & Macphail Mr George Centenary Edition Glen Grant 62 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Scotch Single Malt of the Year (Single Cask) - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2021

To commemorate what would have been his centenary year in 2019, Gordon & MacPhail have released this superb example of Mr George Urquhart's legacy. The spirit, from one of his favourite distilleries, Glen Grant, was personally matched by Mr. George to an oak cask made to his specific requirements. Laid down in 1956, the year he became the company's senior partner, this 62 year old embodies the qualities that made Mr George a master of his craft; patience, depth of character and exquisite taste. With just 235 bottles on offer globally, this is genuinely a dram for life's rarest and most treasured occasions. 51.7% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... "One of the great whisky journeys." 97 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2021

...This incredibly old Glen Grant was just bottled to celebrate the 100 years of former G&M CEO George Urquhart. We’ve tried a handful of 1956s by G&M already, and they have been stunning, especially one for LMDW’s 50th Anniversary, bottled – and tasted - in 2005 (WF 93!) Colour: deep amber. Nose: magnificent. The dashboard of an old Bentley (well, works with Austins too) that’s just been redone, natural varnishes and polishes, this faintly miso-y side yet again, a stunning pine-y earthiness (that walk in the woods, rather pines and firs here), an almost unnoticeable touch of Marmite and malt extract, and just one tiny porcini. Bold and subtle at the same time, but that may be the surprisingly high strength. With water: fatbulous! There, those honeyed notes that were missing a bit in the ’72, they’re all here. Basically, it’s akin to the best mead in the world, plus the best brioche and the best dried figs. Mouth (neat): hurray, no over-woodiness at all (really, at all) and rather a fantastic chestnut honey – marmalade – mint liqueur combination. This is very wow. Wonderful touches of bouillon again, Chinese fondue, miso, Maggi… With water: incredible balance and almost under-oakiness. There is quite some oak of course, but it is not oaky at all, go figure. Time to call the Anti-Maltoporn Brigade, perhaps. Finish: long, on the same exceptional meady notes, sultanas, earl grey, bergamots, chocolate, and, well, just the whole dictionary. Comments: you’d almost believe they’ve used demi-johns like in Cognac and moved this one to a secret paradise around 30 years ago, but of course they haven’t. I haven’t checked the price – who counts anyway? (careful, S.) 93 points- Serge Valentin, whiskyfun.com

Notes from the bottler... NOSE: Rich fruitcake aromas complement notes of raisin and dried fig. Dark molasses entwines with Seville orange peel leading to beeswax polish. Fresh roasted walnut and burnt toffee notes come to the fore. TASTE: Sweet initially with bursts of vibrant citrus. A slight humidor edge transforms into juicy sultanas and dark chocolate coated coffee beans. Liquorice toffee flavours develop alongside mature charred oak and mouth-warming spice. FINISH: Long and complex; subtle hints of smoke with lingering dark liquorice.

Built in 1840 by John and James Grant, the Glen Grant distillery is located at Rothes overlooking the majestic river Spey. Glen Grant draws its water from the Caperdonich well, the same water source used by its sister distillery which was mothballed in 2002. Glen Grant whiskies are famed internationally for their smooth elegance, produced by the site’s unique stills that have an almost square section between the pot and neck and purifiers on the lyne arms. These uncommon additions combine to deliver a deliciously light, fruity and gentle character that mature wonderfully in both bourbon and Sherry casks.