Glen Albyn 1980/2023 - 42 y.o. - Refill Sherry Cask #2327 - G&M Dram Takers Collection

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 51.1% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Distilled in 1980, this Glen Albyn matured for 42 years in refill sherry puncheon 2327. Gordon & MacPhail bottled the whisky in 2023 at 51.1% for the Dram Takers Collection; the single cask yielded 77 bottles. It has natural colour and is non-chill-filtered.

Dried fruit, chocolate, spices, caramel, nuts and mature oak shape the overall character. Sweet and spicy impressions meet the drier woody side of the long maturation.

The design of the Dram Takers Collection draws on the illustrative style of the medieval Book of Kells. Two figures raising a toast together represent the ritual and convivial nature of sharing a special dram. The series brings together long-matured single malts from Gordon & MacPhail casks and highlights distilleries of particular significance to the history of Scotch whisky.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, blueberries and ripe red apples complement sultanas. Roasted hazelnuts, citrus zest and toffee follow.
• Palate: On the palate, strawberry liquorice and stewed plums create a fruity, sweet opening balanced by spicy white pepper. The stewed plums and salt-preserved lemons then give way to mature oak.
• Finish: The finish is full-bodied, with tobacco and peanut brittle lingering for a long time.

Distillery/Bottler:

The Highland distillery Glen Albyn, located in Inverness, began producing whisky in the mid-19th century. Operations ceased in 1983, and the facilities were demolished several years later. This whisky therefore dates from the distillery's final years of production.

Gordon & MacPhail oversaw the decades-long maturation in one of its own refill sherry puncheons and independently bottled the whisky. The family business, active since 1895, began with its shop on South Street in Elgin. It has passed down its expertise in selecting and managing casks through four generations and is also responsible for the Dram Takers Collection.

Facts: