The MacPhail’s Collection

Whisky #452: The MacPhail’s Collection 2002 Glenturret Single Malt

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The MacPhail’s Collection 2002 Glenturret Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland . ABV: 43%. Tasted at home, $128 (bottle).

Colour: Pale bronze.

Nose: Freshly baked raspberry muffins. Some sweet oaky notes too, like sticking your nose into a Muscat barrel.

Palate: A sweet (think brown sugar), creamy and oaty flavour. It really reminds me of having a hot bowl of porridge on a cold winter morning, drizzled in milk that’s half dissolved the extra spoonfuls of brown sugar you’ve heaped on top when no-one is looking.

Finish: Some more of those delicious oak and dried fruit flavours in the fade; just think raisins and dried cranberries.

Comments: Silky smooth, this is a fantastic drop. It’s got stacks of flavour yet is so easy on the palate at only 43% ABV. Glenturret Distillery lays claim to being one of the oldest in Scotland (I’m not going near that debate with a barge pole, or maybe a caber) so it’s hardly surprising they know a thing or two about producing whisky. They’re not a huge producer having only the one pair of stills, but on the basis of this drop I think I’ll search out a few more Glenturrets.

Whisky #300 – The MacPhail’s Collection 1986 Glenglassaugh Single Malt

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IMG_4134The MacPhail’s Collection 1986 Glenglassaugh Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. Bottled 1998. 40%. Tasted at The Pot Still (Glasgow), £4.65.

Colour: Rich golden honey.

Nose: Freshly toasted bread with honey on top.

Palate: Oily mouthfeel at first, fruity with a good balance of sweetness and tartness – think pineapple.

Finish: Quite a drying finish. Soft woody notes in the fade.

Comments: Geez these whiskies in Scotland are much cheaper than we pay back in Australia! Not a bad drop – I don’t think I’ve tried a whisky from Glenglassaugh before so I can’t compare it, however it’s not bad at all…worth another taste. This Gordon & MacPhail’s release was distilled in 1986, the year that Glenglassaugh was mothballed for quite some time, until being sold and subsequently reopened in 2008.

Whisky #77 – Glenrothes 1969 – The MacPhail’s Collection

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IMG_2710Glenrothes 1969 – The MacPhail’s Collection. Speyside, Scotland. ABV: 43%. Tasted at Whisky Live 2014, $32 (half nip) from the ‘Old & Rare’ bar.

“Like liquified Christmas pudding”. My favourite whisky so far of the Whisky a Day project.

Distilled in 1969 and only bottled in 2008 by Gordon & MacPhail. This had a beautiful dark colour, that’s what most attracted me to this bottle at the ‘Old & Rare’ bar at Whisky Live. Darker than my ex-girlfriend’s heart.

I was expecting a really strong, Christmas cake sort of flavours based on the amazingly complex and sweet nose. Stunning aromas. However I was expecting the flavours to be a little more intense based on the nose.  Beautiful, beautiful flavours though, just not as full or intense as the aromas had gently teased.  Very smooth to sip, almost syrupy.  An excellent finish too, with a fair bit of spice (flavours) but definitely no alcohol heat – perhaps unsurprising it was so velvety having spent so much time maturing in the barrel. A beautiful, smooth, and frankly stunning whisky.

Definitely the best whisky I’ve had so far – not just at Whisky Live but the best I’ve had so far across the Whisky a Day project.  And that’s not something I say lightly, as I believe it’s difficult to really get to know a whisky (especially a malt as complex as this one) from only one dram. But this is such a standout in my book, amazing. If I could get my hands on a bottle of this I would, although I shudder to think of the price. It was a privilege to have tried it.