What. A. Treat. The nose has an underlying fruity smokiness. Old, clearly – a bit vegetal, citrus and sweet fruit notes punch through. Punchy on the palate, so fruity, lovely smooth smoke present, quite sweet and a crazy long finish full of spice, ash and happiness. Oily. White pepper notes. Thick and fabulous. 

Quite a heavy spirit that has held up the standards of how whisky was made way back when. 

So complex. Pre-ABV so we have no idea on the strength. 

Would have cost around £4.92 back in the day, in 1939… that’s £295.11 in 2016 money (latest data available when writing). 

I truly cannot believe I was allowed to try such an historic whisky, thank you Stephen and the G&M team! 

So, on to the main event, but first; what makes Gordon & MacPhail so special?

As a company, they have the incredible foresight to think about taking distillery releases from the archive to market in the 1960s as most of these brands we know and love today did not have their own ranges or even bottle design, let along label design apart from some like Glen Grant that licensed their labels to G&M. Others like Mortlach, Highland Park, Strathisla and many others who were Blend fodder and did not have their own label designs or their own range or product in their name in the market. 

It took until the 1980s when the ‘majors’ realised they needed to exploit the opportunity to release proper single malt in their own name when consumers realised that each distillery produced something different to the one next door. 

And that’s thanks to the vision of Gordon & MacPhail and their long term planning from decades previous. Laying down stock for their children’s and grandchildren, and are still doing that now for next – like the William Grant & Sons ethos. 

Mr. George was fundamental to that vision. 

Laid down in 1956, the year ‘Mr George’ as he was known by colleagues, became senior partner, the 62-year-old single malt features spirit from one of his favourite distilleries, Glen Grant. 

Renowned whisky writer Charles MacLean remarked, “It is no exaggeration to say that George Urquhart was the father, the originator, of the current success and appreciation of Scotch malt whiskies.”

Joining the business in 1933, George Urquhart began his career working alongside his father, John, who had become sole owner of the company in 1915 after John Alexander MacPhail’s retirement and James Gordon’s passing.

‘Mr George’ went on to develop a deep understanding of Scotch whisky, especially the unique interaction that occurs over time between spirit and cask. He was instrumental to the success of single malt, championing it at a time when the vast majority of whisky went towards the production of blends.  In 1968, he created the Connoisseurs Choice range giving little-known distilleries a platform to have their whisky enjoyed in its simplest form, as aged single malt.