PENULTIMATE WHISKY REVEALED IN GORDON & MACPHAIL’S 125th ANNIVERSARY SERIES

 40YO Mosstowie is third of four ‘last cask’ single malts

Gordon & MacPhail has revealed its third commemorative whisky released to mark the company’s 125^th anniversary.

And continuing the theme, the remarkably rare Gordon & MacPhail 1979 Mosstowie from Miltonduff Distillery constitutes the independent bottler’s last remaining cask from the distillery, matured with spirit from the now-removed Lomond Stills.

Located within Miltonduff Distillery in Morayshire, Mosstowie was founded in 1964 under the ownership of industry pioneer Hiram Walker – who championed the use of longer, more versatile Lomond Stills to give a variety of flavour profiles.

The stills, which produced Mosstowie’s smoky, soft spirit, operated for just 17 years before being removed in 1981 due to the longer arms of the stills being notoriously difficult to clean.

Gordon & MacPhail 1979 from Mosstowie Distillery [RSP £1500*]

Only 164 bottles are available worldwide of this full-bodied whisky, full of sherry influences and dark chocolate notes. The 40-year-old whisky was laid down in Gordon & MacPhail’s Elgin warehouse on Thursday 13 September 1979 in cask number 20323, a refill Sherry Hogshead.

Bottled at 49.8% ABV, the whisky is dark gold in colour, with aromas of vanilla pod, butterscotch and stewed apples. On the palate, flavours of black pepper are complemented by spiced grapefruit, dark chocolate and raspberries, before giving way to a long and medium-bodied finish with hints of fresh mint leaves.

Stephen Rankin, a fourth-generation member of Gordon & MacPhail’s owning family and the company’s Director of Prestige, said: “Each of the extremely rare whiskies released to commemorate our 125^th anniversary is truly unique as they are the last cask of that particular make we have maturing in our warehouse. With no official bottling ever available of the elusive Mosstowie malt, we are particularly excited to bring this special whisky to the market.”