An extraordinarily rare release from stalwart indie bottlers, Gordon & MacPhail.

This very old bottling comes from Balmenach distillery, rarely seen as a single malt, and one of the most old fashioned drams around.

Balmenach uses long fermentations, has rather small stills which they run quick, and uses worm tub condensers. These techniques and equipment all add up to a meaty, rich new make spirit which is perfect for long aging, and for adding depth to blends (which is the reason most of the spirit ends up in Inver House’s range of blended whisky).

Balmenach’s long aging potential is perfectly demonstrated with this whisky, which has lain in a single refill Sherry hogshead for 32 years.

The result is a stunningly complex whisky, packed with flavours of apple pie, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, toasted walnuts, cracked black pepper, dark chocolate, crème brûlée, flamed oranges, tobacco leaf and lingering dark oak.

Bottled at a cask strength of 51%, and without chill filtration or colouration, just 208 bottles were produced.

• Product type
  Single Malt
• Distillery / brand
  Balmenach
• Country
  Scotland
• Region
  Speyside
• Bottler
  Gordon & MacPhail
• Distillation date
  1987
• Bottling date
  14th of October 2020
• Age
  32 years old
• Non-chillfiltered
  Yes
• Natural colour
  Yes
• SKU
  043031