{"product_id":"balblair-31-year-old-1993-gordon-macphail-connoisseurs-single-1st-fill-sherry-puncheon-1963-highland-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2024-70cl","title":"Balblair 30 Year Old 1993 Gordon \u0026 Macphail Connoisseurs Single 1st Fill Sherry Puncheon #1963 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2024) 70cl","description":"\u003ch2\u003eBalblair 31 Year Old 1993 Gordon \u0026amp; Macphail Connoisseurs Single 1st Fill Sherry Puncheon #1963 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2024) 70cl\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 of 481 bottles from a single 1st Fill Sherry Puncheon\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArguably the most famous independent bottler of Scotch whisky there is. Gordon \u0026amp; MacPhail was founded in Elgin in 1895 by James Gordon and John Alexander MacPhail. It is now owned by the Urquhart Family who have bow bottled over 350 different expressions from around 69 different distilleries. Gordon \u0026amp; MacPhail is the Trading name of Speymalt Whiskies while also owning the Benromach distillery, which they purchased in 1993. Some of the brands include Connoisseurs Choice, Cask Strength, Rare Old and Speymalt.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTASTING NOTES\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNose: An inviting aroma of dark chocolate, sun-dried raisins, and warm cinnamon spice, intertwined with hints of roasted almonds and orange zest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePalate: Luxuriously smooth with layers of rich sherry sweetness, notes of ripe figs, toasted hazelnuts, and a touch of clove. Subtle undertones of vanilla and oak add complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFinish: Long and satisfying, leaving a lingering warmth accented by gentle spice and a whisper of smoky oak.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Balblair \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"banner wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"banner-container\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"banner-content\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"banner-content-inner\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"introduction\"\u003eEven though the marketing of its single malts is highly contemporary, Inver House believes in an old-style, traditional way of making whisky. Balblair is a good example of this approach.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"introduction\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe aim here is to produce a richly fruity new make character, meaning clear worts, long fermentation in wooden washbacks before distillation in small, stumpy stills. This produces a sulphury\/meaty note to the new make. In time this does two things: the sulphur lifts to show the delicate fruits behind, while the meatiness changes to add sweet toffee notes and, after extended ageing, a notable spiciness. Like most sulphury sites, time is required for this to happen\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first Balblair distillery was built by the Ross family near Edderton in 1790, but in 1872 production was shifted to a new site next to the (then new) railway line which linked Wick to Inverness. The Ross family ran the site for its first 100 years, before Alexander Cowan took charge, but like so many distilleries it suffered at the start of the 20th century and was closed in 1911, not reopening until after WWII when Churchill set out his edict that whisky needed to be made, and sold to the US.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRobert ‘Bertie’ Cumming, the owner of Old Pulteney, bought the silent site and ran it until 1970 when Canadian distiller Hiram Walker took over – before it was absorbed into what became Allied Distillers. The latter firm sold it on to the enterprising Inver House in 1996.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBottlings had been intermittent – Balblair Elements was released in 2000 – but in 2007, Inver House radically repackaged the single malt and, taking a leaf from Glenrothes’ book, began bottling it in ’vintage’ releases. From being a pretty much unknown malt, the new look and the quality of the liquid were both revelatory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2013 Balblair acted as the distillery where the (fictitious) only extant cask of Malt Mill was auctioned in Ken Loach’s whisky caper ‘The Angel’s Share’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e54.2% ABV\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e70cl\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Balblair","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55030318694725,"sku":"BALB31GMCC1993","price":699.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0941\/9495\/8661\/files\/Balblair31YearOld1993Gordon_MacphailConnoisseursSingle1stFillSherryPuncheon_1963HighlandSingleMaltScotchWhisky_2024_70cl.jpg?v=1751048078","url":"https:\/\/b1yyjg-bk.myshopify.com\/products\/balblair-31-year-old-1993-gordon-macphail-connoisseurs-single-1st-fill-sherry-puncheon-1963-highland-single-malt-scotch-whisky-2024-70cl","provider":"Whisky Situation Old","version":"1.0","type":"link"}