For those who know whisky, Gordon & MacPhail needs little introduction. Based in Elgin, Speyside, a region in northeast Scotland known for producing more than half of all Scotch whisky, the bottler has long been revered, quietly shaping the landscape of single malt Scotch whisky since 1895, long before the category became collectable, covetable, or cool.

From its home in Elgin, the family-owned company has spent over 130 years doing what few others can: matching spirit from over 100 Scottish distilleries to its own hand-selected casks. Now, two new creations enter the portfolio, and together, they reflect the depth, detail, and drive that have defined Gordon & MacPhail across four generations.

The first of the pair returns to where it all began. The Connoisseurs Choice Heritage 1968 was distilled at Longmorn on 10 December 1968. Matured over 56 years in a first-fill sherry butt, it was bottled on 3 November 2025. Launched by George Urquhart, the second generation of the family and a figure widely credited with pioneering single malt as we know it, the Connoisseurs Choice range was a radical idea in its day. At a time when blends dominated the shelves, Urquhart championed individuality.

This 56-year-old Longmorn honours that vision. Only 200 bottles of the new expression exist, underscoring its rarity and collector appeal. The packaging, with a black label, strikes a deliberate chord with the first Connoisseurs Choice editions—elegant, understated, and in keeping with the range’s heritage. What’s inside is even more evocative. Deep in colour—described as the darkest shade of mahogany—it opens with aromas of beeswax polish, followed by sweet tangerine, dark cherries, and stewed raisins. Red apple, treacle, and aniseed notes are layered with warm spice. On the palate, it’s smooth, with a thread of dried tobacco sweetness giving way to orange marmalade, dark chocolate, and a hint of roasted coffee bean. Flavours of walnut and dried fig follow, unfolding into liquorice and a mature oak character. The finish is full and long, with a gentle echo of humidor and spice, citrus undertones, and a final flicker of pepper.

The second bottling offers a striking contrast. Distilled on 6 June 1966 at Glen Grant, one of Speyside’s most elegant and fragrant distilleries, this single malt was bottled on 22 October 2025. Inspired by the return of the Fire Horse—one of the rarest and most audacious signs in the Chinese zodiac—the offering marks a moment that comes just once every six decades, echoing the year the whisky was distilled. Confident and expressive, the 59-year-old single malt pays tribute to the fearless ambition and fierce independence associated with the Fire Horse. Arriving just in time for Lunar New Year, it is limited to 88 decanters worldwide, each presented in a distinctive red-and-black case that’s part sculpture, part statement.

The whisky, bottled at 51.1 percent ABV after maturing for nearly six decades in a second-fill sherry hogshead, pours a rich dark gold. The nose is layered yet precise—vanilla custard, toasted hazelnuts, and a lift of bright cinnamon spice. On the palate, it opens with cocoa powder and rich sultanas, deepening into vibrant autumnal spices. The finish is medium-bodied and long, with lingering notes of mixed nuts and citrus peel.

This idea that whisky should be unveiled only when it’s ready has long defined Gordon & MacPhail’s approach. The company coined the phrase “the wood makes the whisky” not as a slogan, but as a reminder: cask and time are equal collaborators in every drop, and every release reflects that philosophy.

It’s a mindset that has guided the business through generations, most recently with the reveal of an 85-year-old produced at the Glenlivet distillery—a bottling that now holds the distinction of being the oldest whisky available to purchase. Distilled in 1940 during wartime barley shortages and matured in a Gordon & MacPhail oak cask for over eight decades, the whisky was praised not just for its age, but for its composure. Only 125 bottles were available, with the first auctioned by Christie’s New York; proceeds were donated to the US non-profit American Forests to benefit forest restoration. Closer to home, Robb Report Hong Kong had the singular honour of unveiling the sought-after 85-year-old at an exclusive gathering of RR1 Hong Kong members, in partnership with Gordon & MacPhail.

Back in Elgin, the company’s original, flagship South Street location is undergoing a transformation: the revamped space will offer unique tasting experiences, with the opportunity to sample the world’s rarest single malts. It’s a physical reflection of the company’s role not just as a bottler, but as a long-term custodian of Scottish whisky legacy. For Gordon & MacPhail, the whiskies and the reimagined Elgin space represent more than just additions to a portfolio—they show how a 130-year-old company continues to move forward with quiet conviction. Across an industry where whisky is increasingly shaped by marketing cycles and social media hype, the house remains an outlier: family-owned, independent, and patient by design.

Learn more about the new releases at gordonandmacphail.com.

All images courtesy of Gordon & MacPhail.