The MacPhail's Collection Glenglassaugh 1986-2006 20 years single cask + presentation box.

This bottle was part of a private collection/general circulation and can have natural signs of wear!!!
The MacPhail's Collection Glenglassaugh 1986-2006 20 years single cask + presentation box.

Condition: New. Collector-Please note is some damage to the box. Please see photos.
Lost Distillery/Brand: Lost era - Mothballed and restarted 2008.
Fill level: In the neck.

Whisky still produced: Yes.
Category: Single Cask. 
Distillery: Yes.
Bottler: Gordon & MacPhail
Bottling series: The MacPhail's Collection
Vintage: 1986
Bottling Year: 2006
Stated Age: Not stated. - 20 years old
Cask type: Refill Bourbon Barrels
Cask number:
Cask Strength: No. 40.0 % Vol.
Size: 700 ml
Colouring: Unknown.
Chill-filtered: Unknown.
Bottle code: JF/BGB
Country Origin: Scotland.
Region: Aberdeenshire.
Market: Worldwide.

This Gordon & MacPhail Glenglassaugh expression was distilled in 1986, the year Glenglassaugh ceased operations for over two decades, making it one of the last vintages before the distillery's closure. Bottled in 2006, it offers a unique glimpse into the distillery's character prior to its revival. The Glenglassaugh 1986–2006 from The MacPhail’s Collection is more than just a bottle—it’s part of a preserved legacy from a "lost" era of the Glenglassaugh distillery. Combined with Gordon & MacPhail’s 130+ years of history and unrivalled expertise in maturation, it represents a compelling chapter in Scotch whisky heritage.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Fruity aromas of apples and bananas, complemented by sweet notes of milk chocolate and subtle cedar wood.

Palate: Initially sweet with malty, toasted flavours. Hints of smokiness emerge, accompanied by a tannic fruitiness reminiscent of apple skins.

Finish: Fruity and fresh with a touch of spice, leaving a lasting impression of the distillery's coastal character.

Distillery History: 

The Glenglassaugh Distillery, located near the coastal village of Portsoy in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, has a rich and storied history. It’s known for its maritime-influenced single malts and its dramatic revival after decades of silence.

Founding & Early Years

• Established: 1875

• Founder: Colonel James Moir

• Location: Sandend Bay, Banffshire (Speyside/Highlands border)

• Name Meaning: Derived from Gaelic, meaning “valley of the grey-green place.”

Glenglassaugh was founded to take advantage of the pristine spring water from Glassaugh Springs and proximity to barley-growing areas and sea transport routes. Its location right by the sea gives its whiskies a distinct coastal character.

Development & Ownership Timeline

🔹 19th to Early 20th Century:

• By the late 1800s, Glenglassaugh was already producing over 80,000 gallons of whisky annually.

• The distillery was rebuilt and expanded in 1960 by Highland Distillers to modernize operations and increase capacity.

🔹 1986 – Mothballing:

• Production ceased in 1986 due to an industry-wide whisky surplus.

• The site was mothballed, and its buildings were maintained but not operational.

• For over 20 years, Glenglassaugh lay silent, fading into obscurity.

Revival: 2008

After more than two decades dormant, the distillery was rescued in 2008 by a group of private investors (The Scaent Group).

🔧 Key Events:

• Substantial investment was made to refurbish and restart production.

• First new spirit ran from the stills in late 2008.

• Released both "revival" bottlings and rare pre-1986 vintages (which had been ageing during the closure).

Ownership Transitions

🔸 2013 – Acquired by BenRiach Distillery Company

• Led by Billy Walker, BenRiach brought expertise and capital to help develop the brand globally.

🔸 2016 – Brown-Forman Acquisition

• U.S. spirits giant Brown-Forman (owner of Jack Daniel’s) acquired BenRiach, GlenDronach, and Glenglassaugh.

• This brought global reach and further investment.

Production Style

• Glenglassaugh uses traditional wooden washbacks, copper pot stills, and worm tub condensers.

• Production capacity: ~1 million liters/year.

• Water source: Glassaugh Springs.

• Peated and unpeated expressions are now produced.

Coastal Influence

• The distillery sits just a few hundred meters from the North Sea.

• This proximity imparts a saline, briny note to many of its whiskies, often described as “coastal character.”

Notable Expressions

• Glenglassaugh Revival – The first release post-reopening in 2008.

• Evolution & Torfa – Showcase different maturation styles (ex-Tennessee casks and peated expressions).

• Rare Cask Releases – Pre-1986 vintages bottled after decades of maturation.

• Sandend and Portsoy – New names under Brown-Forman emphasizing terroir.

Legacy & Current Status

Today, Glenglassaugh is celebrated for:

• Its rare vintages from the 1960s–1980s.

• Its revival story—a model for how mothballed distilleries can thrive again.

• Producing small-batch, coastal-style single malts with both heritage and innovation.

Gordon & MacPhail – Independent Bottling Pioneers

Background:

• Founded: 1895, Elgin, Speyside

• Founders: James Gordon & John Alexander MacPhail

• Key Figure: John Urquhart (early champion of maturing and bottling single malts)

• Still Family-Owned: Managed by the Urquhart family (now 4th generation)

Initially a high-end grocery store, G&M became a global leader in whisky maturation, bottling, and preservation, nurturing long-term relationships with distilleries and cask-ageing their spirit under licence.

Contributions to Scotch Whisky:

• Among the first to bottle and promote single malts before it was popular.

• Owns rare casks from iconic distilleries like Glenlivet, Mortlach, and Glen Grant.

• Created historic bottlings like:

  • Mortlach 70 Year Old

  • Glenlivet 80 Year Old (oldest bottled single malt ever, as of 2021)

Distilleries & Expansion:

• 1993: Acquired and revived Benromach Distillery in Forres.

• 2022: Announced The Cairn, a new distillery near Grantown-on-Spey.

These ventures give G&M full control over the entire whisky lifecycle—from distillation to ageing and bottling.

Global Reputation:

G&M is widely respected for:

• Curating vintage malts

• Expert cask management

• Releasing some of the oldest whiskies in the world

• Exporting to over 60 countries

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