1 of 77 bottles from a single sherry puncheon.
The Dram Takers is an old and dignified series of releases over the age of 40.
Glen Albyn 42 Year Old The Dram Takers Gordon and MacPhail 1980 is a single malt Scotch whisky from a closed Inverness distillery that ceased production in 1983. Matured for over four decades in a refill Sherry butt, this expression possesses a deep mahogany colour and complex notes of dried fruit and dark chocolate. The extended maturation has allowed the spirit to develop secondary characters of old leather and polished wood without the wood tannins becoming overbearing. It was bottled at cask strength to preserve the full intensity of the aged spirit and the oily texture of the original Highland distillate.
Glen Albyn distillery was founded in 1846 by James Sutherland, provost of Inverness. Glen Albyn quickly became the largest distillery in the Highlands producing 75,000 gallons of Scotch whisky a year. Owing to the economic downturn in Scotland in the early 1980s the distillery was closed in 1983 by the global giant owner Guinness (now called Diageo).
Glen Albyn whisky brand was relaunched in December 2022 and its honorary president is Lord French, Baron de Freyne. The previous brand owner was the global multinational Diageo which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange with assets of $49 billion.
For much of its history most of Glen Albyn's produce was used for other blends so its single malt bottlings are very rare. As a result of this, it sells at international auction houses such as Sotheby's, Christie's, and Bonhams with individual bottles often fetching up to $4000 each.
Glen Albyn whisky is known for its distinctive flavor profile that captures the essence of the Highlands. The whisky is characterized by sweet, fresh fruits such as cherries and plums, with a slightly oily texture and a phenolic, peaty edge. The taste is sweet initially, with floral, dry grass flavors, and a slightly salty driftwood note. Roasted malt notes and a little peat smoke are present, leading to an earthy finish with some peat