TRANSLATION | Eugenia Yang
Some say Socttish people hide their romance in their whisky bottles. In September, Gordon & MacPhail will be launching an 80-Years-Old from Glenlivet Distillery, which will become the world’s oldest single malt Scotch whisky ever bottled and will also be added to its Generations collection.
80年的浪漫
酒款取名“世代系列 — 格蘭利威酒廠80年”，原酒來自於格蘭威特酒廠（Glenlivet），蒸餾於1940年2月3日，在桶號為340的橡木桶中熟成，是由該格蘭威特酒廠的第二代掌門人George Urquhart和他的父親存放入高登&麥克菲爾的倉庫。當時喬治·厄克特 (George Urquhart) 被著名威士忌作家 Charlie MacLean 稱為「所有單一麥芽威士忌之父」，他堅信所有威士忌都應該成熟直到桶和烈酒達到所需的質量，並準備好裝瓶。
老話說得好：The Wood Makes The Whisky 好木釀好酒，當80 年珍釀所用的木桶還是棵樹苗的時候，英國維多利亞皇后剛剛成婚，沙皇尼古拉一世統治著俄羅斯，道光繼位成為大清朝的第七位皇帝，年輕謙遜的律師林肯正在伊利諾伊州斯普林菲爾德執業。在經歷了80年歲月的沉澱之後，該桶酒款在2020年2月5日裝瓶，酒款以原桶強度裝瓶，酒精濃度為44.9%ABV，限量250瓶。
An ‘80s Romance
Originated from Glenlivet Distillery, Generations 80-Years-Old from Glenlivet Distillery was poured into its cask—Cask 340—on February 3rd, 1940 under the watch of George Urquhart and his father. Referred as “the father of single malt” by renowned whisky writer Charlie MacLean, Urquhart believed that each whisky should be left to mature until the cask and the spirit had combined to create the desired quality, just like the old saying—the wood makes the whisky. Eighty years ago when the cask material was still a sapling, Queen Victoria of England had just got married, Nicholas I of Russia was still in power, Daoguang Emperor just became the seventh Emperor of the Qing dynasty and a young, humble Abraham Lincoln was still working as a lawyer in Springfield, Illinois. After 80 years of distillation, the cask was finally bottled on February 5th, 2020 with a strength of 44.9% ABV and made into only 250 bottles.
橡木桶的藝術
細數威士忌熟成的數十載時光，「世代」一詞象徵著Gordon & MacPhail 掌門家族相傳的工藝精神。世代系列 — 格蘭利威酒廠80年包裝水晶酒瓶由著名建築設計師Sir David Adjaye OBE操刀打造，這位影響力頗大的建築師曾是耗資5.4億美元的美國非裔歷史博物館的設計師，在今年（2021年）更是獲得了英國女王親自頒發的「英國皇家建築師協會（RIBA）」皇家金質獎章。水晶酒瓶彷彿聚焦於威士忌的鏡頭，將其如寶石般呈現在觀者眼前。設計的點睛之筆是木箱開合之間的光影變化，開箱時折射出的光線模擬橡樹林間的斑駁陽光，讓打開酒瓶的瞬間也能成為具有儀式感和感官愉悅的過程，為箱中珠寶般的酒瓶和瓶中珍釀營造出魔幻時刻。
The Art of Oak Casks
125 years in the making, the term “generation” is a symbol of Gordon & MacPhail’s long established history and craftsmanship. The unique decanter of Generations 80-Years-Old from Glenlivet Distillery is created by internationally acclaimed architect and designer, Sir David Adjaye OBE. An award-winning Ghanaian-British architect, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and the recipient of the 2021 RIBA Royal Gold Medal. His largest project to date was The National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington, DC. Like a lens focusing on the whisky, the crystal decanter shines like a gemstone for its collectors. In the moment of lifting the wooden case, the reflection of light resembles the way the sun shines through the oak wood trees. Unbottling the decanter becomes a process of enjoyment, a ritual marking the magical moment of opening a precious jewelry box.
最古老的Whisky
目前，世代系列 — 格蘭利威酒廠80年已經發布，但還未正式上市，零售價格也還未公佈。不過已經確定的是，該酒款的1號瓶將現身今年10月的蘇富比拍賣會。為慶祝這一里程碑的珍釀，官方承諾，拍賣除去成本後的所得將全部捐獻給致力於修復蘇格蘭生態森林，為當地野生動物和社區提供生存與繁榮的蘇格蘭慈善機構「生命之樹」（Trees for Life）。時代見證了Gordon & MacPhail 世代系列年份最古老的裝瓶單一麥芽蘇格蘭威士忌，某一處時光紀載著蘇格蘭釀酒史上最為光輝燦爛的詩歌。
The Oldest Whisky
At the moment, Generations 80-Years-Old from Glenlivet Distillery is already set for release, but its actual price remains unclear. However, decanter number #1 is confirmed to be auctioned by Sotheby’s in early October 2021. To celebrate its milestone, all auction proceeds, minus costs, will be donated to Scottish charity Trees for Life with a mission to preserve and rewild the Caledonian Forest. A testimony of history, Gordon & MacPhail’s oldest single malt Scotch whisky becomes a manifestation of the most brilliant poem in the history of Scottish winemaking.