Glenesk – 1982 Connoisseurs Choice (70cl, 40%)

Glenesk – 1982 Connoisseurs Choice is a whisky from Glenesk (Highland). Bottled at 40% ABV, 70cl. This distillery has gone by many names over the years (Highland Esk, North Esk, Montrose & Hillside) and was even run as a grain distillery for a period. Like many stills, it fell silent during the First World War and was then damaged by fire. When it reopened in 1919 it was solely as a maltings. Whisky only began to be made again in 1938. They immediately transformed it into a grain distillery and, naturally, changed its name again, this time to Montrose. Production was halted again during the Second World War and, in 1953, it became part of DCL, who ran it intermittently as a grain distillery for a decade. With expansion of other grain distilleries and a need for malt whisky rather than grain in the 1960s, the distillery was changed back into a malt distillery in 1964. This obviously necessitated another name change, this time to Hillside. For some unknown reason, its name was changed yet again in 1980, this time to Glenesk. It operated for a final five years before finally being closed for good. Primarily used in blending particularly for VAT 69, the distillery closed in 1985. In an odd turn of events the maltings which were built in 1968 are still in operation, owned now by Boormalt... the distillery itself has been demolished. Connoisseurs Choice is one of the most easily recognised ranges from the independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail. This range was launched by George Urquhart - one of the first of four generations of the family to build Gordon & MacPhail - back in the 1960s; a period where most malts were used in blends so this was quite an unusual move for the company. Perhaps due to the popularity surrounding blends, this range did well as the exception by showcasing some distilleries which had never before been bottled as single malts and thus, it has proved to be a hit for more than 35 years. Glenesk Please note minor wear to carton