Banff 1975 - The Recollection Series "Private Collection" G&M, 700ml
The ‘Private Collection’ features a truly exceptional and unique range of greatly aged single malts from a mixture of celebrated, little-known, and now closed distilleries across Scotland.
The Banff was distilled in 1975, matured in Refilled American Hogshead and bottled in 2021 under the Private Collection Series and the Recollection Series. Bottled from Cask #3623, at 48.6%.
Only 102 hand-blown crystal decanters have been produced.
Some distilleries have extraordinary, enduring stories, but it’s hard to imagine them ever matching up to the history of the Banff Distillery. Built in 1824, Banff established itself in the Highlands until a fire completely destroyed all but the maltings and - thankfully- the warehouses.
This was merely the first in a series of calamities. These culminated in a fateful bombing raid during the Second World War, when a fully laden German Junkers Ju-88 bomber bombed the site. The result of this fateful flight was a series of explosions, igniting hundreds of highly flammable casks of whisky. Many of the casks not permanently sent to the angels leaked, and legend has it that they caused the drunkenness of local farm animals.
The Banff Distillery closed in 1983. Like several other distilleries that met the same fate in the 1980s, Banff has left a legacy: a few remaining casks filled with a whisky with a deep, rich flavour and long lingering spice notes.
Nose: Tropical blast - passion fruit, banana, lime peel - meets smoke and vanilla. White pepper perks it up.
Palate: Buttery with mango, oak, and grass. Zesty citrus cuts through, leaving a touch of spice and smoke.
Finish: Medium-bodied with lingering citrus fruit and soft spices, where the delicate smoke