Bladnoch 1987/1999 Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice 12 years old Single Lowland Malt Whisky 70 cl 40%

The label shows a map of Scotland with the distillery marked. It is a detail that now dates the bottle instantly — and makes it as recognisable to collectors as the whisky inside.

Expert description

Bladnoch 1987/1999 Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice 12 Years is a Single Lowland Malt Whisky bottled at 40%.

The release carries the map label Gordon & MacPhail used on Connoisseurs Choice for a number of years and retired in the 2000s. The whisky was distilled in 1987 and bottled in 1999 after twelve years in cask.

Bladnoch was producing in that period under Bell's and United Distillers, and the spirit is made in the pale, classic Lowland style. After 1993 the distillery stood idle for long stretches, which has left the 1980s vintages thin on the ground.

Tasting notes

Nose

Clean and grainy with hay, apple blossom and a pale citrus note.

Palate

Soft, dry and light. Malt, green fruit and a fine waxy texture typical of the period.

Finish

Medium and dry with grain and a faint suggestion of oak.

Specifications

Name: Bladnoch 1987/1999 Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice 12 Years Single Lowland Malt Whisky 70 cl 40%
Distillery: Bladnoch
Bottler: Gordon & MacPhail
Region/Country: Lowlands, Scotland
Type: Single Lowland Malt Whisky
Age: 12 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Distilled: 1987
Bottled: 1999
Edition: Connoisseurs Choice

Flavour profile

Light · Floral · Dry · Grainy · Classic

Investment potential

High. The combination of a 1980s vintage, the retired map label and original packaging is exactly what collectors of Connoisseurs Choice look for.

Did you know?

Gordon & MacPhail runs its own cask programme and has for decades supplied casks to the distilleries it buys from. That is one reason the house's older bottlings often carry pronounced cask influence.

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Frequently asked questions about Bladnoch 1987/1999 Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice 12 Years Single Lowland Malt Whisky 70 cl 40%

What is the map label?

It is the label version where Connoisseurs Choice showed a map of Scotland with the distillery's location marked. The design was phased out and is used as a quick way to date a bottle.

How does it differ from other Bladnoch of the same vintage?

Several 1987 bottlings exist, including with and without the original box. Packaging and label variant are usually what separate them — the contents are the same pale Lowland style.

Is it worth the money?

The rarity lies in the vintage and in the distillery having stood closed for long periods afterwards. On top of that, the retired label variant is itself sought after among collectors of the series.

How is it best enjoyed?

Neat in a tulip glass, no ice. At 40% and in this light style there is not much for water to draw out — give it ten minutes in the glass instead.

Is whisky from closed or paused distilleries always more expensive?

Not always, but the supply is fixed, and that shapes the market. See more examples in our Closed Distilleries Whisky selection.

What defines Gordon & MacPhail as a bottler?

They have bought casks since 1895, warehouse in Elgin themselves and often supply their own casks to the distilleries. That produces a recognisable house style across many different distilleries.