Since 1895 Gordon & MacPhail, a family-owned spirit and wine merchant based in Elgin, Moray, has earned a well-deserved reputation as one of the world’s leading malt whisky specialists. With a distribution network extending into over 40 countries and access to single malts from some of Scotland’s finest distilleries, Gordon & MacPhail’s commitment to excellence was recognised in 2009 when it was awarded the prestigious Queens Award for Enterprise in International Trade.
- Highland Mojito
This month sees the company re-launch Dunkeld Atholl Brose, a single malt whisky liqueur based on a recipe dating back over 500 years. Legend has it that in 1475, the Earl of Atholl captured the rebel Iain Macdonald by filling a well with honey, oatmeal and whisky. Macdonald found the concoction irresistible and was caught by the Earl while stopping to enjoy a dram.
Here and now in 2010, Gordon and MacPhail still use the Earl of Atholl’s original recipe as the starting point for Dunkeld Atholl Brose but have put a contemporary spin on a classic by creating a new signature cocktail using the drink: the Highland Mojito. A measure of Atholl Brose is shaken with mint leaves, sugar syrup and lime, poured over crushed ice and topped with soda water to create a modern Scottish twist on the Cuban classic.
Gordon and MacPhail were kind enough to send Informed Edinburgh a sample bottle of Dunkeld Atholl Brose to try the Highland Mojito for ourselves. Armed with a freezer full of ice, a robust kitchen blender and a handful of limes, we set aside a few hours on Saturday evening to get to grips with the cocktail.
- Dunkeld Atholl Brose
The Highland Mojito emerged as a clear rival to its traditional Cuban cousin, the Atholl Brose adding a certain richness and depth that most mid-market rums simply can’t approach. The soda water and lime wedges combined with the liqueur and sugar to create a smooth and refreshing drink with a mild kick; the perfect accompaniment to a Scottish summer evening.
With our soda water supplies exhausted sooner than anticipated, we were forced to improvise and, in-keeping with the Scottish-variations-on-a-Latin-theme approach, devised the ‘Highland Libre’, a spin on the famous Cuba Libre. As the evening progressed, the mixture of Coca Cola, lime wedges and Atholl Brose soon became known, tongue firmly in cheek, as the ‘Freedom!’ after Scotland’s own bringer of libre, William Wallace.
We were also pleasantly surprised to discover that Dunkeld Atholl Brose stands up well neat over ice, imparting a mild heat without any of the harshness that puts many off more traditional whiskies.
Dunkeld Atholl Brose is available in 50cl bottles from whisky shops and fine wine and spirits retail specialists at a suggested UK retail price of £18.99.
For more information see www.gordonandmacphail.com.
Images courtesy of Platform PR.
