The Alchemist - Scotch Whiskies and other fine spirits

Over the last 15 years Gordon Wright has travelled extensively around Europe, North America and the Far East presenting and selling the finest Single Malt Scotch Whisky, specifically for two of the finest Distilleries in
Scotland – Springbank and Bruichladdich.

His career in the spirit world started at the Wright family’s Distillery in Campbeltown in 1989, where he was in charge of the sales and promotion of Springbank - until then little known in many countries.

In 1996, having left Springbank, he established Murray McDavid – an Independent Bottler of Single Malt whisky.

The company quickly earned a reputation for the high quality and specialist range of its whiskies. This led to an opportunity to buy Bruichladdich Distillery from Jim Beam Brands in 2000.

Having sampled and enjoyed a huge range of spirits during his travels, Gordon discovered a wealth of flavours, textures and characteristics in spirits from a whole range of fruits and grains. An idea took root to assemble a collection of the finest wood aged spirits under one label and from that grew the Alchemist brand.

The 2010 range includes

Bruichladdich 15 year old
Bowmore 9 year old
Caol Ila  12 year old
Highland Park 15 year old
Macallan 10 year old
Macallan 15 year old
Macallan 18 year old

Armagnac Castex 15 year old

Calvados Droin 15 year old

Rhum Agricole Gardel 10 year old

All bottled at the 46% abv optimum strength for fine spirits

Domaine C. Drouin 15 year old Calvados 42% Alchemist

Flamboyant amber colour, it has a complex, well-balanced nose; the fruit giving a mellow aspect to a palate dominated by wood and spice; full and very long. As complex as any single malt.

Christian Drouin has gained a worldwide reputation for producing the finest Calvados. Located in the Pays d'Auge the distillery uses apples from the family orchards to make cider, which is then double-distilled and matured in oak casks until ready to savor. This is a sublime spirit, which demonstrates its creator's skills and passion.

Gardel Distillery Rhum Agricole 10 year old Alchemist 46% 70cl 

 Tasting notes :-

Deep coppery brown with flecks of sunlight.
A bewitching deep sweet and aromatic nose with honey and toffee pudding.
fragrant palate fills the mouth with silky notes of vanilla and oak.
The finish is firm and dry and lingers long into the sunset.

To buy Alchemist selected whiskies calvados and rhums click here and type Alchemist in the search box top left

Macallan Single Malt Whisky 18 year old Alchemist 46% 70cl

Macallan Single Malt Whisky 18 year old Alchemist 46% 70cl Tasting notes :-

Bottled by Gordon Wright - The Alchemist
Distilled  August 1990
Bottled   April  2009
Abundant aromas of sweet sherry and toffee.

The flavours of rich dried fruit and sweet oak give a full, rounded and plump mouthfeel

Followed by a long smooth and beguiling finish.



Find similar styled Single Malt Scotch Whiskies  Click Here

To buy Alchemist selected whiskies calvados and rhums click here and type Alchemist in the search box top left

History and bottling and tasting notes for The Macallan Scotch Whisky Click Here

Bruichladdich Single Malt Whisky 15 year old Alchemist 46%

Bottled by Gordon Wright - The Alchemist.
Distilled April 1993
Bottled August 2008

Bruichladdich Single Malt Whisky 15 year old Alchemist Bottling Tasting Notes :-

A whiff of its coastal birthplace spilling over the edge of the glass.

It is also clean and bright on the palate with layers of citrus fruit and vanilla oak.

The finish as always long and lingering, leaving your palate refreshed and ready for more!

Bruichladdich Distillery photo slide show click here 

For similar tasting whiskies to Bruichladdich click here

You can find a range of Alchemist Special bottlings here including Armagnac's and Calvadoes just click this link and Type Alchemist in the search Box

Highland Park Single Malt Whisky 16 year old Calvados Finish

Orkney Island. Highland Park Scotch Whisky.

Alchemist Bottling Selected by Gordon Wright.

Bottled naturally. Not chill filtered. Caramel free.

Highland Park Single Malt Whisky 16 year old Calvados Finish Tasting notes :-

Colour: Rich golden colour.

Nose: Beautiful aromas of fresh green apples balanced by oak and seaside freshness.

Palate: Clean and dry mouthfeel with layers of creamy and velvety texture.

Flavours of malt and soft grains with a hint of peat.

Apple and vanilla are in balance giving a whole feeling of warmth.

Finishes long and clean with that Calvados edge.

To Compare Highland Park Single Malt Whisky Click Here

More information about the Highland Park Distillery Click Here

You can buy this Alchemist bottling of Highland Park at http://www.whiskys.co.uk/

Macallan Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Founded in 1824 by Alexander Reid
Location Speyside region Central district Aberlour.
Water source On site bore holes.

Macallan Single Malt Scotch Whisky
“The Rolls-Royce of single malts" is a label often bestowed upon this persistent winner of competitions.
Macallan is a purposefully traditionalist distillery. There has been whisky made on the Macallan site, since the late 1700s.
Tasting Note:
Pale gold in colour.
Clean and very fruity, ripe, juicy oranges with malty undertones.

Dry and medium bodied with toasty clean and refreshing flavours.

The finish is spicy and warming, silky and creamy with good length.

More information about Macallan Single Malt Scotch Whisky Click here

You can buy Maccallan Single Malt Scotch Whisky here at http://www.whiskys.co.uk/

Caol Ila Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Caol Ila Single Malt Scotch Whisky 9 year old Bottling by the Alchemist


Until recently Caol Ila was the preserve of the Independent Bottler. Thankfully
is has now far more exposure.
It is one of the most beguiling of the peated Islay malts and this example is no exception.
Enjoy with a drop of water to bring out the exceptional smoke and oiliness.
Tasting Note:

Pale gold in colour.

Clean and smoky with perfumed vanilla. Slides around the palate releasing citrus and smoked ham.

Medium bodied, rich and mouth filling.

Lingering smoke and oil finish this beautifully complex dram.

More information about Caol Ila Single Malt Scotch Whisky Click here


You can buy Caol Ila Single Malt Scotch Whisky here at http://www.whiskys.co.uk/

Bowmore 9 year old Single Malt Whisky

Alchemist Bottling of Bowmore whisky at 9 years old

Situated in the capital of Islay, Bowmore is a medium peated single malt which gives it a wider audience than some of it’s more heavily peat influenced neighbours.

It has always been among my very favourite malts due to the balance it exudes.

This young pup has plenty of character on display.

Tasting Note:

Pale gold in colour.

A gentle peat aroma is followed on the palate by a silky and nicely oily texture.

Sweet floral notes with soft smoke are rounded off with a clean long and fruity finish.


More information about Bowmore Single Malt Scotch Whisky Click here
You can buy Bowmore Single Malt Scotch Whisky here at www.whiskys.co.uk/