House of Hazelwood : A Minute to Midnight 45 Year Old

A Minute to Midnight 45 Years Old by House of Hazelwood: Characteristics and Tasting Notes

Tasting Notes

Appearance
A very dark mahogany hue, testament to a long and deep maturation.

Nose
Powerful, expressive and deeply marked by sherry. It opens with an abundance of dark candied fruits evolving towards the sweetness of strawberry jam. These are intertwined with complex tertiary notes: deep spices, incense, hazelnut, old leather, cigar tobacco and a majestic woodiness.

Palate
Warm, creamy and tannic. It unfolds comforting flavours of mulled wine, cinnamon sticks, dates, plums and dark chocolate. This ensemble is perfectly balanced by deep wood spices and a savoury touch. The finish is exceptionally long, slightly dry and spicy, leaving a gentle warmth lingering that invites contemplation.

Pairings and Tasting Moments
Designed as the ideal companion for the end of an evening, this spirit is best enjoyed during calm, reflective moments. It is recommended to savour it neat, served slightly below room temperature in a tulip-shaped glass. Adding a single drop of water can reveal a delectable sweetness reminiscent of jammy biscuits, while preserving its majestic structure.

Mixology
Due to its extreme rarity, great age and complexity, this exceptional product does not lend itself to mixology. It has been crafted to be enjoyed neat, without embellishment.

An Exceptional Blended Scotch Whisky, a Jewel of Speyside by House of Hazelwood

Family Heritage and Excellence at House of Hazelwood
Launched in its current form in 2022, House of Hazelwood represents the private and exclusive collection of the Gordon family, its current owner. Rooted in Speyside around the historic residence of Hazelwood House near Dufftown, this House stands out for its bold, heritage-driven approach. It draws on family reserves built up over nearly a century to offer ultra-premium blends of absolute rarity. Under the expertise of blender Eilidh Muir, House of Hazelwood breaks the mould by devoting itself almost exclusively to extremely aged blends, often over 30 years old. The brand embodies a philosophy of extended time, championing the art of blending at the highest level of maturity.

A Minute to Midnight 45 Years Old: The Pinnacle of Sherry Cask Ageing
Hailing from the prestigious Charles Gordon Collection, A Minute to Midnight 45 Years Old is a Blended Scotch Whisky of absolute rarity. This 45-year-old spirit perfectly illustrates the House's expertise in the art of blending and extreme maturation.

Conceived as a true "sherry bomb", it is the result of a bold marriage between malts long matured in sherry casks – bringing a rich, dark and intense traditional character – and very old grain whiskies that lend it a smooth texture, volume and captivating sweetness. Bottled at 58.6% vol., this spirit makes no concessions.

Its poetic name evokes the silence of midnight, a metaphor for cosmic time and the patience required to reach such a level of accomplishment after four and a half decades of ageing. Intended for seasoned connoisseurs and collectors, this ultra-premium blend stands as one of the brand's darkest, spiciest and most complex expressions, celebrating the masterful interplay between wood, time and distillate.