House of Hazelwood : The Highlander 33 Year Old

Characteristics and tasting tips for The Highlander 33 Years Old from House of Hazelwood

Tasting

Appearance
A soft, luminous amber hue of great purity. In the glass, the spirit shows a slightly oily texture with slow tears, a testament to its long cask ageing.

Nose
Elegantly light, the bouquet opens with sweet heather and notes reminiscent of hillside moss, complemented by a delicate touch of fresh sawdust. Orchard fruit aromas such as green apple, pear and apricot then emerge, accompanied by a hint of sweet malt and light pastry.

Palate
The palate is silky, smooth and remarkably approachable. It unfolds flavours of barley sugar and orchard fruit reminiscent of an apple and pear tart. The structure is exceptionally refined, built in successive layers with discreet, perfectly integrated oak. The medium-to-long finish lingers on sweet fruit, heather and a subtle hint of pale oak.

Pairings and tasting occasions
This exceptional spirit lends itself to contemplative moments, at the end of a meal or on a quiet evening, particularly in spring or autumn. It pairs beautifully with fruity, lightly sweetened desserts such as a delicate tarte Tatin, an apple and pear crumble or a clafoutis made with yellow-fleshed fruit. On the savoury side, it is an ideal match for soft bloomy-rind cheeses (aged Brie, Camembert), herb-roasted poultry or lightly smoked salmon. It is best served at 16–18°C in a Glencairn-style tulip glass. Enjoy it neat at first, perhaps adding a drop or two of water to open up the bouquet.

Mixology
Given its rarity, age and price, this exceptional spirit is intended first and foremost to be enjoyed neat. Although it could, in theory, inspire a minimalist Old Fashioned made with barley sugar syrup, it is highly recommended to savour it unadorned in order to appreciate its full complexity and finesse.

An exceptionally smooth Blended Scotch Whisky from the Highlands

House of Hazelwood: the legacy of a whisky dynasty
Officially launched in 2022, House of Hazelwood showcases an exceptional liquid heritage built up over more than a century. The brand is founded on the private collection of the Gordon family, the current owners of William Grant & Sons. Regarded as the world's largest reserve of very old whiskies, this collection has its roots in the Cabrach and is anchored in Dufftown, at the heart of the Scotch whisky producing region of Speyside. Free from traditional commercial timetables, the house bottles its casks only when they reach their peak. Under the marketing direction of Jonathan Gibson, House of Hazelwood offers ultra-limited releases aimed at collectors, thereby preserving time-honoured methods and rare aromatic profiles.

The Highlander 33 Years Old: a celebration of the Highlands' cultural terroir
Part of the prestigious "Legacy Collection" launched in 2024, The Highlander 33 Years Old is a whisky of the utmost rarity. This Blended Scotch Whisky masterfully brings together malt and grain whiskies sourced exclusively from Highland distilleries, all aged for at least 33 years.

The exact blend remains confidential, in keeping with Scottish tradition, but the presence of grain whisky lends a supple texture that enhances the aromatic complexity of the malts. Matured in American white oak casks, this spirit was conceived as a true celebration of the Highlands' "cultural terroir". Rather than showcasing a specific distillery, it seeks to capture the very essence of the region: its heather-clad hills, its forests and its history. Presented in an elegant decanter that highlights its age and its place in an exceptional lineage, this blend demonstrates that the art of blending, taken to its pinnacle, can rival the greatest single malts.