I love whisky and am always keen to sample new ones, so I was delighted to taste the Pursuit of Pleasure—a 52-year-old blended Scotch whisky from House of Hazelwood and Hedonism Wines. It would be the perfect Christmas present for a whisky devotee.

House of Hazelwood and the purveyors of fine spirits, Hedonism Wines, have come together to create whisky’s answer to the definition of Hedonism: The Pursuit of Pleasure, a 52-Year-Old Blended Scotch Whisky.

In a literal ‘pursuit of pleasure’, the Hedonism team travelled to House of Hazelwood’s Speyside home in search of the perfect blend. Drawing on whisky from deep within the Gordon family’s private collection,

a panel of Hedonism’s finest experts spent days with House of Hazelwood whisky makers sampling hundreds of parcels of whisky to find the components to create the ultimate blend. The result is The Pursuit of Pleasure, a 52-year-old Blended Scotch Whisky matured in a combination of American White Oak and European Sherry Casks.

For almost one hundred years, generations of the Gordon family have carefully accumulated whisky stocks for special occasions and consumption. The result is that they have accumulated the greatest inventory of rare Scotch Whisky in the World, which is today known as the House of Hazelwood.

The Hedonism team worked hand-in-hand with Eilidh Muir, Blender, and the House of Hazelwood team to perfect the blend. From visiting the private dunnage warehouses to sample directly from the cask to holding blending sessions, the team was able to input directly into the final recipe. The result is a genuinely hand-selected limited edition bottle that is a delicious addition to any spirits cabinet and a true collector’s item, never to be repeated.

“To be invited to sample whisky from the family’s private collection is every whisky connoisseur’s dream”, said Tom Olive, Assistant Spirit Buyer from Hedonism. “Our aim was simple: to produce a blend of pure indulgence. The result is a whisky that can be described as “decadence decanted”. This whisky is dense on the nose, with sticky jam sweetness, offset against leathery tannins and orange zest. The smoking charcoal balances the sweetness, with a barley sugar character making its way through.”

To celebrate the launch, House of Hazelwood and Hedonism Wines held a bespoke six-course tasting dinner at the Michelin-starred HIDE restaurant, part of the Hedonism Group. Chef Ollie Dabbous created the menu, pairing each course with a House of Hazelwood whisky to reflect the flavours presented within this hedonistic blend. The dinner marks the start of an exciting partnership with HIDE to host consumer events at House of Hazelwood in the coming months.

Commenting on the partnership with Hedonism, House of Hazelwood Director Jonathan Gibson, said:

“Making a truly exceptional whisky takes decades of patience but thanks to our extensive aged stocks the journey from cask to bottle can be navigated within a matter of months. Given the breadth and depth of our stocks which spans every corner of Scotland, our bespoke blend offering allows us to work closely with partners and private individuals to uncover whisky stocks and flavours to create something truly special that match their creative vision.”

Seventy-two bottles of The Pursuit of Pleasure will be available exclusively from Hedonism. This limited edition is on pre-order from 21 October.

House of Hazelwood – The Pursuit of Pleasure – Tasting Notes and Product Details

The Pursuit of Pleasure, 52-Year-Old Blended Scotch Whisky, xx% ABV, 72 bottles worldwide, UK RRSP £4,000

Presenting The Pursuit of Pleasure, a collaborative endeavour in the alchemy of blending with Hedonism Wines, a 52-year-old Blended Scotch Whisky, matured in a combination of American White Oak and European Sherry Casks.

Nose: The nose is dense, and the sticky jam sweetness is almost palpable. Saddlery workshops cut through the sweetness, with hints of furniture polish and leather apparent, before a zingy zest of burnt orange takes the floor.

Palate: The palate is lively, with more sweetness echoed in an effervescent barley sugar character. Light oak and vanilla make wonderful bedfellows, setting the scene for a long, lingering finish of gently smoking charcoal embers upon a barbecue.

About House of Hazelwood

For almost one hundred years, generations of the Gordon family have carefully stored whisky for special occasions and personal consumption. This rare collection has become known as House of Hazelwood, after the family’s Dufftown home, Hazelwood House.

Today, the House of Hazelwood collection has become the most significant inventory of aged Scotch whisky held anywhere in the world. Spanning seven decades and every corner of Scotland, the diverse whiskies held in cask tell stories of remarkable places, lost ways of working, first casks and last casks, and the ambitions and achievements of several lifetimes—none of which will be repeated.

The House of Hazelwood inventory is held in several carefully selected warehouses across Scotland, with fresh stocks laid down each year. Prior to bottling, a small proportion of the stocks are held in traditional dunnage warehousing near Dufftown in Speyside, from where they are carefully monitored and sampled ahead of release.

Website: www.houseofhazelwood.com

Facebook & Instagram: @HouseofHazelwoodScotch

About The Hedonism Group

The Hedonism Group is a unique collection of Mayfair dining and drinking establishments which encompasses Hedonism, the original namesake wine & spirits store on Davies Street; the Michelin-starred HIDE restaurant on Piccadilly; renowned cocktail bar, The Bar Below; Hideaway, an all-day boutique café at 100 Mount St; and finally, The White Horse, a London wine bar, tucked just off Shepherd Market.

Hedonism Wines was founded in 2012 as an emporium of fine wines and spirits. The dedicated team of passionate enthusiasts work tirelessly with customers to find sought after bottles, including some of the rarest in the world.

In April 2018, in partnership with renowned chef Ollie Dabbous, HIDE and The Bar Below opened on Piccadilly. In just 6 months, the restaurant went on to achieve 1 Michelin Star, an accolade it has retained for the last 6 years. Serving breakfast, lunch & dinner seven days a week, HIDE showcases the best of seasonal ingredients with much of the menu made in-house, from charcuterie, bread, jams, juices & pickles. In addition, the extensive wine list reflects the cellars of Hedonism, with well over 5,000 bottles on offer.