Premium packaging.

Corticeira Amorim’s new Top Series^® premium cork closure range is quickly making its mark at the top-end of the spirits market having been chosen to seal the world’s oldest bottled single malt whisky.

Scottish whisky merchant Gordon & MacPhail recently released the Mortlach 70-year-old whisky at a ceremony in Edinburgh Castle with a price tag of £10,000 a bottle.

Its packaging has been carefully selected and comprises a stunning teardrop-shaped hand-blown crystal decanter sealed with the ‘Prestige’ cork stopper from Amorim’s Top Series^® range.

Distributed under Gordon & MacPhail’s ‘Generations’ brand, only 54 standard size 700ml decanters with a recommended UK retail price of £10,000 each and 162 smaller decanters (200ml) priced at £2500 have been released.

Founded in 1895, Gordon & MacPhail is widely recognised as the custodian of some of the oldest and rarest single malt whiskies. 

“We believe Mortlach 70 years old is a malt without comparison,” said David and Michael Urquhart, the joint managing directors of Gordon & MacPhail.

The whisky has aged since 15 October 1938 in an ex-bodega sherry hogshead cask made from Spanish oak.

The stopper features a stylish metallic cap and silver finish carefully designed to match the decanter’s shape and its striking silver base. The packaging is completed with a handmade Brazilian rosewood box. 

Corticeira Amorim’s director of marketing and communications Carlos de Jesus said the company was delighted to have its new product play a prominent role in the packaging of such a special whisky.

“The Top Series^® range was developed to create custom-made packaging solutions for the premium sector of the spirits market utilising new technology and cutting-edge design,” he said.

“The innovative and stylish packaging of Gordon & MacPhail’s 70-year-old whisky is a perfect example of the type of partnerships we will continue to develop with the world’s most important spirits brands.”

Corticeira Amorim’s Top Series^® range was commercially launched early this year to meet the needs of premium spirits producers.

Developed by Amorim’s Luxury Unit, the range takes advantage of natural cork’s performance and sustainability attributes to provide the spirits industry with quality closures that boast strong environmental credentials.

Presented in four product segments — Prestige, Elegance, Premium and Classic Value — the range provides a wide array of closure solutions using a variety of elegant materials and state-of-the-art production techniques.

Top Series^® ‘Prestige’ is the pinnacle of the range with the capsules developed from deluxe materials ranging from crystal to precious metals or exotic timbers.

Corticeira Amorim has continued to build on its strong environmental credentials through a series of initiatives outlined in its fourth Sustainability Report.

Among the highlights in the 2009 Sustainability Report are a 16 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions over the previous year and the recycling of 662 tonnes of natural cork.

Corticeira Amorim also extended its support for sustainable cork forestry practices by funding a free technical advisory service for forest landowners.

In 2009 the company continued to promote the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification system. Amorim has led the way in this area since the certification of the first cork manufacturing facilities in 2007.

The Cork Stoppers and Cork Composites business units joined Amorim Floor & Wall Coverings as members of WWF’s Iberian Forest Trade Network. This worldwide network of companies promotes the responsible consumption of forest products.

“In a year that was characterised by a global economic slowdown that placed financial constraints on many companies, Corticeira Amorim has strongly reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable development,” said Corticeira Amorim chairman and CEO António Amorim.

“With the support of a wide range of stakeholders we have achieved most of the environmental objectives that we set for the year under review and recorded some significant victories for the environment.”