Benromach launches 50YO single malt
Gordon & MacPhail-owned Benromach Distillery has unveiled a limited edition 50-year-old single malt, which retails for £20,000 (US$26,100).
The 50-year-old single malt is one of the oldest official releases from the Forres-based distillery. The 2024 release is second only to the distillery's 2005 bottling of a 1949 55-year-old release and the second 50-year-old single from the distillery following the 2019 release. Offered at an ABV of 54.6%, the whisky was aged exclusively in Sherry casks. It displays 'lemon and subtle smoke on the nose, along with aromas of stewed fruit, complemented by orange zest and a hint of aged leather on the palate, and finishes with cracked pepper and a wisp of smoke'. Keith Cruickshank, distillery manager at Benromach, said: “I’m proud to be distillery manager at a time when we release this exquisite single malt, the epitome of our dedication to creating exceptional whiskies by hand. Each element of Benromach 50 Years Old has been crafted by hand using traditional techniques. This includes the decanter, which not only mirrors the spirit in terms of quality but also embodies the passion and meticulous attention to detail that has gone into crafting it. “It is truly a memorable experience for the team to be able to release this very special whisky; a single malt that has been made by hand and shaped by time.” Benromach 50-year-old is limited to 248 handcrafted decanters created by Ross-shire-based hot glass studio Glasstorm. Benromach’s dedication to traditional methods have been echoed by Glasstorm, which used the ‘battuto’ technique to finish the decanters by hand – a skill only practised by master glassmakers. Brodie Nairn, owner of Glasstorm, commented: “There is great synergy between the craftsmanship of glass blowing and whisky making. It takes years to harness the skills, passing down from master to apprentice. I first learned the battuto technique from a master glassblower over in Italy 25 years ago, and in turn, I’ve trained my team. It has taken me a long time to find a project special enough to use it on, but in the end, I found the perfect one.” On the distillery's website, decanter number one is offered for £25,000 (US$32,650), which includes a Benromach 50 print and a special 'distiller for a day' experience. Individually numbered decanters from two to 248 are available worldwide, including 10 decanters through BlockBar, retailing at £20,000 (US$26,100) each. In April this year, Gordon & MacPhail shared the news of the death of its former managing director Ian Urquhart.
