Glenlivet releases oldest whisky to date

Chivas Brothers-owned The Glenlivet has unveiled its oldest official single malt bottling, a 55-year-old, to mark its 200th anniversary.

The Glenlivet was the first licensed distillery in the Scottish Highlands when it opened in 1824. To celebrate its bicentenary, it has released the Eternal Collection, First Edition 55-year-old, in collaboration with computational architect Michael Hansmeyer. The whisky was aged in a seasoned Sherry cask for 55 years, resulting in a 'complex flavour profile and astonishingly long finish'. Kevin Balmforth, cask master at The Glenlivet, who directed the final maturation years of the whisky, describes the taste experience as “a medley of autumn fruits, sun-drenched Seville oranges and sticky dates enveloped by the spiced warmth of cinnamon and nutmeg on the nose, alongside the sweet, warming flavours of homemade blackcurrant jam and vanilla fudge, balanced with zesty citrus notes on the palate.” The 55-year-old is limited to only 100 spherical decanters, which sit in a sculpture crafted by Hansmeyer that takes inspiration from the home of The Glenlivet. The art piece, made using contemporary modelling through computer programming, features hand-sculpted jesmonite and rose-gold plating. Hansmeyer said: “My work captures the intersection of architecture and the arts. It is a laboratory for experimenting with new possibilities, and that is where I saw the harmony in collaborating with The Glenlivet. Weaving threads of intelligent technologies to create something that escapes conformity and classification to celebrate such an aged whisky has been a thrill. “I created this sculpture as a tribute to the complexity of The Glenlivet's oldest expression and the rugged beauty of the distillery’s Scottish landscape, capturing the spirit of where innovation meets tradition.” The 55-year-old single malt is the first edition in The Glenlivet Eternal Collection, a new range of old and rare whiskies that will be released annually. All future releases, each taken from a single cask, will be aged for one additional year and be accompanied by an original artwork crafted by a new artist. Balmforth added: “The 55-year-old is the highest-age Scotch ever released from The Glenlivet Distillery and, combined with the incredible talent of Michael, it tells of the timelessness of The Glenlivet. "Thanks to decades of collaboration from our team of cask experts, past and present, the introduction of The Eternal Collection represents a monumental moment for whisky connoisseurs and luxury appreciators to add a pivotal piece of Scotch whisky legacy to their collection. It epitomises The Glenlivet’s commitment to excellence within Scotch innovation as we continue to push to creative new heights in single malts.” The First Edition of The Glenlivet Eternal Collection is bottled at 42.2% ABV and will be available in September exclusively at The Whisky Exchange. The suggested retail price is €50,000 (US$55,900/£41,800). The milestone release was unveiled during an exclusive 200th anniversary celebration at The Glenlivet’s distillery in Speyside, Scotland. The Glenlivet has also partnered with Sotheby’s to create a unique auction lot. A bespoke 55-year-old single malt whisky presented within a one-of-a-kind Hansmeyer sculpture will be available exclusively at auction from 22 October to 4 November 2024, with all proceeds benefiting National Trust for Scotland, which is dedicated to conserving Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage. Earlier this year, The Glenlivet partnered with The Whisky Exchange to offer a collection of 50-year-old whiskies. The Glenlivet’s oldest independently bottled single malt, the 80-year-old Generations, was released in 2021 by Gordon & MacPhail.