Whisky Exchange debuts rare Speyside single casks

Spirits retailer The Whisky Exchange has created the Lost in Time collection, which comprises eight single malts from different Speyside distilleries.

Created in collaboration with Chivas Brothers, the range intends to offer ‘a rare glimpse into the bygone era of whisky making at the turn of the 21st century’. Each expression in the collection is aged between 20 and 33 years, and comes from a single cask. Chris Bolton, own label and brand product manager at The Whisky Exchange, said: “These single casks represent a moment in time. “Searching for exceptional single malts is not just about finding the right barrels, it’s about selecting a cask at the right moment in maturation, where the spirit character and maturity harmonise, and the distillery’s true style shines through.” Allt-a-Bhainne distillery has contributed a 32-year-old cask bottled at 59.9% ABV. The expression is notable due to the distillery usually creating whisky for blends. It retails for £768 (US$973). A 31-year-old single malt comes from the Braes of Glenlivet distillery, produced two years before the brand’s name change to Braeval in 1994. The expression has an ABV of 50.7% and retails for £768 (US$973). Braeval has also contributed a 28-year-old single malt, produced one year after the name change and bottled at 62.6% ABV. Aged in a first-fill American oak barrel, the expression will retail for £538 (US$682). Glen Keith has created a 31-year-old whisky bottled at 47.5% ABV and priced at £768 (US$973), while Glentauchers contributed the collection’s oldest whisky, a 33-year-old bottled at 51.9% ABV and priced at £973 (US$1233). A 20-year-old expression bottled at 49% ABV comes from Miltonduff distillery and is priced at £282 (US$358). Most expensive bottling The most expensive single malt in the collection costs £1,742 (US$2,209) and hails from The Glenlivet. Referred to as ‘the jewel in the crown’ of the Lost in Times series, the 62.4% ABV expression was aged for 32 years in a refill hogshead. Finally, Longmorn has contributed a 30-year-old expression that was produced a century after the distillery’s founding. It has an ABV of 54.4% and retails for £1,229 (US$1,558). Billy Abbott, brand ambassador at The Whisky Exchange, said: “From light and fruity to rich and creamy, each of these whiskies shine a light on what makes its distillery different and special. “With drams here from long-running producers like The Glenlivet, celebrating its 200th anniversary this year, as well as more recently founded distilleries like Braeval, they all tell stories of flavour and time.” The Whisky Exchange was named Spirits Retailer of the Year – E-Commerce at the SB Awards 2023. It was acquired by Pernod Ricard in 2021.