Glenmorangie has released its oldest whisky ever, with a price tag of $36,000 a bottle. The Glenmorangie 50 Years Old is available for sale to a limited number of whisky connoisseurs, with only 149 bottles produced.
The whisky is available through Moët Hennessy’s private client team or at Glenmorangie’s distillery visitor center in Tain, a historic town in the Scottish Highlands.
The Story Behind the Whisky
The story of the rare liquid dates back to the mid-1970s, when some of the last batches of barley were malted on Glenmorangie’s own floor maltings before they closed in 1977. The barley was distilled in tall copper stills and matured in bourbon hogshead casks and first-fill Oloroso sherry butts.
Dr. Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie’s distillery manager, identified a few parcels of whisky that could push the boundaries of typical aging. He said, “I identified a very few parcels that I thought could push the boundaries of typical aging.”
Lumsden experimented with the whisky, combining batches aged in bourbon casks and sherry butts in a refill hogshead barrel. He explained that although a whisky is still going to gain a lot of impact from the wood over 50 years, refill casks have a much subtler influence.
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The Result
After 50 years, Lumsden decided the whisky was finally ready to drink. He describes it as “a whisky with a lot of flavor,” with a slightly oily and spicy mouthfeel, and notes of stewed Assam tea leaves, birch tar, and cinnamon.
The vessel the whisky is presented in is also distinctive, with American ceramic artist Peter Pincus and his partner, Laurie Pincus, spending 1,000 days handcrafting the ceramic vessels. Each collectible has a unique pattern, created using 50 bespoke color pigments applied by hand.
Lumsden advises savoring the whisky neat in a beautiful crystal glass, preferably after dinner on a cold day by a roaring fire. The whisky’s unique flavor profile and limited production make it a rare and exclusive experience for those who can get their hands on a bottle.
Glenmorangie’s 50 Years Old whisky is a result of Lumsden’s experimentation and patience. He combined batches aged in different casks to create a unique flavor profile. The whisky is now available for purchase, and it is expected to be a highly sought-after collector’s item.