The Balvenie has unveiled one of its rarest releases: The Balvenie Fifty Collection, a seamless trilogy that embodies the distillery’s legacy of craftsmanship over the past five decades.
Limited to just 125 bottles annually over the next three years, the collection begins with the First Edition, a remarkable single cask expression (Cask No. 8720). Aged in a European oak refill butt, it was filled in 1973 and carefully selected by Malt Master, Kelsey McKechnie. The Second Edition introduces an American oak hogshead cask from 1973, which is married with the first; while the Third Edition incorporates a further American oak barrel, filled in 1974, completing the trilogy.
“Each Edition in this collection is a testament to the craftsmanship that has defined our liquid over the past 50 years. The unique characteristics of these rare casks come together to create a truly exceptional experience and set a new benchmark for our contribution to the rare and extraordinary whisky market at Balveniem,” said Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie.
The First Edition showcases the depth and complexity imparted by the European oak cask, while maintaining The Balvenie’s signature honeyed sweetness – even after five decades of maturation.
“Using a refill butt for the First Edition in this collection provides us with a distinctive flavour thread that will run through our next two releases, demonstrating the spectrum of flavours and aromas in our aged spirit. It is a celebration of our legacy, our passion, and our unwavering commitment to producing some of the finest whiskies in the world,” said McKechnie.
With an ABV of 52.3% and drawn from Cask No. 8720, this exceptional Balvenie offers an elegant and captivating nose, where deep fruits, cassis, and candied apricots intertwine with delicate cedar and a warming nutty spice. On the nose, expect an elegant bouquet of deep fruits, cassis, and candied apricots, layered with delicate cedar and warming nutty spice. The palate delivers rich notes of caramelised fruits, soft vanilla, and spice, balanced with a touch of ginger and a citrus zing.
The journey of The Balvenie Fifty Collection began in 1973, when a team of dedicated craftspeople – led by former Malt Master David Stewart – filled the initial cask. Decades of meticulous stewardship followed, with many of those same artisans still working for The Balvenie today. Their expertise has helped shape whisky-making innovations, including the pioneering discovery of cask finishing. Today, Kelsey continues this tradition, refining the art of cask marrying to create the distinct and complex character of The Balvenie Collection.
Further enhancing the prestige of The Balvenie Fifty Collection is its exquisite presentation, designed by Croglin, a bespoke craft workshop in Cumbria. Each presentation case is a masterpiece, crafted from over 100 individual elements, including a striking helix structure composed of four layers of wood – engineered to a precision of less than 1/10th of a millimetre – and an elegant 14-carat gold-plated brass display.
The Balvenie Fifty First Edition launched exclusively at Harrods on 7th of August, 2024. The Second Edition and Third Edition are set to debut in 2025 and 2026, respectively.
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