The Macallan might be the leader when it comes to expensive, ultra-aged single malts, but the Balvenie isn’t far behind. This sister distillery to Glenfiddich, located right next door, just announced the launch of the first in a trio of whiskies to be released over the next two years called the Balvenie Fifty Collection, and we have the details to share.
The Balvenie was founded in 1892 by William Grant a few years after he founded Glenfiddich, and both distilleries are owned today by the family-run company William Grant & Sons. The Balvenie is the smaller operation, which makes sense given that Glenfiddich is one of the best-selling single malt scotch whiskies in the world, but it has its own distinct character and is a favorite of many whisky fans. The distillery occasionally does its own floor maltings, a process in which the barley is allowed to germinate and then dried to become the malted barley used in the mashbill for all scotch whisky. The entire operation is overseen by malt master Kelsey McKechnie, who took over from David Stewart MBE in 2022 when he retired after 60 years in the whisky industry.
McKechnie selected the cask for this inaugural release, but it was filled by Stewart and his team a half century ago in 1973. The cask is a European oak refill sherry butt, which according to the distillery keeps the Balvenie’s core character intact even after 50 years of sherry cask maturation. “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 The Balvenie,” said McKechnie in a statement. “Using a refill butt for the First Edition provides us with a distinctive flavor thread that will run through our next two releases, demonstrating the spectrum of flavors and aromas in our aged spirit.”
Those next two releases will build upon the first, as subsequent barrels are blended with the original as follows: In 2025, an American oak hogshead cask filled in 1973 will be married with the whisky, followed in 2026 by an American oak barrel filled in 1974 for the Third Edition. This is actually a pretty unique way of creating a high-end whisky series, as opposed to just releasing a series of increasingly old single casks. We were not able to sample this 50-year-old whisky (52.3 percent ABV), but the official tasting notes describe caramelized fruit, spice, vanilla, ginger, and crisp citrus on the palate.
Only 125 bottles of the first edition of The Balvenie Fifty Collection will be released globally, and only 14 of those are coming to the U.S. Each bottle comes housed in a wooden helix tube with a 14-carat gold display crafted by Croglin in Cumbria. Collectors take note: The suggested retail price for this whisky is $53,000, and it will surely show up on the secondary market and at auction for much more than that. If you’re interested in purchasing a bottle, contact the Balvenie directly. And you can find the rest of the core lineup, from the classic DoubleWood to the exquisite 30 Year Old, available to purchase at ReserveBar.
