Three casks, 125 bottles, 133 years of heritage: The Balvenie Fifty takes ultra-rare to new heights
With an extremely limited release, The Balvenie Fifty Collection celebrates the craftsmanship and tradition of half a century, culminating in notes of caramelised fruits, rich spice and soft vanilla
The lush hills, misty valleys and golden barley fields of Dufftown, Speyside, in the northeast of Scotland are a sight to behold no matter the time of year. With abundant water springs and some of the mildest weather in the country, the charming town offers idyllic conditions for whisky production.
It is here in this sacred land between Inverness and Aberdeen that The Balvenie distillery has called home for 133 years. It is also where The Balvenie Fifty Collection, a rare and extraordinary trilogy, is being produced.
Comprising 125 bottles from three different casks, The Balvenie Fifty Collection will be launched over three years, with the first edition launched last year. Only a limited number of bottles will be available each year.
Craftsmanship at its finest
Founded by William Grant in 1892, The Balvenie prides itself on keeping to long-lasting traditions that have defined the brand for more than a century. It is the only distillery to grow its own barley from the region’s fertile soil, employ both coppersmiths and coopers and use the floor malting process. The latter is a longstanding tradition of turning barley into malt, which they do up to four times a day, seven days a week, which adds further complexity to their whisky.
This is testament to The Balvenie’s commitment to its five rare crafts. These include the farmers’ craft of homegrown barley, the coopers’ craft of making wooden casks, the malt men’s craft of working a traditional malting floor, the coppersmiths’ craft in fashioning and maintaining copper pot stills and the expertise of the Malt Master, who oversees the creation of The Balvenie whiskies.
To honour half a century of interwoven stories of craftsmanship at the distillery is the brand’s latest pride and joy – The Balvenie Fifty Collection.
BT in your inbox
Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.
Exceptional flavours and aromas
The trilogy kicks off with the First Edition, a unique cask expression aged in a European oak refill butt that was filled in 1973 by The Balvenie craftspeople and former Malt Master David C Stewart MBE, and specially selected by current Malt Master, Kelsey McKechnie, the collection will see only 125 bottles released annually over the next three years.
The Second Edition incorporates a second American oak hogshead cask filled in 1973 to marry with the remaining liquid from the first, while the Final Edition adds on more liquid gold from a third American oak barrel filled in 1974. The result? An extraordinary trio of whiskies showcasing an incredible spectrum of flavours and aromas.
On the nose, a deep, fruity aroma of cassis and candied apricots beckons, as well as a subtle layering of cedar and a warming nutty spice. Once it hits the palate, the smoothness of the whisky presents an intricate mix of caramelised fruits, rich spice and soft vanilla, which are gently fused together with ginger and a citrus zing. There is strong depth of flavour, alongside The Balvenie’s classically sweet, honeyed flavours, thanks to 50 years of maturation.
“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 Balvenie,” says McKechnie.
She adds: “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.”
Complementing The Balvenie Fifty Collection’s highly anticipated release is its exquisite packaging made with American black walnut by Croglin, a bespoke craft workshop based in Cumbria, England. Having gone through 24 different iterations, the final presentation contains over 100 different elements, including four layers of wood in a helix structure and a stunning 14 carat gold plated brass display. It is a veritable collectible in itself; a winning masterpiece of scientific precision and artistic mastery.
As The Balvenie looks towards future plans, Jyri Pylkkanen, Regional Malts brand ambassador for South-east Asia, emphasises the growing importance of whisky in this side of the world. “South-east Asia stands out as one of the most exciting regions for whisky appreciation today,” he says. “The debut of The Balvenie Fifty here represents a pivotal chapter in our ongoing narrative of craftsmanship, innovation and tradition and to recognise the important role South-east Asia plays in shaping the future of whisky.”
The Balvenie Fifty First Edition is available in limited quantities across South-east Asia markets exclusively through The Distillers Library. The Distillers Library offers private clients in South-east Asia access to ultra-rare whiskies from the Grant family archives. The Second Edition and Third Edition will launch in 2025 and 2026. More information is available at The Balvenie or thedistillerslibrary.sg@wgrant.com.
Share with us your feedback on BT's products and services
