Half a century of The Balvenie’s mastery culminates in one rare bottle of whisky

Earlier this month, The Balvenie marked a momentous chapter in their journey, unveiling an ultra-rare bottle of The Balvenie Fifty – First Edition, a Malt Scotch whisky that is 50 years old. This rare arrival is a part of The Balvenie Fifty Collection that commemorates 50 years of whisky mastery at the Speyside distillery, showcasing their unwavering commitment to craft, patience, and legacy.  

The collector’s edition bottle will be available in India at G Town Wines, Golf Course Road, Gurugram. There is a twist to this: only one bottle of the 50-year-old whisky will be available, offering a unique opportunity for connoisseurs to own a piece of history. 

The bottle of whisky is a unique single cask expression; aged in a European oak refill butt, filled in 1973 and selected by Malt Master, Kelsey McKechnie. Aged gracefully over five decades, it promises notes of layered tannins and ripe berries, accompanied by subtle hints of rich leather on the nose. On the palate, its toffee sweetness reveals rolling flavours of citrus and a deep oaky spice. 

The rarity of The Balvenie Fifty Collection is further enhanced by the exquisite packaging developed by Croglin, a bespoke craft workshop based in Cumbria. Each presentation contains over 100 different elements, including seven layers of wood in the helix structure, less than 1/10th of a millimetre thick, and a beautifully crafted 14-carat gold-plated brass display.

Two more rare bottles of whisky will be available in India as part of The Balvenie Rare Marriages Collection—The Balvenie Thirty and The Balvenie Twenty-Five. Both of these bottles will be a limited edition special. 

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Like silk to taste, The Balvenie Thirty is the sweetest and most honeyed expression. The whisky marries traditional American and European oak casks that have been matured for decades for notes of sweet complexity. A silky sweetness gives way to great depth of rich honey, mellow oaky tones, and hints of candied orange peel. The packaging’s cylindrical shape is crafted from soft goat leather, detailed with gradually fading debossed pattern rings inspired by the unfolding of flavour during the marrying process. It is finished with white gold foil, creating a highly tactile and luxurious touch. 

The Balvenie Twenty-Five brings together individual casks to craft an incredibly intricate and balanced expression. A whisky of exceptional character, Twenty-Five hints at The Balvenie’s most sought-after flavours - bold vanilla oak, crystalised ginger, and sweet runny honey. Presented in a case of rich burgundy colour that graduates to a lighter ombré hue, the colours represent the evolution of flavours in the marrying process. Rings of white gold foil represent each year of maturation. 

Founded in 1892 by William Grant, The Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky is produced by William Grant & Sons Ltd, an award-winning independent family-owned distiller; which is run by his direct descendants today. Each expression has a very individual taste; rich, luxuriously smooth, and underpinned by the distinctively honeyed character of The Balvenie.

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