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The Balvenie debuts rare single malt whisky collection with an exclusive launch at Harrods
By Shivani Dubey | 12 August 2024 | Food & Drink
The Balvenie is celebrating 50 years in style by releasing an ultra rare, limited edition single malt whisky collection called The Balvenie Fifty
The Balvenie has taken its first step into a new era with the release of the Balvenie Fifty Collection — the ultra rare, hand-crafted single malt whisky collection — to celebrate half a century of unparalleled craftsmanship. It represents the interwoven stories of craftsmanship at the Speyside distillery over the last 50 years.
The collection, launched exclusively at Harrods, has been meticulously curated by malt master Kelsey McKechnie and features only 125 bottles released from each of the three editions over the next three years.
The first edition is a unique single cask expression, aged in a European oak refill butt filled in 1973. For the second edition, Kelsey introduced a second American oak hogshead cask filled in 1973 to marry with the first, before adding a third American oak barrel cask filled in 1974 for the final edition.
On the nose, buyers can expect aromas of deep fruits, cassis and candied apricots, layered with cedar and a warming nutty spice. On the palate the whisky has flavours of caramelised fruits, spice and vanilla, combined with a ginger spice and citrus zing.
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The Balvenie Fifty Collection also features exquisite packaging developed by Croglin, a bespoke craft workshop based in Cumbria. Each presentation contains over 100 different elements, including four layers of wood in the helix structure and a beautifully crafted 14-carat gold-plated brass display.
Speaking about the launch, Kelsey expressed her admiration for the craftsmanship that went into the creation of this whisky.
“Each edition in this collection is a testament to the craftsmanship that has defined our liquid over the past 50 years,” said Kelsey. “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.
“It is a celebration of our legacy, our passion, and our unwavering commitment to producing some of the finest whiskies in the world,” she added.
The first edition is now available for purchase, with the second and third editions to launch in 2025 and 2026 respectively.