The Balvenie is Releasing its Third Fifty Collection Whisky
Two years ago, the Balvenie launched its Fifty Collection with the release of a—you guessed it—50-year-old single malt scotch whisky that was bottled from just one individual cask. The Speyside distillery just announced the release of the third and final edition in the series, and this new expression combines three different half-century-old casks into something very rare and very expensive.
The Balvenie and its sister distillery and next-door neighbor, Glenfiddich, are both owned by Scottish drinks company William Grant & Sons. In 2024, Balvenie malt master Kelsey McKechnie selected a European oak refill butt for the first Fifty Collection release, containing whisky distilled in 1973 and bottled at 52.3 percent ABV. Instead of choosing another cask to bottle for the second edition in 2025, McKechnie decided to release the whisky in sort of a solera style, combining the remaining whisky from the first cask with an American oak hogshead that was filled in 1973 and bottling it at 49.8 percent ABV. And now, for the final release in the series, she has added a third barrel to the mix—another American oak hogshead barrel that was filled in 1974—and bottled the blend at 50.3 percent ABV.
“Marrying together rare casks to create something extraordinary is a fitting testament to the stories that precede each cask,” said McKechnie in a statement. “For The Third Edition, we selected an American oak barrel filled in 1974, bringing a balance and depth to the final composition. Its sweet, honeyed note and gentle oak spice complement the European butt and American hogshead of the First and Second Editions, creating contrast and continuity across the trilogy.” We did not get to try this whisky, given its rarity, but the official tasting notes describe “buttery pastry, confectionery delights, golden Manuka honey, ripe soft fruit, and subtle oak spice” on the palate.
As you might expect, a whisky release like this comes in special packaging. In this case, according to the brand, there are more than 100 unique elements involved in each wooden case, each of which is made from extremely thin layers arranged in a helix shape fronted by a display crafted from 14-carat gold-plated brass. Just 45 bottles are being released, each with a price tag of £42,500 (about $56,560). The Third Edition of the Fifty Collection is on sale at Harrods in London this month and will become available at select specialty retailers around the rest of the world starting in August.
