The latest release of The Balvenie 50 is the pinnacle of the rich tradition of hand-crafted whisky from The Balvenie.

Two European oak hogshead casks have been selected by The Balvenie Malt Master, David Stewart. Both casks were filled on the same day in May 1963 and left to rest in Warehouse 24 at The Balvenie distillery for over fifty years. The casks have been bottled separately to create a magnificent pair of single cask expressions, offering connoisseurs the chance to explore the uniquely complex characteristics imparted by each cask.

In keeping with the traditions of The Balvenie, the bottles are presented in stunning wooden cases comprising 49 layers of wood and a single brass layer, handcrafted by furniture designer, Sam Chinnery.

Cask 4567 produced 131 bottles in total, and the liquid has a beautiful deep reddish hue and aromas typical of a European oak maturation. The cylindrical presentation cases for the bottles from this cask are made from darker woods, reflecting the darker colour of the whisky.

Deep amber, with thick viscosity. A heady aroma of dried fruits macerated in liquor (dates, figs, sultanas, raisins) on a base of oiled sandalwood; traces of orange peel and pot pourri after a while. Deep caramel in the development. Perfumed hand-soap in the taste, which is dry overall, tangy, with allspice and pepper across the tongue. Most unusual.

Charles Maclean on the two bottlings of Balvenie 50 years Old:

The first bottling of Balvenie Fifty (a mere 88 bottles, originally priced at £20,000) was drawn from a European oak ex-sherry hogshead – an unusual cask, since most European oak is raised into butts. At the time David remarked: “Cask 5576 and I have shared the last five decades together at The Balvenie Distillery and as single malt making is as much art and alchemy as precise science, the interaction between wood and maturing whisky means each cask will produce something entirely unique… it’great delight to discover how, after half a century this unique cask has turned out a truly special single malt.” Although now partly retired, David has gone on to investigate more of the distillery’s rare old casks and has chosen two which have produced remarkably different whiskies. He says of them: “Although beginning the same way and being distilled on the same day, cask number 4567, has a deep reddish hue and a beautifully full taste characterised by dark fruits and spice – typical of maturation in a European oak cask." “The 50 Year Old from cask number 4570 is different, with a rich golden hue and an elegant oak and vanilla sweetness. Both are among the most complex, sophisticated and fine whiskies ever to be released from Warehouse 24, the home of our oldest and rarest whiskies.” I concur with what he says (see my tasting notes). These are among the most unusual whiskies I have ever tasted! The two expressions are bottled at cask strength (45.4% and 45.9% respectively), without chill-filtration. Both have been hand-filled at The Balvenie Distillery into hand-blown glass bottles, and have yielded just 131 bottles of cask 4567 and 128 bottles of cask 4570. They are presented in wooden cases consisting of 49 layers of wood and a closing layer of brass, handmade by Scottish craftsman, Sam Chinnery. Like the whiskies themselves, one box is darker than the other!