The Balvenie releases of one of its rarest releases to date - The Balvenie Fifty Collection.

The Balvenie has unveiled one of its most exclusive releases to date&mdash;The Balvenie Fifty Collection, a masterfully crafted trilogy celebrating five decades of expertise at its Speyside distillery.
Limited to just 125 bottles per year over the next three years, the collection begins with The First Edition, a rare single cask whisky drawn from cask number 8720, a European oak refill butt filled in 1973, carefully selected by Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie. The Second Edition introduces an additional American oak hogshead cask from 1973, marrying with the first to deepen the complexity. The trilogy concludes with the Third Edition, where a 1974 American oak barrel is incorporated, completing this remarkable evolution.
Debuting exclusively at Harrods on 7th August 2024, the First Edition showcases extraordinary depth and character, shaped by half a century of European oak influence, while still retaining The Balvenie&rsquo;s signature honeyed sweetness.&nbsp;On the nose, expect opulent dark fruits, cassis, and candied apricots, delicately layered with cedarwood and warming nutty spice. The palate unfolds with rich caramelised fruits, luxurious spice, and velvety vanilla, culminating in a delicate ginger warmth and vibrant citrus zest&mdash;a whisky of unparalleled refinement.

In 1973, under the guidance of former Malt Master David Stewart, The Balvenie&rsquo;s dedicated craftspeople filled the first cask of what would become The Balvenie Fifty Collection, marking the beginning of a remarkable journey.&nbsp;Now, Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie carries this tradition forward, refining the art of marrying and remarrying casks to create a signature flavour profile that is both deeply complex and unique to each edition of The Balvenie Fifty Collection.
Beyond the whisky itself, the collection is elevated by exquisite craftsmanship in its presentation, developed by Croglin, a bespoke workshop in Cumbria. Each case features over 100 intricately crafted elements, including a helix structure composed of four layers of wood, precision-engineered to an astonishing tolerance of less than 1/10th of a millimetre. Completing the presentation is a stunning 14-carat gold-plated brass display, a testament to The Balvenie&rsquo;s unwavering pursuit of perfection.
The First Edition of The Balvenie Fifty Collection debuted exclusively at Harrods on 7th August, before becoming available at select retailers worldwide. The Second Edition is set to launch in 2025, followed by the Third Edition in 2026&mdash;each release building upon the legacy of one of The Balvenie&rsquo;s most exceptional whisky collections to date.

Kelsey McKechnie, Malt Master, said, &ldquo;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."
"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."

50 Years of Craftsmanship

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