The GlenDronach Distillery has launched its first-ever single malt whisky aged 50 years in what marks its oldest expression to date.
The GlenDronach Aged 50 Years was distilled in 1971 and has spent over five decades in rare Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks from the Spanish bodegas of Jerez in Andalucía. The casks were then married for a final maturation in a single Pedro Ximénez cask.
Speaking of the casks used in the maturation, distillery manager Alan McConnochie said: “We make no apology for using only the best. There is no point in putting our lovely spirit into anything else.”
Protected and nurtured in The GlenDronach’s traditional dunnage warehouses for over half a century, the rare liquid has survived floods and Highland winters, as well as being haunted by the legend of a Spanish ghost.
The GlenDronach master blender, Rachel Barrie, said: “Time honoured craftsmanship has continued throughout. The GlenDronach Aged 50 Years is the most prestigious expression of what this timeless, richly-sherried Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky has to offer. At 50 Years Old, it is exceptionally rich and seductive, with mellow layers of alluring complexity. On the nose, ripe dark cherry and plum are the preludes to the harmony of rolling stone fruit, while the palate brings an exquisite overture of flavour with dense undertones of dark chocolate, tobacco, and cocoa. It has been a privilege to be the final custodian of our oldest expression to date, passed down through generations. The result is a hand-crafted Highland Single Malt that tells a story of rare dedication, of which The GlenDronach Aged 50 Years is the rarest of them all.”
The 43.8%-ABV single malt has been limited to just 198 bottles being available worldwide and will retail at £20,000 per bottle.
Each hand-numbered bottle of The GlenDronach Aged 50 Years is presented in a luxurious, genuine leather case accompanied by an embossed leather booklet detailing the distillery history, tasting notes, and unique craft.
Bottle No. 1 of The GlenDronach Aged 50 Years was donated to the inaugural Distillers’ One of One Auction in December 2021, raising £40,000 in support of disadvantaged young people in Scotland.
