Glen Scotia has unveiled its oldest-ever whisky: a 50 Year Old single malt Scotch.
This distillery milestone marks the first release in the all-new Glen Scotia Elements of Campbeltown series – a collection of highly limited whiskies, drawn from its oldest casks.
Inspired by the Celtic five-knot fold, five rare whiskies will be released in the collection, each named after a different element. Officially called Release Number One: Air, this inaugural release is intended to capture the salty maritime air that so heavily influences Glen Scotia’s character.
First distilled in 1973 and aged completely in American hogshead barrels, the whisky’s nose is abundant with sweet, vanillary fudge and toasted almonds, all laced with Glen Scotia’s signature salinity. On the palette, the whisky defies its age statement with surprising accessibility. It’s sweeter than you’d expect, with hints of apple and a kick of ginger.
“Responsibility for whisky of this age, where the passage of time shapes and molds the character of the spirit, is a privilege,” comments Loch Lomond Group master blender, Michael Henry. “With the first release in this milestone collection for Glen Scotia, I want to give people the opportunity to experience our distillery character at this remarkable age and showcase how time has shaped it.
For each of the Elements of Campbeltown releases, Glen Scotia will be partnering with a different artist, tasked with creating a piece of work that depicts their interpretation of the distillery and the whisky itself. This art will then adorn the cabinet doors protecting the precious whisky.
For the first release, Glen Scotia has collaborated with contemporary painter and photographer Gina Parr. Guided by the ‘air’ theme, Parr’s artistic response to the whisky captures the strong airstream that rips through Campbeltown and the salty vapors that live in the distillery, with a rich blue and white color scheme reminiscent of the wild Atlantic waves that crash nearby.
“My work is driven by the sights and experiences of living and working in a coastal town in Devon,” says Parr. “I love being by the sea, so I knew I would be inspired by Campbeltown. But there was so much I didn’t anticipate – the stunning landscapes and textures, the beautiful curve of the harbour – all of which shaped the creative process.
“The distillery itself was awe-inspiring. The smells were overwhelming in the most wonderful way, weaving together the town, the spirit vapour, and the salty sea air into one evocative experience.”
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Just 100 bottles will be available globally – both online and in specialist retailers – and each is priced at £35,000 (approx. $46,550).
glenscotia.com