BENROMACH Distillery in Speyside has launched a rare 50 year old single malt.
Gordon & MacPhail, which brought the distillery back to life when it acquired Benromach in Forres 1993, has released 248 decanters of the single cask worldwide. Each decanter is expected to retail at £20,000.
At 54.6% alcohol by volume, the whisky is said to present “notes of lemon and subtle smoke on the nose”.
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“Stewed fruit aromas are complemented by orange zest and a hint of aged leather on the palate, before the liquid’s long, full finish ends with cracked pepper and that wisp of smoke,” the distiller said.
Benromach noted the whisky is presented in decanters handcrafted by Ross-shire-based Glasstorm, one of the UK’s most-established hot glass studios. Glasstorm used the “battuto” technique to finish the decanters, which involved the glass being sculpted by hand. The distiller said this means each bottle is a “unique work of art”.
Keith Cruickshank, distillery manager at Benromach, said: “I’m proud to be distillery manager at a time when we release this exquisite single malt, the epitome of our dedication to create exceptional whiskies by hand.
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“Each element of Benromach 50 Years Old has been crafted by hand using traditional techniques. This includes the decanter, which not only mirrors the spirit in terms of quality but also embodies the passion and meticulous attention to detail that has gone into crafting it.
“It is truly a memorable experience for the team to be able to release this very special whisky; a single malt that has been made by hand and shaped by time.”
Brodie Nairn, owner of Glasstorm, said: “There is great synergy between the craftsmanship of glass blowing and whisky making. It takes years to harness the skills, passing down from master to apprentice.
“I first learned the battuto technique from a master glassblower over in Italy 25 years ago and in turn I’ve trained my team. It has taken me a long time to find a project special enough to use it on but, at last, I found the perfect one.”
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