There is a long-held belief among whisky connoisseurs that a well-aged whisky is a mark of quality which, for Scotch drinkers, makes these 50-year-old aged bottles something to cherish, but, for many, they also present an investment opportunity.
While making money from whisky is something that holds appeal, we can’t help but think that drinking the water of life is rather more enjoyable than looking at a sealed bottle. We recently tasted the 44-year-old — and £8,000 a bottle — Middleton Testament, proving our point.
Demand is such that there’s a shortage of aged whiskies in the industry, making the liquor rarer and more expensive. With this in mind, selecting the right bottle has never been more important, so here’s our round-up of the top 50-year-old whisky expressions currently available.
The Balvenie 50-Year-Old
Produced by and in honour of Malt Master David Stewart’s 50th year with William Grant, this 1962 vintage single malt Scotch has been around at Balvenie as long as David has.
Bottled from cask 5576, a European oak sherry hogshead, at natural cask strength, this 44.1% ABV whisky promises a floral nose with fruit and oak, followed by sweet fruit and citrus notes in the mouth. A burst of cinnamon and nutmeg is balanced by honey and oak.
Available from The Whisky Exchange
for £40,000.
Glenfiddich 50-Year-Old
This flagship malt is the rare and precious product of over half a century in oak casks and captures the very essence of Glenfiddich. Every bottle is hand-blown, individually numbered in wax and finished in Scottish silver by sixth-generation silversmith, Thomas Fattorini. The case is lined in hand-woven silk and wrapped in hand-stitched black leather.
Rose petals and violets mix with tobacco leaf and oak on the nose, with a flavour of sweet and zesty orange marmalade and vanilla toffee. Herbs and soft fruits follow, with an exceptionally long finish that fades to oak and the slightest hint of peat.
Available from Master of Malt for £23,850.
Fettercairn 50-Year-Old
This well-balanced single malt was distilled on 11 June 1966 and launched by Fettercairn in 2018. The liquor was aged in American white oak ex-bourbon casks, then finished in Tawny port casks for five years.
There’s blackcurrant, black cherry and roasted pineapple in the mix here, giving the whisky a surprisingly fresh flavour, with ginger and nutmeg providing a calming balance.
Available from Masters of Malt for £18,000.
Glenury Royal 1953 50 Year-Old
Distilled in 1953, only 498 bottles were produced from the now-closed Glenury distillery. Aged in sherry casks, this rich whisky is an excellent example of a quality highland malt.
Richly sherried, as you might expect from being aged in sherry casks, this is a relatively obscure expression from a distillery that’s long since disappeared, ensuring it remains extremely collectable.
Available from The Whisky Exchange for £13,500.
Glen Mhor 50-Year-Old
Distilled in 1965, this whisky was initially aged in a refill butt before transferring to an oloroso sherry cask for a further seven years. Bottled by Signatory for their Cask Strength Collection Rare Reserve, only 353 bottles were produced.
Taking on a classic flavour, there’s leather, oak and cognac on the nose, with port, citrus fruits and even some mint in the mouth. Spices then kick in, with a long tobacco finish.
Available from Master of Malt for £4,750.
North of Scotland 50-Year-Old
This is truly a unique opportunity for a taste of history – as the first and only official bottling from the North of Scotland Distillery Co, Alloa. North of Scotland Distillery started producing whisky in 1957 and closed in 1980, a single-grain Scotch whisky aged in bourbon casks for more than 50 years.
A favourite at CALIBRE, the sweet nuts, toffee and biscuit aromas pair with citrus tones. Pleasingly creamy in texture, the mouthfeel changes as you drink, thinning out to a juicier drink full of sweet and spicy flavours. Some herbs and citrus hits follow, leading to a beautifully smooth, sweet and nutty finish.
It’s available from The Whisky Exchange for £1,200.
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