Glenmorangie has released its first 50-year-old Scotch, the oldest whisky it has bottled: 149 bottles priced at $36,000 each in the U.S. The Sept. 24 launch features handcrafted ceramic vessels by American artist Peter Pincus.
Distilling director Dr. Bill Lumsden oversaw the spirit for 30 of its 50 years. It was made partly from some of the last batches of barley malted on site in the mid-1970s, which the article says gives it a rare thread of smoke. The whisky combines spirit from classic bourbon barrels with a touch of sherry-cask-matured whisky; tasting notes include baked orange, nutmeg, toffee and Assam tea.
Pincus, his wife and studio team spent 1,000 days developing the 149 vessels, each designed to interlock in a wall installation called “Together in Spirit.” Made of porcelain, anodized aluminum and oak, each is about 20 inches tall and weighs roughly 15 pounds. Sales are through Moët Hennessy’s Private Client channel, Glenmorangie’s visitor center in the Scottish Highlands and select retailers worldwide.
