Glenmorangie Unveils 50-Year-Old Whisky Limited to 149 Bottles

Crafted from the Final 1977 Floor-Malted Barley, Matured in Bourbon and Sherry Casks for Half a Century

Highland distillery Glenmorangie has officially announced the release of the oldest whisky in the distillery's history—the Glenmorangie 50 Years Old single malt whisky. Aged for half a century, this ultra-rare expression is limited to just 149 decanters worldwide, presented in bespoke ceramic vessels handcrafted by New York artists, and scheduled for release in September.

A Half-Century of Dual-Cask Marriage and Maturation Craftsmanship

The spirit dates back to the mid-1970s, produced using malt processed on the distillery's own traditional malting floors. The floor malting facility was decommissioned in 1977, making this barley the very last batch to emerge from the distillery's traditional floor malting heritage. The spirits were initially matured separately in American oak bourbon hogsheads and first-fill Oloroso sherry casks. In 1999, Director of Whisky Creation Dr Bill Lumsden—who joined the distillery in 1995—handpicked exceptional casks showcasing extended aging potential. Marrying predominantly bourbon-matured whisky with a touch of sherry-matured spirit into a single, tightly re-coopered refill hogshead crafted in Speyside, the liquid rested for another 25 years at an exceptionally slow pace, imparting gentle oak influence.

Bottled at Cask Strength to Showcase Nuanced Complexity

Following extensive maturation, the whisky was bottled at natural cask strength of 47.5% ABV. On the nose, it offers aromas of roasted orange, sultanas, and nutmeg, crowned with a fresh herbal top note. The palate brings white pepper spice before unfolding into layers of toffee, slow-brewed Assam tea, birch tar, delicate cloves, and well-integrated oak tannins.

Dr Bill Lumsden described this 50-year-old expression as one of his proudest creations, uniting the classic elegance of bourbon casks with the luscious sweetness and spice of sherry wood, while the subtle touch of peat smoke from the final floor-malted barley lends distinctive depth. He emphasized that he never pursues high age statements for their own sake, focusing instead on structural balance to guarantee the distillery's signature finesse and elegance could withstand five decades in wood.

The ceramic vessels housing this precious single malt were crafted by New York ceramic artists Peter and Laurie Pincus. After visiting the distillery and tasting the liquid, the pair devoted three and a half years—equivalent to 1,000 days—to the project. Drawing inspiration from the flavor palette of the whisky, they hand-formulated 50 distinct glaze colors painted onto the ceramic exterior. While each of the 149 vessels is unique, together they assemble into an expansive artwork titled “Together in Spirit.”

📅 Publication Date: 2026-09-24

🔗 Source: The Spirits Business