The Balvenie Unveils 88-Year-Old Whisky, Only 17 Bottles

Aged 88 Years in a 1931 Single Sherry Cask, Partnering with Artist Daniel Arsham to Create Limited-Edition Sculptures

The Balvenie has unveiled the oldest Scotch whisky in its history—The Balvenie 88-Year-Old Single Malt Whisky, serving as the crown jewel of the new The 1931 Collection. Distilled in 1931 and bottled in 2019 by Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie after an extensive maturation, only 17 bottles exist worldwide.

The liquid for this rare whisky was filled on March 5, 1931, into a European oak sherry butt from Jerez, Spain, bearing cask number #239. The cask lay dormant in the Speyside distillery's warehouse for 88 years until McKechnie determined it had reached absolute maturation.

Official Tasting Notes and Maturation Profile

McKechnie described the whisky as delivering an experience that "evokes the quiet sensory calm of an evergreen forest." Official tasting notes highlight aromas of honey, delicate mint leaves, and butter fudge on the nose. The palate opens with rich aromatic oak, unfolding into creamy toffee, silky honey, and warming spices, finishing long and dry.

McKechnie stated that the release of this oldest-ever whisky marks a monumental milestone in the history of The Balvenie, adding that presenting this precious liquid as Malt Master was both exhilarating and humbling. The Balvenie Global Brand Ambassador Charles Metcalfe noted that once in a while, a whisky emerges that is so extraordinary it has the potential to shape the future of Scotch whisky.

The 1931 Collection and Artistic Collaboration

This single cask also inspired two other limited editions within The 1931 Collection. The 12-Year-Old expression features 100% floor-malted barley, matured in American oak and finished in Jerez European oak sherry casks; the 15-Year-Old is crafted from 100% estate-grown and floor-malted barley undergoing a similar maturation process. Furthermore, the distillery partnered with New York artist Daniel Arsham to design an eight-layered patinated bronze sculptural plinth for the 88-Year-Old, inlaid with a piece of copper salvaged from a decommissioned still. Arsham expressed his desire to create a piece balancing antiquity and modernity, rendering the passage of time tangible. The collection will be unveiled through an immersive presentation directed by Arsham at Frieze Seoul. The 88-Year-Old is primarily destined for private clients and collectors, while the 15-Year-Old and 12-Year-Old editions will be released across global travel retail channels and select markets respectively.

📅 Release Date: 2026-09-01

🔗 Source: The Whiskey Wash