We are proud to be releasing a spectacular 50 Years Old whisky, for the first time ever. As a distillery that is celebrated for specialising in small-batch, hand crafted whiskies, we are known to have a genuinely scarce volume of whisky available, making this expression a greatly coveted release for any serious collector.
This historic new expression is being produced in an edition of just 150 bottles and will retail for £40,000. Housed in a striking, black crystal decanter produced by luxury French crystal house, Lalique, the exterior truly does the liquid within justice; black crystal – the rarest and most expensive crystal as it is the most difficult to produce, mirroring the craftsmanship and skill that went into producing such an extraordinary whisky. Designed by Marc Larminaux, Artistic and Creative Director at Lalique, barley is the inspiration for the decanter, represented through a tactile smooth and frosted finish on the motif, hand carved into the crystal by Lalique Craftsmen at its sole factory in Alsace which celebrates 100 years this year.
To mark this ultra-limited aged whisky being made available, Sotheby’s will be auctioning off decanter number 1 of 150 during their Whisky in Lalique auction - the first whisky auction in history to exclusively offer Scotch in Lalique – running from 30th of August – 9th September. The high estimate lot price for this unparalleled bottle has been valued at £60,000 and comes in a bespoke black case with mother of pearl inlays.
This first decanter is the only one to be offered with a unique artwork, devised in collaboration with Method Studio who commissioned Scottish artist Matthew Draper for the project. Edinburgh based Draper works with his hands and his heart, responding emotionally to the landscape; instinctively communicating the interplay between light, water, and land. On this occasion, the artwork titled ‘Loch Turret’ depicts the ancient freshwater Loch Turret that provides The Glenturret Distillery with the water that will become its whisky. This beautiful, one-off collector’s item has been created from pigments and inks that have been harvested by charring and burning the 50 Years Old cask staves - a variation on an ancient ink-making technique based on tannic reaction that is a nod to the values of provenance, prowess, and passion, which we place at the heart of our whisky making.
The whisky was drawn from a singular remaining cask which was filled in 1972; it has spent the last five decades maturing in a refill Sherry cask which gives the whisky a beautiful antique oak colour.
“We are so excited to be releasing a 50 Years Old expression for the first time ever. But to do it in partnership with the extraordinary creative talents, Lalique, Method and Matthew Draper, whose values both mirror our own philosophy when it comes to craftsmanship and the importance of making things by hand, is just incredible. The result is a rare and unique collector’s piece, and the work that has gone into this project really does justice to the remarkable liquid that can be found inside.”
John Laurie, Managing Director of The Glenturret
“This 50 year old whisky from The Glenturret represents so much more than just the depth of history at this distillery. It is an opportunity to be the first to collect The Glenturret’s rarest bottles and the only opportunity to acquire the accompanying art piece made from the barrel itself. Glenturret has, thanks in no small part to both Bob Dalgarno and Mark Donald, quickly become the gastronomic centre of Scotland over the last year, and it is a real pleasure for Sotheby’s to be part of this landmark moment on their journey.”
Johnny Fowle, Sotheby's Head of Whisky & Spirits North America and EMEA
The Glenturret 50 Years Old will be available online at www.theglenturret.com from 12th September 2022.
