The Balvenie unveils an 88-year-old single malt whisky
The Balvenie distillery has unveiled The 1931 Collection, whose centerpiece is its oldest single malt whisky to date, aged 88 years. Only 17 bottles of the spirit exist, Channel NewsAsia reports.
The whisky was distilled in 1931. According to the distillery's handwritten records, European oak sherry cask No. 239, sourced from Jerez in Spain, was filled on March 5, 1931. In 2019, the company's Malt Master, Kelsey McKechnie, selected the spirit for bottling after 88 years of maturation.
The collection and design
In addition to the 88-year-old release, The 1931 Collection includes limited editions of 12- and 15-year-old single malt whisky. The Balvenie collaborated with New York artist Daniel Arsham on the design of all three spirits.
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The 88-year-old whisky was bottled in a hand-blown crystal decanter with engraving and 18-carat gold gilding. The decanter was placed in a sculptural form with eight flowing layers, each representing a decade of maturation. On the reverse side of the structure are 88 symbolic layers of oak, while at its center is a copper disc from one of the distillery's decommissioned stills.
Other releases in the collection
The 12-year-old whisky was made entirely from the distillery's own malted barley. It was matured in American oak casks and then finished in European oak sherry casks sourced from bodegas in Jerez. According to the distillery's description, the spirit has honeyed and delicately spicy notes, as well as a rich and smooth finish.
For the 15-year-old version, The Balvenie used barley it grew and malted itself. The producer describes this whisky as a spirit with rich honey notes and a sweet, lingering finish. The collection had its world premiere on September 1 in Seoul in partnership with Frieze Seoul. The 88-year-old release is available to private clients and collectors, the 15-year-old has been available exclusively through global travel retail channels since September, and the 12-year-old is available in selected markets.
