Gruppo Campari owned Glen Grant releases 50-year-old whisky

By Gemma McKenna

Published: 29 October, 2014

Glen Grant, the Scotch whisky brand owned by Gruppo Campari, is releasing an "exceptionally rare" 50-year-old expression in a tribute to craftsmanship.

Glen Grant 50 Year Old Glen Grant 50 Year Old Scotch whisky

The original cask was filled in 1963 by a young man who would become the company's master distiller, Dennis Malcolm, before being bottled in November 2013, when it reached its "zenith".

Malcolm said: "Only time measures our pursuit of perfection. Maturation cannot be rushed. Like people, casks mature at their own pace. I have protected and cared for this barrel for 50 years, letting it breathe and patiently waiting for the magic and interaction of whisky and wood."

Only 150 bottles will be released globally.

Each one is presented in a hand-blown Glencairn crystal decanter, which is engraved and numbered with 50 in 18-carat gold lettering. The design is an exact replica of Glen Grant's pot stills. Each bottle is presented in a copper-lined Scottish oak box, made by a cabinet maker, and comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by Malcolm and all craftsmen involved.

The brand describes the expression as the "apotheosis of master craftsmanship: a wide array of age-old skills creating a collective masterpiece that is unquantifiable. It is both aged and timeless. But now, the time has come".

The Glen Grant 50 Year Old was launched in Asia's Travel Retail Market earlier this year, and is currently available in Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, Shanghai, Beijing and Taipei.

It is now available in the UK from the Whisky Exchange - 20cl rrp £3,500 with 70cl rrp £8,850.

Glen Grant became part of the Gruppo Campari portfolio in 2006. The range includes the Major's Reserve, 10 Year Old, 16 Year Old, 1992 Cellar Reserve, the 170th Anniversary Limited Edition, the Five Decades Edition and the Glen Grant 50 Year Old. Glen Grant was founded in 1840 in Speyside, Scotland by former smuggling brothers John and James Grant.

Gruppo Campari is the sixth largest player in the premium spirits market and trades in 190 countries. It has over 50 brands across spirits, wines and soft drinks, including Aperol, Appleton, Campari, Cinzano, SKYY and Wild Turkey.

Printer friendly version