Glengoyne Travels To The Past With New 50 Year Old Scotch Whisky

Scotland's Glengoyne distillery announces the release of a rare 50 year old Scotch whisky, also saying they are giving away one bottle to a lucky group via an online ballot.
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Glengoyne is one of those Scotch single malt whisky distilleries with a great deal of history. As they put it they make “Scotland’s slowest distilled malt, unhurried since 1833.” It thus makes sense they have access to some incredibly old stocks in their aging warehouses, some of which they’ve now turned to in this release of a new 50 year old expression.

The new Glengoyne 50 Year Old, according to those behind it, was laid down back in the 1960s. It is a very limited edition offering, with only 150 bottles being made available. Said bottles come in the form of “a special crystal decanter, which features an engraved goose emblem representing the geese who migrate to the Glen each winter. Hidden within the beautiful solid oak and gold display box is also a 25ml sample of the 50 Year Old whisky, as well as individually hand numbered books which are hand signed by Robbie Hughes, the Distillery Manager.”

Glengoyne 50 Year Old
Glengoyne 50 Year Old (image via Glengoyne)

“When we first filled hand-selected oak casks with our sweet, fruity, new make spirit back in the late 1960s,” said Hughes in a prepared statement, “the Beatles were only just breaking up, Richard Nixon was US President, and Sesame Street debuted on television. A lot has changed while we’ve been waiting patiently for this unique release.

“At Glengoyne we believe that patience is always rewarded. This year we’ve all had to sacrifice spending time with our loved ones or delay celebrations. That’s why we want to make these moments extra special in 2021 with a memorable whisky that, after waiting so long for just the right moment, is truly ready to be opened and savoured.”

Quick whisky question

Single malt is everywhere, but what does it mean? We want to know what the word “single” means to you. Three quick questions, under a minute.

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Pricing for the Glengyone 50 Year Old obviously isn’t on the cheap side – in this case you’re looking at a price tag of £22,500, or around $30,000 USD, for an expression that’s available now. Interestingly, distillery management decided they will “give away a special decanter of this incredibly high aged, rare whisky in 2021. After what’s been a difficult and disruptive year across the globe, the distillery will be making a moment with friends or family extra special for one group.

“An online ballot has opened for groups of five or more friends or family to submit an entry alongside a description of their perfect moment for savouring the Glengoyne 50 Year Old together next year. Whether it’s toasting a delayed celebration, or creating an unforgettable reunion, the Glengoyne team will make their special moment a reality, hand-delivering the highly sought-after whisky for one group to enjoy and savour, in good company.  

“Entrants have until Monday 14th December to gather their groups and submit their moments.”

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Official tasting notes for this half century old whisky are below. It becomes part of Glengoyne’s new “Fine and Rare” range, which also hosts a new 30 year old and an existing 25 year old.

  • Nose:  Demerara sugar, walnuts, sweet pipe tobacco, red apples and cloves 
  • Palate:   Rich, spicy oak burst, then molasses, treacle and liquorice take centre stage. 
  • Finish: The finish is long, going through savoury characteristics into a tingle of black pepper

Nino Kilgore-Marchetti

Nino Kilgore-Marchetti is the founder of The Whiskey Wash, an award-winning whiskey lifestyle website dedicated to informing and entertaining consumers about whisk(e)y globally. As a whisk(e)y journalist, expert, and judge, he has written extensively about the subject, been interviewed in various media outlets, and provided tasting input on many whiskeys at competitions.

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