Glenkinchie Distillery has unveiled A Richness of Swallows, a limited edition 30-year-old single malt Scotch whisky inspired by the springtime return of swallows to the Scottish Lowlands. Limited to 1,002 bottles and priced at $797 (£595), the expression launches on March 27, 2026, exclusively at the Glenkinchie Distillery retail shop in East Lothian, Scotland.
A short story written by a distillery guide of 15 years forms the inspiration for the new release.
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John Johnstone’s story, A Swallow’s Journey, follows a flock of swallows from the sun-scorched skies of Africa to their arrival at the Lowland distillery, marking the start of spring. He and the Glenkinchie team provided the creative foundation for the whisky and its packaging. While the release draws its name from the collective noun for swallows traveling together.
Johnstone said: “This is a personal tribute from all of us here at Glenkinchie with a shared meaning, reflecting both the journey of the swallows and that of our 30-year-old single malt which delivers a richness in the whisky’s flavour and an incredible elegance, unusual for an expression at this age.”
He added: “At every step of the journey, as a team we made our mark, from working with the blenders to hand-selecting the casks that spoke to the swallow’s story, to curating the 100% recyclable pack with our partners in Scotland. Truly a team effort, it’s a privilege to be a part of this distillery’s legacy.”
The whisky was matured in a combination of American and European oak refill casks for 28 years before a final marrying period in European oak puncheons. It is bottled at 58.4% ABV.
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The packaging features the shadow of birds flickering in hazy East Lothian sunlight over rolling fields of ripened barley.
Official tasting notes from the brand describe the nose as “mellow in feel and drying, while lightly hinting at the taste to come.”
The palate is “creamy-smooth” and “notably full-bodied,” with “a sweet sunny and almost perfumed taste with a fruity dash of lemon-like acidity in mid-palate.” The finish is “sweet and gently spiced, with lingering notes of honeycomb.”
Glenkinchie, known sits just 15 miles from Edinburgh. The distillery was reimagined and reopened in 2020 as part of Diageo’s £185 million investment in scotch whisky tourism and was named leading Scottish Distillery Tour at the 2025 World Travel Awards.
