Sazerac’s The Last Drop Debuts 50 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky

The Last Drop, owned by Buffalo Trace parent Sazerac, has announced its 50 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky, created by Master Blender Colin J.P. Scott.

Scott has created a blend of malt and grain Scotch whiskies, all of which have aged for at least 50 years with this release. Over time, malt and grain whiskies were selected with special blends created to be secured in bourbon and sherry oak casks for further maturation. Final selections were made from these aged casks of malts, grains and aged blends, which were blended together to create this 50-year-old bottling.

“For centuries, Scotland’s finest malt and grain distilleries have been distilling unique spirits and laying them in casks for the future,” Scott said in a prepared statement. “Yet in my half-century career, this is only my second 50-year-old blend, as access to these exceptional liquids is rare. I’m immensely proud of the complexity of this whisky as well as its significance as my inaugural release as The Last Drop’s master blender and our first Signature Blend.”

The bottling is the first debut from The Signature Blend Series, marking the brand’s jump from “rare spirit hunting into creation.” Each bottle is individually numbered and bearing Scott’s physical signature. As with all Last Drop releases, each comes packaged in a signature red leather case with a 50ml miniature, certificate of bottling and pocket-sized tasting book.

“Our goal has always been to find casks that have been forgotten or perhaps just contained too little liquid to be considered worthy of bottling,” noted Managing Director for The Last Drop Rebecca Jago. “These bottles are like museum pieces, but something you can taste, savor and enjoy. Now, with the help of our new master blender and Assembly members, we are progressing from curation to creation by using some of the barrels we have found to create very old – but also completely new – spirits.”

The Last Drop 50 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky (47.8% ABV) is available for a suggested retail price of $4,250 through fine spirits retailers. Official tasting notes can be found below.

• Color: Liquid amber and gold; a rich, warm color speaking of whiskies matured in both bourbon and sherry casks.
• Nose: A light prickle that tempts exploration, featuring a hint of smokey peat from the islands tempered by floral notes alongside vanilla, toast and dried fruit.
• Taste: Rich, soft, smooth, full and fruity: on the palate an explosion of dried apricots, apples and prunes. A rich, creamy texture coats the mouth with sweet and spicy notes, the nuttiness of almonds and surprising hints of liquorice.
• Finish: Long, lingering aftertaste, with oaky notes.