Glen Scotia unveils limited-edition 48 year old

Glen Scotia has unveiled a limited-edition 48 year old single malt, drawn from the distillery’s oldest and rarest reserves. Only 250 individually numbered bottles are available worldwide at an RRP of £11,000.

Aged for 43 years in a combination of refill and first-fill bourbon barrels, the liquid was then re-casked into a first-fill Oloroso Hogshead for a further five years, before a final six month finish in a second-fill ex-Pedro Ximénez Hogshead.

The process was overseen by Glen Scotia’s master blender Michael Henry and is bottled at 40.8% ABV. 

The bottle is presented in a handmade oak display case, inspired by the Spanish Azulejo tile designs once found in the bodegas of Seville and further afield around Spain and Portugal in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. The bottle itself has gold metal decoration to the body and shoulder. A plaque accompanies any purchase of the bottling, with the individual bottle number, tasting notes and a story of the single malt.

Distillery manager Iain McAlister commented: , “The 48-Year-Old is an exceptional release with a remarkable heritage. It is so intriguing to me to think that different generations of distillery managers and their teams, who would have been testing their casks over time, opted to hold this particular liquid back time and time again, allowing it to continue its journey. What we have inherited today is therefore a real journey through time and a celebration of Glen Scotia’s rich heritage and craftsmanship, which continues to thrive. This is a collector's must-have, a chance to reflect upon a time in history and be transported to a bygone era of one of Scotland’s most enduring distilleries.” 

Master blender Henry added: “This expression is a testament to Glen Scotia’s commitment to excellence and preserving the Campbeltown style, handed down by past generations of local distillery workers. It is the first time Glen Scotia has used a combination of oloroso and PX sherry casks on a liquid of such a remarkable age, which has resulted in a Spanish symphony of flavour married with Glen Scotia’s coastal nuances. The result is a whisky quite unlike anything we’ve had the pleasure of crafting to date – it is one that exemplifies luxury and rarity for a very fortunate few and is a true window into the distillery’s past. I have no doubt it will leave an impression that will be as enduring as the distillery itself has been.”  

16 August 2023 - Bradley Weir