An incredibly rare bottling from the Glenglassaugh Distillery will be released in Australia in the next few months, with only a handful of bottles allocated for sale.

The small, coastal distillery lay silent for more than two decades before being reawakened in 2008 by a group of investors. In 2013, the BenRiach Distillery Company – which joined Brown-Forman in 2016 – took over Glenglassaugh with the intention of bringing it fully back to life.

The distillery had some precious reserves of single malt stock that had been gently matured in the distillery’s coastal warehouses, overlooking the rolling surf of Sandend Bay. Master Blender Rachel Barrie, who learned to surf as a child on the waves that break below the distillery, used them to create the rare expression, which has been bottled from a single Pedro Ximénez sherry cask from Andalucīa in Spain.

Earlier this year, Glenglassaugh 50-Year-Old was awarded the highest possible accolade of double gold at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

“A lot can happen in half a century, and this whisky has seen many important milestones whilst maturing in our warehouses,” said Barrie. “From the distillery being lost then revived 13 years ago to the release of its first core range celebrating its youthful spirit.

“Offering a deep and seductive sweetness, the 50 Year Old’s flavour profile ranges from caramelised pear to soft exotic cherries; almond and refined oak beautifully intertwine to present a symphony of tropical notes on a gentle ocean breeze with rolling waves of flavour, which intensify and evolve with each sip. It’s a privilege to unveil this premium bottling to whisky fans around the world at the beginning of a new chapter for Glenglassaugh celebrating both old and new.”

There are just 264 bottles available worldwide. Each is housed in a bespoke presentation box designed to display the bottle and the liquid’s rich tones. The UK RRP is £5,500 (GBP). Global market prices may vary.

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