Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie expands the collection’s profile by combining the inaugural release, a rare single cask expression drawn exclusively from a European oak refill butt filled in 1973, with an American oak hogshead, also filled that year.

“The Balvenie Fifty Collection pays tribute to the makers, craftspeople and custodians who have watched over our liquid for the past five decades,” said The Balvenie Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie. “For The Second Edition, we selected an American oak hogshead filled in 1973 to build on the legacy of the inaugural release. The time spent maturing in American oak has nurtured a beautifully balanced character, with notes of sweet honey and warming oak. This profile was chosen to complement the European oak influence of The First Edition, creating a marriage of casks that brings both contrast and continuity to the flavor thread running through the trilogy. The collection reflects our respect for tradition and our commitment to looking to the future by preserving the rare crafts of whisky making from barley to bottle.”

A trilogy celebrating half a century of the Speyside distillery, the First Edition’s debuted in 2024, this Second Edition continues the journey of three unique releases that will culminate next year with the release of the Third Edition.

Each hand-blown bottle of The Balvenie Fifty Second Edition is individually numbered and housed in a case crafted by Croglin, a bespoke workshop in Cumbria. The design features seven layers of wood in a helix structure, a darker stain than the inaugural release, and a 14-carat gold-plated brass display.

Only 97 bottles of The Balvenie Fifty Second Edition will be available globally, with only 13 bottles available in the United States for $55,000.

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Beginning with The First Edition this year, The Balvenie will release only 125 bottles globally of each edition over the next three years, with The Second and Third Editions launching in 2025 and 2026.

The First Edition is a single cask expression aged in a European oak refill butt, filled in 1973 and hand-selected by Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie. The Second Edition will introduce an American oak hogshead cask filled in 1973 to marry with the first, and finally, a third cask filled in 1974, an American oak barrel, will be added to complete the marriage for the final Third Edition.

The inaugural expression from The Balvenie Fifty, which is 1o4 proof, showcases the complexity of the spirit influenced by the European oak cask while maintaining its classic style, even after 50 years of maturation.

“Each Edition in this collection is a testament to the craftsmanship that has defined our liquid over the past 50 years,” said The Balvenie Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie. “The unique characteristics of these rare casks come together to create a truly exceptional experience and set a new benchmark for our contribution to the rare and extraordinary whisky market at The Balvenie. Using a refill butt for the First Edition provides us with a distinctive flavor thread that will run through our next two releases, demonstrating the spectrum of flavors and aromas in our aged spirit. It is a celebration of our legacy, our passion, and our unwavering commitment to producing some of the finest whiskies in the world.”

In 1973, former Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE came together with The Balvenie’s craftspeople to fill the cask for the First Edition, starting the beginning of The Balvenie Fifty Collection’s journey. While many of those individuals still work at The Balvenie today, McKechnie continues this legacy with her approach to the marrying and remarrying of casks, creating a signature flavor profile across The Balvenie Fifty Collection.

The Balvenie Fifty Collection is enhanced further by the packaging developed by Croglin, a bespoke craft workshop based in Cumbria. Each presentation contains over 100 intricate elements, including a four-layer wood helix and beautifully crafted 14 carat gold plated brass display.

The Balvenie Fifty First Edition is now rolling out worldwide, with 16 bottles available specifically in the United States for $53,000.

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