In celebration of its 100th anniversary, iconic Scottish hotel Gleneagles has built on its existing partnership with Glenfiddich to release a collector’s edition 49 Year Old single malt Scotch whisky.
Inspired by the onset of rail travel in Scotland – which enabled key developments for the whisky industry and led to the birth of Gleneagles itself – the release is a celebration of the intertwined history of not only the two brands but also the Scotch nation itself.
Available exclusively at the hotel’s Still Room bottle shop, and by prior request only, the Gleneagles x Glenfiddich Centenary Reserve is limited to just three bottles for sale per year. In total, just 15 are available, with each numbered. And what will one of those bottles set you back? No less than £35,000 (approx. $45,800).
Each bottle is presented in a handmade display cabinet by Glasgow-based artist John Galvin. Inspired by the Art Deco era in which Gleneagles was first born, the ornate cases are crafted from burr walnut and feature bespoke stained glass detailing.
[See also: The Most Exclusive Scotch Whisky Experiences]
Inside, the Gleneagles x Glenfiddich Centenary Reserve is textbook Glenfiddich. Aged in a single refill sherry butt for just shy of half a century, the whisky offers the smoothness for which the Speyside distillery is famed, with rich, syrupy notes of vanilla leading into long-lasting beeswax and honey.
“For the special release, we wanted to select a whisky embodying the quintessential Glenfiddich character: traditionally smooth and rich in fruity and ester sweetness, drawn from the 49 years spent cocooned in the walls of a refill sherry butt,” said Brian Kinsman, master blender at Glenfiddich. Collaborating with the team at Gleneagles, we’ve crafted a truly exceptional whisky that not only commemorates their celebration but also encapsulates the timeless essence and railway heritage of Glenfiddich.”
Daniel Baernreuther, general manager at The Gleneagles Hotel added: “Over the past couple of years, we’ve been working behind the scenes with the Glenfiddich team, with the joint aim of crafting the ultimate anniversary single malt. […] This is a bottle of whisky unlike any other and I couldn’t think of a better dram to celebrate 100 years of Gleneagles.”
[See also: The Glenlivet Reveals its Oldest Scotch Whisky Ever for 200th Year]