The Balvenie Unveils Second Batch Of Half-Century Old Malt

Scotland’s The Balvenie has unveiled the Second Edition of its The Balvenie Fifty Collection, a trilogy of ultra-aged single malt from the Speyside distillery. Following the First Edition’s debut in 2024, this Second Edition continues the journey of three unique releases that will culminate in 2026.

This exclusive whisky is a marriage of casks. 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 in 1973. Only 97 bottles will be available globally, marking one of the rarest and most interesting releases from The Balvenie Distillery. Only 13 of those bottles will come to America. The casks in question were filled by none other than living legend David Stewart MBE.

“The Balvenie Fifty Collection pays tribute to the makers, craftspeople and custodians who have watched over our liquid for the past five decades,” said 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.”

The retails price on this bottling of The Balvenie 50 Year Old is $55,000.