The Highland-based Glenmorangie Distillery has announced the launch of its oldest release to date.

Glenmorangie 50 Year Old (45.7% ABV) is a single malt Scotch whisky, matured in a combination of Bourbon hogshead casks and first-fill Oloroso Sherry butts. It was nurtured by the distillery’s whisky makers for half a century, including the last 30 years under the guidance of Dr Bill Lumsden MBE, its current Master Distiller.

The creation of Glenmorangie 50 Year Old began with some of the last batches of barley malted in the distillery’s own floor maltings, which were decommissioned in 1977, making the 50 Year Old a rare taste of a bygone era.

The whisky had already reached a considerable age when Dr Bill joined Glenmorangie as Distillery Manager in 1995. During the early years of his tenure, he identified a handful of casks with the potential for significant ageing.

In 1999, Dr Bill selected a small parcel of whisky from these casks once they had reached a considerable age. The liquid, comprising mostly whisky aged in Bourbon casks, along with a smaller portion from Sherry butts, was then married in a single refill hogshead. This particular cask was identified as the perfect maturation partner, having been tightly coopered to allow for slow, extended maturation that would impart the gentlest wood influence on the whisky while maintaining Glenmorangie’s signature elegance.

Over the next 25 years, the whisky mellowed into a Glenmorangie of unparalleled depth and complexity, balancing the distillery’s signature house style with intense sherried notes. After five decades in total, Dr Bill deemed the whisky ready to share.

Remarkably rich mahogany in colour, Glenmorangie 50 Year Old is said to reveal sweet aromas of baked oranges, sultanas and nutmeg, complemented by a herbal top note. On the palate, the mouthfeel is gently peppery, followed by bold flavours of toffee, stewed Assam tea leaves and birch tar, with wisps of clove and oak tannin.

Glenmorangie 50 Year Old is presented in a bespoke porcelain display vessel crafted by celebrated ceramicist Peter Pincus. After visiting the distillery and tasting the whisky, Peter, his partner Laurie and their studio team spent the next 1,000 days handcrafting 149 bespoke ceramic display vessels to honour the exceptional whisky within.

Commenting on the launch, Dr Bill Lumsden, said: “The release of Glenmorangie 50 Year Old has to be one of my proudest creations. I often wondered if the day would ever come when we’d be able to bottle a Glenmorangie with such a mighty age statement. The combination of Glenmorangie from classic Bourbon barrels, with a touch of sweet yet spicy Sherry cask-matured liquid, presents a stunning whisky of depth and complexity, harmonised with Glenmorangie’s signature elegance.”

“It’s also particularly special that this whisky was created from some of the last batches of barley to be malted on site at the distillery in the mid-1970s, which has added rare hints of smoke to its flavour profile. It has been an honour collaborating with Peter Pincus to present this Glenmorangie in such an extraordinary way. Together, we have created an unrepeatable work of art – and I’d say it’s been worth the wait.”

Limited to 149 bottles, Glenmorangie 50 Year Old is now available from the Moët Hennessy Private Client Team, the Distillery Visitor Centre and selected specialist retailers, for a RRP of £25,800.