Dining Style

The art of fine whisky: The Glenlivet’s 55 Year Old comes with a magnificent art masterpiece 

The Glenlivet

It’s already one of the most famous malts in the worlds – but now, In celebration of its 200th anniversary, The Glenlivet has launched its most prestigious single malt to date: The Glenlivet Eternal Collection, First Edition, 55 Year Old. 

This rare whisky, limited to just 100 bottles worldwide, promises to be an exceptional expression of craftsmanship, not just in flavour but in design too, and a seriously special collectible for fans.

It hails from the famous Glenlivet Distillery in Moray, Scotland: the oldest legal distillery in the Highlands of Scotland, having operated continuously since it first opened in 1824.

The Glenlivet Eternal Collection, First Edition, 55-Year-Old
The Glenlivet has unveiled The Glenlivet Eternal Collection, First Edition, 55 Year Old – an ultra collectable whisky limited to just 100 bottles worldwide

The whisky has been matured for over five decades, before being finished in a custom blend of sherry casks. This final maturation produced a deeply complex profile with rich notes of autumn fruits, Seville oranges, and warming spices, all balanced with a citrus zest and a long, luxurious finish.

What truly sets this release apart is the artistic collaboration with world-renowned post-modern architect Michael Hansmeyer. The 55 Year Old single malt is housed in a breath-taking sculpture designed to mirror the natural beauty surrounding The Glenlivet distillery in Speyside. 

The Glenlivet Eternal Collection, First Edition, 55-Year-Old
The Glenlivet Eternal Collection, First Edition, 55 YearOld is the distillery’s most prestigous release to date

Drawing inspiration from the flow of the River Livet, Hansmeyer has used cutting-edge computational design techniques to create a one-of-a-kind piece. The sculpture, crafted from hand-sculpted jesmonite and rose-gold plating, elegantly complements the whisky’s heritage and modern craftsmanship – creating a stunning work of art, talking point – and dream collectible for whisky connoisseurs. 

It’ll have to remain a dream artwork for most, given its £43,500 price tag. But for those that can – is there any more impressive a whisky to add to your collection? 

German artist Hansmeyer, who has shown at the Museum of Arts and Design New York, Palais de Tokyo in Paris and Design Miami, amongst others, and whose TED talk, ‘Building unimaginable shapes,’ has been viewed a million times, describes the collaboration as an exploration of the intersection between architecture and the arts, capturing the complexity of both the whisky and the landscape of its origins. “I created this sculpture as a tribute to the complexity of The Glenlivet’s oldest expression and the rugged beauty of the distillery’s Scottish landscape, capturing the spirit of where innovation meets tradition,” the artist explains. 

Kevin Balmforth, The Glenlivet Cask Master adds: “The 55 Year Old is the highest age Scotch ever released from The Glenlivet Distillery and combined with the incredible talent of Michael, it tells of the timelessness of The Glenlivet.”

“Thanks to decades of collaboration from our team of cask experts, past and present, the introduction of The Eternal Collection represents a monumental moment for whisky connoisseurs and luxury appreciators to add a pivotal piece of Scotch whisky legacy to their collection,” the cask master explains, “It epitomises The Glenlivet’s commitment to excellence within Scotch innovation as we continue to push to creative new heights in single malts.” 

Retailing at £43,500, The Glenlivet Eternal Collection, First Edition, 55 Year Old is available exclusively at The Whisky Exchange. To further celebrate the launch, a bespoke version of the whisky with a unique Hansmeyer sculpture will be auctioned at Sotheby’s, with proceeds going to the National Trust for Scotland.

For more information, visit theglenlivet.com.

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