Macleod releases 40-year-old Scotches to market

William M. Dowd photo illustration

• This is part of "Gotta Have ...", a series of occasional postings on unusual products.

Glengoyne Distillery is releasing a 40-year-old Highland Single Malt in limited quantities. Quite a decision for a 175-year-old distillery.

Iain Weir, marketing director for Ian Macleod Distillers which owns Glengoyne, said, “This is a world class, once-in-a-lifetime bottling. It was essential that the design and presentation of the Glengoyne 40 Year Old Highland Single Malt be a true reflection of its outstanding quality, and reinforces its position as one of the top luxury Limited Edition Single Malts available in the market today."

The expression is bottled in a a hand-blown Glencairn Crystal decanter, each of which has an individual number engraved in the base. An etching of the Scottish distillery is reflected up through the whisky.

The decanter is housed in a lacquered, piano-finished, solid oak wood presentation box, with gold plates on the front and hand-stitched cream leather interior. An accompanying cream leather and gold foil traditionally bound book, signed by Distillery Manager Robbie Hughes, provides tasting notes and detailed background on Glengoyne’s history as an independent distillery since 1833.

Just 250 crystal decanters will be available from specialist whisky outlets and in travel retail worldwide, retailing at £3,000 ($4,552 US).

However, if you're looking for a bargain-priced 40-year-old, Macleod also is launching a rare, limited-edition expression of its Springbank brand at just £800 ($1,213 US). It is from the Campbelltown distillery's Chieftain’s Single Malt Whisky collection.

Only 398 bottles of the natural strength, unchill-filtered whisky will be available. The distiller says it is the last and oldest Springbank cask available from the current Chieftain’s collection.

The bottle is presented in a silver leather-lined, solid oak box. Two silver plaques on the front display all the individual bottle details, as does the certificate of authenticity scroll, signed by Antony McCallum-Caron, Chieftain’s rare malt manager.

Weir notes, “The combination of age and the limited release of 398 bottles mean this will be a real collector’s item, with its unparalleled quality making it a joy to drink.”

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