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• This is part of "Gotta Have ...", an ongoing series of occasional postings on unusual spirits products.
The world’s oldest -- and most expensive -- single malt Scotch whisky has been released under the Glenlivet name.
The 70-year-old Glenlivet is priced at £13,000 (US$21,000) for a 70cl decanter. It is part of the latest addition of six rare Glenlivets to its Generations range released by the company over the past few days.
Last year saw the release of a 70-year-old Mortlach, distilled in 1938, which, in spite of the £10,000 (US$16,200) price tag for the 70cl decanter and £2,500 ($4,000) for 20cl, sold out within two weeks.
Michael Urquhart, a director at Gordon & MacPhail whisky distributors, told The Herald newspaper, "Within minutes of Mortlach’s launch last year, inquiries from throughout the world came flooding in. Although the Mortlach yielded only 54 full-size and 162 small decanters, it wasn’t so much about the money it made. It was more about raising awareness of Gordon & MacPhail around the world and we seem to have succeeded. Export sales have increased by £1.8 million from £3.2m to £5m so an increase of just over 50%.
Urquhart’s grandfather, John, ordered the whisky to be laid down at the Glenlivet distillery in 1940.
The new additions to Gordon & MacPhail Generations range include a further five casks of Glenlivet, one from each decade between the 1950s and 1990s. In recent years a 62-year-old The Dalmore and 64-year-old Glenfiddich have been introduced, while Gordon & MacPhail previously had a 65-year-old malt, according to The Herald's report.
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