Whisky Focus - The Glenlivet 1966 50 Year Old Winchester Collection

The Glenlivet 1966, the 2nd release in the Winchester Collection of rare 50 Year Old whiskies.

The Glenlivet has announced that this October they will be releasing the 2nd edition in its series of rare 50 year old single malt Scotch whiskies. this year sees the launch of The Glenlivet Winchester Collection Vintage 1966 50 year old.

Only 100 bottles of this exceptionally rare dram will available, The Glenlivet tell me that the 1966 50 year old was matured in an exceptional high quality sherry cask and will have a release price of US £19,200/ US$25,000.

Created back in 1966 by then Glenlivet Master Distiller, Robert Arthur, and subsequently cared for by the Master Distillers of The Glenlivet, it is released today under the guardianship of Alan Winchester. Vintage 1966 joins Vintage the 2014 release of the Vintage 1964 50 year old to form one of the rarest whisky collections in the world.

It is amazing to consider that whilst this precious whisky has been resting in its cask the world has changed around it. Mankind took its first steps on the moon, the Berlin wall came down, and the world was introduced to the invention of the personal computer and mobile phone.

As you would expect for such a rare whisky it is presented in a premium bottle and packaging, continuing with The Glenlivet's commitment to craft they commissioned Brodie Nairn of acclaimed studio Glasstorm, to produce a hand blown glass bottle around the concept of water, paying homage to The Glenlivet’s Gaelic translation of ‘Valley of the Smooth Flowing One’, with elegant lines lending gentle movement to the sculpted glass. Designer silversmith Richard Fox crafted the gold stopper set with a smoky quartz Cairngorm Stone – specially selected to echo the richly dark liquid of Vintage 1966 – while esteemed wood craftsman, John Galvin, made the beautiful cherry wood cabinet that houses the whisky.

Alan Winchester’s own bottle will be auctioned at Christie’s on 21st October, alongside the unique opportunity to lay down Vintage 2016. Proceeds from the auction will go to the British Crafts Council to help champion craft for future generations.

Alan Winchester comments: "I’m proud to be auctioning my own personal bottle and a bottle of future Vintage 2016 to be enjoyed in 50 years’ time. This will mark yet another moment of history in the making and I’m so pleased that the proceeds of the auction will go towards investing in the future success of talented and innovative British craftspeople."

The Master Distiller’s bottle from The Glenlivet Winchester Collection, alongside Vintage 2016, will be auctioned out of Christie’s New York, on the 21st October, with a total of just 100 bottles to be made available for purchase worldwide from specialist whisky retailers such as The Whisky Exchange
 

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