Whisky Focus - Littlemill 47 Year Old The Vanguards Collection Chapter 2

Scotland’s oldest licensed distillery, Littlemill, has unveiled its oldest age statement yet, a remarkable Littlemill 47 Year Old single malt, marking the second release from its Vanguards Collection.

Launched last year, the Vanguards Collection is an annual series that draws on Littlemill’s most precious reserves. Following the distillery’s closure in 1994, it plans to release a single expression each year for four years. This latest release was distilled on October 4, 1976, aged initially in refill bourbon barrels, and then re-casked into refill American oak hogsheads in 1996. After 27 additional years of maturation, Master Blender Michael Henry deemed it ready for release.

The result is an extraordinarily rare whisky, offering a unique glimpse into the past. It is said to embody Littlemill’s signature style, with aromas of elderflower, summer hedgerow, honey, and nutmeg, paired with a silk-like mouthfeel featuring crisp apple, pear, and honeysuckle, followed by layers of fruit and spice.

The Vanguards Collection was created to honour Littlemill’s pioneering legacy and the innovators who shaped the distillery. Chapter Two celebrates Jane Macgregor, the distillery manager in 1823 and one of the first women believed to hold a distillery license. Under her leadership, production flourished, and she unknowingly became a trailblazer for the many women influencing the whisky world today.

To commemorate Jane’s legacy, Littlemill partnered with glass artist Bethany Wood of Blowfish Glass. Inspired by Jane’s story, Bethany has crafted 250 unique glass stoppers, using traditional tools from Jane’s era. Each stopper is individually created with coloured molten glass bubbles, which, when exposed to gas, develop striking metallic hues. These bubbles are intentionally smashed, creating a ripple effect that symbolises the barriers Jane shattered throughout her career.

Bethany’s work honours both the craftsmanship of the past and the legacy of trailblazers like Jane. Each stopper is a one-of-a-kind piece, featuring metallic hues inspired by Littlemill’s copper stills and the Scottish water essential to whisky making. The stoppers are displayed in a luxurious wooden cabinet, designed to showcase them either from the outside or inside.

The Littlemill 47 Year Old single malt is housed in a Glencairn Crystal decanter, with intricate cuts symbolising the glass ceilings broken by both Jane and Bethany. Each set also includes a branded 50ml miniature and a hardback book on the Littlemill story, allowing the fortunate owners to savour not only an exquisite whisky but also Scotland’s rich whisky heritage.

Founded in 1772 in Bowling, West Dunbartonshire, Littlemill was once at the cutting edge of whisky innovation. Though it closed in 1994 and was destroyed by fire in 2004, its remaining casks have been carefully preserved under the stewardship of Master Blender Michael Henry.

Michael Henry, Master Blender at Loch Lomond Group, owners of Littlemill, said: "Between Littlemill’s founding and its lamentable closure, a remarkable story of innovation took place. It is a story rarely told but one that touches the whole world of whisky. By far the most fascinating part is the stories of the people who we know were quietly overturning traditions, shaping the distillery for what it would become.

"A story of that measure requires a whisky of remarkable quality, so it is fitting that now is the time we release our oldest aged statement to date. Like any whisky of this age, it takes time, patience, and careful monitoring to know when the moment has come to release it. I was inspired by my predecessors and their innovations which shaped Littlemill’s character. With them always in mind, we have crafted a dram full of classic Littlemill delicate, summer-like notes."

Nick Bradley, Prestige Portfolio Manager at Loch Lomond Group, owners of Littlemill, added: "The unsung heroes of Littlemill passed into history long before the significance of their contributions could ever be applauded, which is why the Vanguards Collection raises a dram to them, their entrepreneurial spirit and craftsmanship which helped to shape the last precious drops of this incredible distillery. Today, the Vanguards Collection offers a fortunate few a rare glimpse into our legacy.

"When considering the Collection, we wanted to celebrate and revive the past by bringing alive the spirit of Littlemill’s pioneers. There is a real joy in finding and collaborating with artists and kindred spirits who are keeping their traditional crafts alive in today’s age. Bethany Wood is a champion of craftsmanship with her own innovative style of art, making her the ideal collaboration to explore Jane’s legacy with us."

Bethany Wood, owner of Blowfish Glass, added: "There are so many wonderful parallels between our two crafts. Steeped in tradition, I see glassmaking as a performance that has been very carefully planned – whisky has the same requirements in artistry, precision and patience. Both art forms rely on the craftsmanship of people, and I love that our creative interpretations are what make each output unique every time.

"Being a female in a traditional trade, I was inspired by Jane’s story and the ceilings she broke through for her era. This paired with a new affection for Scotland’s west coast and all its beauty provided me with the vision to craft these beautiful stoppers which will make a wonderful addition to this truly incredible whisky release. These stoppers are not just functional pieces but artistic representations of Jane's journey."

The Littlemill 47 Year Old The Vanguards Collection Chapter 2 has been bottled naturally coloured at a cask strength of 44.9% ABV, only 250 individually numbered bottles are available worldwide, priced at £14,500 and you will find it available from specialist online whisky shops such as The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt
 

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