Rare Highland single malt presented in 149 bespoke ceramic vessels by artist Peter Pincus.
Glenmorangie single malt Scotch whisky has unveiled its 50 Years Old expression, marking the oldest-ever whisky to be bottled from the Scottish distillery. This rare release celebrates the maturation of whisky for half a century, preserving Glenmorangie’s signature elegance. Each of the 149 bottles is presented in a bespoke porcelain display vessel crafted by celebrated ceramicist Peter Pincus.
The creation of Glenmorangie 50 Years Old began with some of the last batches of barley malted in the distillery’s own floor maltings, which were decommissioned in 1977. Distilled in Glenmorangie’s uniquely tall copper stills, the spirit was laid down to mature in bourbon hogshead casks and first-fill Oloroso sherry butts in the mid-1970s. Master Distiller Dr Bill Lumsden MBE, who joined Glenmorangie in 1995, stewarded the whisky through its final three decades of maturation.
In 1999, Dr Lumsden selected a small parcel of whisky, primarily from bourbon casks and a smaller portion from sherry butts, marrying them in one refill hogshead barrel. This cask was chosen for its slow, extended maturation, designed to impart a gentle wood influence while maintaining the whisky’s elegance. Over the subsequent 25 years, the whisky developed unparalleled depth and complexity, balancing Glenmorangie’s house style with intense sherried notes.
After a total of five decades, the whisky is described as a remarkably rich mahogany in colour. It reveals sweet aromas of baked oranges, sultanas, and nutmeg, complemented by a herbal top note. The taste is gently peppery, with bold flavours of toffee, stewed Assam tea leaves, birch tar, and wisps of clove and oak tannin.
For this milestone, Glenmorangie partnered with American ceramic artist Peter Pincus. Following a visit to the distillery and a tasting of the whisky, Peter, his partner Laurie, and their studio team dedicated 1,000 days to handcrafting the 149 bespoke ceramic display vessels. They pioneered new ceramic techniques and created 50 bespoke colour pigments, inspired by the whisky’s tasting notes, which were applied by hand to each piece. The individual vessels fit together to form a tessellated wall of art, titled ‘Together in Spirit’.
You Might Also Like:
Dr Bill Lumsden MBE said: “The release of the Glenmorangie 50 Years Old has to be one of my proudest creations. The combination of Glenmorangie from classic bourbon barrels, with a touch of sweet yet spicy sherry cask-matured liquid, presents a stunning whisky of depth and complexity, harmonised with Glenmorangie’s signature elegance. It’s also particularly special that this whisky was created from some of the last batches of barley to be malted on site at the distillery in the mid-1970s, which has added rare hints of smoke to its flavour profile.”
Peter Pincus commented: “When we visited Glenmorangie and tasted this incredible 50-year-old whisky, we were inspired with so many ideas for how to present it. We have pioneered new techniques that have never been used in ceramics before and created a palette of colour to bring the intense flavour of this whisky to life. Each of the vessels we have created links to its neighbours to create a collective masterpiece, but each also has its own identity.”
Glenmorangie’s whisky creators have been refining single malt for more than 180 years, distilling their spirit in Scotland’s tallest stills and aging it in fine casks. Glenmorangie 50 Years Old will be available from September through the Moët Hennessy Private Client Team, the Distillery Visitor Centre in Tain, and select retailers.
