The Macallan unveils 50-year-old costing £25k

Edrington-owned The Macallan has released just 200 bottles of a limited-edition 50-year-old single malt whisky, priced at £25,000 (US$35,360).

The Macallan 50 Years Old is limited to just 200 bottles

The Macallan 50 Years Old has been aged in handcrafted European oak Sherry-seasoned casks from Spain for 50 years.

Bottled at 44% abv, the “rich and complex” whisky has notes of sweet oak vanilla and blackcurrant. Wood vanilla leads on the nose with a hint of spice before ripe blackcurrants and an earthy tone combine, with a background of subtle peat.

The palate leads with flavours of sweet oak vanilla, fudge and toffee, followed by black pepper corns to provide a gentle warming, with deep sweetness joining from orange peels and figs.

Nick Savage, The Macallan master distiller, said: “After being left to mature for half a century in our exceptional Sherry-seasoned oak casks, this wonderfully rare single malt is full of rich flavour and beautiful natural colour.

“Coveted by whisky connoisseurs and collectors across the globe, The Macallan 50 Years Old is an incredible addition to our expanding range of unique, mature whiskies and marks another pinnacle of The Macallan whisky makers’ art.

“With a finite volume of 200 bottles worldwide, this is a highly limited and expertly crafted release, providing the chance to own something world-class and extraordinary.”

The expression is presented in a solid oak box featuring an etched face decorated with a matte gold-badged age statement.

The news comes just one day after The Macallan announced that it had discontinued its 1824 Series, at the same time as launching a “bold” new design across its range of single malt whiskies.