Glenlivet releases 56 YO Eternal Collection whisky
Chivas Brothers has unveiled the second release in partnership with Sotheby’s, The Glenlivet Eternal Collection, Second Edition, 56 Years Old, 1 of 1.
Master blender Kevin Balmforth collaborated with Sherry suppliers in Spain to craft a bespoke blend comprising oloroso, Pedro Ximénez and Palo Cortado, which seasoned a new Spanish oak cask used to mature the whisky more than four years ago.
The whisky was aged in the bespoke Sherry butt and, prior to that, an American oak barrel, which added layers of vanilla and toffee to complement The Glenlivet’s ‘hallmark’ orchard fruit and honeyed richness.
The whisky will be offered solely through Sotheby’s Finest & Rarest Whisky auction, which will run from 6-20 November 2025.
The Glenlivet Eternal Collection, Second Edition, 56 Years Old, 1 of 1 carries an estimated auction price of £35,000-£70,000 (US$45,827-US$91,655).
Jacques-Henri Brive, global head of luxury development at Chivas Brothers, said: “Through our partnership with Sotheby’s, we are unlocking exclusive access to previously unseen rare Scotch from the archives of Chivas Brothers – broadening the horizons for luxury spirits collectors around the world.
“The Glenlivet Eternal Collection, Second Edition, 56 Years Old, 1 of 1 reflects our legacy of creating the world’s finest high-aged Scotch, giving the most discerning collectors an opportunity to own their own slice of Scotch whisky heritage.”
Bottled at 42.7% ABV, the expression offers notes of poached plums, sticky dates and dark chocolate ganache on the nose, with a taste of fresh blackberries, ripe banana and cherry compote with a velvety sweet, complex finish, with enduring notes of dark chocolate.
The exclusive single malt lot is presented in a 24-carat gold-plated spherical glass decanter, adorned with gold engravings of heather branches.
Its bespoke bar top features a 137.73-carat lab-grown Paraiba tourmaline simulant.
The whisky is accompanied by a bespoke sculptural plinth crafted by artist Fredrikson Stallard, featuring 3D-printed heather branches plated in 24-carat gold that rise from a base of Guatemalan green marble.
Jonny Fowle, global head of spirits at Sotheby’s, said: “It’s a real honour to continue our partnership with Chivas Brothers, offering collectors exclusive access to some of the rarest Scotch whiskies in existence. Even as the auction market steadies for fine and rare whisky, demand for truly exceptional liquid remains unwavering – and Chivas Brothers is uniquely positioned to meet that appetite with whiskies that are defined by scarcity, provenance and artistry.
“With The Glenlivet Eternal Collection, Second Edition, 56 Years Old, 1 of 1, we are once again bringing an extraordinary expression of luxury Scotch to the global stage.”
Proceeds from the sale will support the National Trust for Scotland’s excavation work within the Cairngorms, where erosion threatens archaeological remains that could unlock new understanding of prehistoric life in the region.
The initiative builds upon a five-year partnership between The Glenlivet and the National Trust.
The unveiling of this whisky follows the recent record-breaking Distillers One of One Charity Auction, held with Sotheby’s on 10 October 2025, where The Glenlivet Spira 60 Years Old 1965 achieved a record selling price of £650,000 (US$851,080) — the highest bid ever recorded for the brand at auction, and highest ever single bottle lot record at The Distillers One of One auctions to date.
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