Glenmorangie has unveiled its oldest-ever bottled single malt, a remarkably rare 50-year-old whisky limited to just 149 numbered bottles.
The release marks an extraordinary milestone for the Highland distillery, with the whisky having been nurtured for half a century while retaining the elegant character that defines Glenmorangie.
Five decades of maturation
Glenmorangie 50 Years Old began with some of the final batches of barley malted at the distillery’s own floor maltings, which were decommissioned in 1977. The spirit was distilled in Glenmorangie’s famously tall copper stills before being laid down in bourbon hogshead casks and first-fill Oloroso sherry butts during the mid-1970s.
When Dr Bill Lumsden joined Glenmorangie in 1995, the whisky had already reached a significant age. He identified several casks with the potential for extended maturation.
In 1999, a small parcel was selected and married in a single refill hogshead, chosen to provide a slow and gentle influence from the oak while preserving the distillery’s signature style.
The whisky then spent another 25 years maturing before Dr Bill determined that it was finally ready to be bottled.
The result is a whisky of rich mahogany colour, with aromas of baked oranges, sultanas, nutmeg and herbs. On the palate, gentle pepper gives way to toffee, stewed Assam tea, birch tar, clove and oak tannin, creating a profile that combines depth and complexity with Glenmorangie’s characteristic elegance.
A bottle presented as a work of art
Each of the 149 bottles is presented in a bespoke porcelain vessel created by acclaimed American ceramic artist Peter Pincus.
Following a visit to Glenmorangie and a tasting of the whisky, Pincus, his partner Laurie and their studio team spent 1,000 days developing and handcrafting the vessels.
The project involved pioneering new ceramic techniques and creating 50 bespoke colour pigments, inspired by the whisky’s flavour profile. Every vessel features a unique hand-applied pattern, making each one individually distinctive.
At the same time, the vessels are designed to connect with one another, forming a larger tessellated artwork titled “Together in Spirit”.
For Dr Bill Lumsden, the release represents one of his proudest creations and a rare opportunity to showcase whisky made partly from barley malted on site more than five decades ago.
Glenmorangie 50 Years Old will be available from September 2026 through the Moët Hennessy Private Client Team, the Glenmorangie Distillery Visitor Centre in Tain and selected retailers. Private enquiries can also be made through Glenmorangie.
With only 149 bottles produced, the release represents not only the oldest whisky ever bottled by Glenmorangie, but also a unique meeting of 50 years of whisky maturation and more than three years of contemporary ceramic craftsmanship.
