William Grant & Sons has introduced the Ladyburn Ha Chong-Hyun Edition, a collection of 50-year-old single malts from the silent Ladyburn distillery, marking the distillery’s first official 1970s release.
The collection features two single cask releases: ten numbered 10-bottle sets and an additional single cask bottling, making this an exceptionally rare offering. Each bottle has been curated in collaboration with South Korean contemporary artist Ha Chong-Hyun, renowned for his experimental techniques and significant influence on the 1970s Korean art scene. His signature ‘bae-ap-bub’ method, which involves pushing paint through coarse hemp fabric, is reflected in the bottle designs, developed in partnership with Seoul Kukje Gallery.
Ladyburn Distillery, which operated from 1966 to 1975 at the Girvan complex in South Ayrshire, is one of Scotland’s lost distilleries. The remaining casks distilled in the 1970s are among the final remnants of its production. William Grant & Sons malt master Brian Kinsman emphasized the historical significance of the collection, stating that the whisky offers a glimpse into a bygone era of whisky-making, with the American oak maturation allowing Ladyburn’s distillery character to shine through.
The Ladyburn Ha Chong-Hyun Edition
The first release comes from cask No. 3219, a 50-year-old single malt distilled on May 31, 1973, matured in an American oak refill barrel, and bottled at 45.4% ABV. Only 100 bottles have been produced, with tasting notes highlighting vanilla, linseed, and citrus on the nose, followed by toffee, crème brûlée, and toasted oak on the palate. This release is available exclusively to William Grant & Sons’ private clients, with a price of approximately $220,000 per set.
The second release, drawn from cask No. 3216, was also distilled on May 31, 1973, and matured in an American oak refill barrel for five decades. Bottled at 43% ABV, this whisky is limited to 85 bottles, offering aromas of polished leather, wood shavings, linseed oil, and barley sugar, complemented by rich fruit, Black Forest gateaux, jammy sweetness, and a hint of liquorice on the palate.
With only 185 bottles across both releases, the Ladyburn Ha Chong-Hyun Edition represents a rare opportunity to own a piece of whisky history, blending the legacy of a lost distillery with the artistry of one of Korea’s most influential painters.
