Honouring a 200th anniversary with The Glenlivet 55

Ladies, gentlemen and digital influencers, when was the last time you experienced a sit-down dinner inside a Scottish whisky distillery and its lantern-shaped stills, and were serenaded by bagpipers on your way into the venue, and DJ’s post-dinner? Aye. Most likely never, because this was a first in the history of Scotch whisky in Speyside, north Scotland, commemorating the remarkable 200-year legacy and innovative spirit inimitable to The Glenlivet, and its founder George Smith.

And such was the pioneering thrill as Lifestyle Asia joined the buzzy throng of expectant whisky connoisseurs and appreciators in September at The Glenlivet Estate’s distillery, to taste exclusively the highest vintage the house has ever released: The Glenlivet Eternal Collection, First Edition, 55 Year Old single malt. As befits such a historic release, only 100 bottles of the limited-edition single malt can be purchased — at a retail price of EUR 50,000 — and orders are limited to one bottle per customer.

However, for hyper-discerning cognoscenti, there is a one-off, The Glenlivet 55 Year Old, 200th Anniversary Edition, one-of-one, (bottled at 42.8%, a higher strength than the house’s standard 55 Year Old release) and created in collaboration with computational architect Michael Hansmeyer, who has designed a sculpture consisting of 24-carat gold plating and pavé set with 37 Peridots in a pure silver cowl with enamel decoration.

This bespoke single whisky lot will be auctioned by Sotheby’s from October 18 – November 1, 2024. To register early interest in the one-of-one auction, click here. All proceeds will benefit National Trust for Scotland, which is dedicated to conserving Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage.

So how does it taste?  We thought it “pure dead brilliant” as the Scots themselves say. The 55 revealed a nose filled with autumn fruits, poached pears, and zesty Seville oranges, combined with dark chocolate and a hint of spices. On the palate, it delivered deep flavours of blackcurrant jam and vanilla fudge, finishing with a complex blend of fruit and warming spices. An experience fit for a king, which indeed, is how Glenlivet all started.

Despite being secluded in the Livet Valley, where George Smith stealthily perfected the art of whisky distillation away from prying eyes, there was cachet attached to the name from the outset. In 1822, King George IV’s illicit taste for Glenlivet whiskey marked the brand’s ascent to fame — whisky’s first influencer via a Duke’s word of mouth, we believe — leading Smith to become the first licensed distiller in the region. And just as it thrived through the 19th century (by 1839, the Glenlivet distillery was producing more than 200 gallons per week), so The Glenlivet’s legendary status grew, championed by — and surpassing the expectations of — Charles Dickens and solidified through law by John Gordon Smith, George’s son, who wanted to protect his name against competitors, when Glenlivet took the ‘The’ in 1884.

The morning after the 55 Year Old the night before (the long-lasting experience of its rich-ness still creating a standing ovation on our palates), we were steeped in some of this evocative history. Archaeologists recently discovered the ruins of the original Glenlivet distillery from 1824. George Smith had once made illicit single-malt whisky at the site and smuggled it to his customers. After gaining a licence in 1823, Smith converted the site into a legal whisky distillery. Today, only two small dams remain above ground.

We were surprised and delighted to discover the National Trust for Scotland on a historic dig at the site in tandem with The Glenlivet. So far, fragments of glass, and scatterings of ceramic have been excavated and all inventoried. Brands in the luxury sector talk up their histories and provenance, but here we were atop the hills, in the pristine blue sky breathing crisp, bracing Speyside air, protagonists, guardians, and witnesses to living history with the site’s infinite secrets and a view to match. In the dram of that magical moment, we were Indiana Jones and the Temple of The Glenlivet. Go get thee to The Glenlivet — and indeed to Sotheby’s — and indulge those 55 Year Old drops of living history to your libatory content. Slàinte!

 

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The Glenlivet Eternal Collection, First Edition: 55-Year-Old in collaboration with Michael Hansmeyer, will be available through LeCercle by Pernod Ricard for RRP EUR50,000. Find out more about this special release from the Pernod Ricard Private Client Management team at cs@le-cercle.hk. To register early interest in the one-of-one auction, visit here.