One of the most expensive bottles of whisky in the world is coming to Vancouver, and you (probably) can’t have any.
A single bottle of The Balvenie ‘Fifty’ cask 4567 (Bottle No. 68, to be exact) will be released for sale at the Cambie Street BC Liquor Store next Tuesday (Jan. 12) for the bargain basement price of $45,000.
The whisky has been aged for a full half-century at Balvenie’s legendary Warehouse 24 and is one of only 131 bottles in the world and the only one being made available in Canada.
“On the rare occasions that Scotch whisky is left in cask to mature for 50 years, there is no guarantee it will turn out to be a great single malt,” said Elizabeth Havers, The Balvenie’s brand ambassador for Canada in a press release on Thursday. “In the case of The Balvenie ‘Fifty’, Malt Master David Stewart has created a unique combination of natural alchemy and centuries old craftsmanship, and we are delighted to know that this expression will find a loving home here in Canada.”
Which is to say it will taste fantastic in a red Solo cup drowned in Coca-Cola and ice.
The bottle itself is made from hand-blown glass and filled by hand. Each bottle is housed in a handcrafted wooden case made from 49 layers of wood and one final layer of brass.
The whisky itself has been hibernating in European oak hogsheads since May 28, 1963. To put that into perspective, Lester B. Pearson was prime minister the day this whisky was casked, “It’s My Party (And I’ll Cry If I Want To)” by Lesley Gore was at the top of the charts and John F. Kennedy was still alive.
This whisky is literally old enough to have grandchildren.
Sláinte!
