Brown-Forman Global Travel Retail (GTR) has launched the Glenglassaugh 49 Year Old Highland single malt Scotch whisky exclusively in the global channel.
Available now, the Serpentine Coastal Cask Collection release comes from a single Pedro Ximénez Hogshead cask (#3799) distilled on 20 March 1974 and bottled this year on 7 May.
Limited to just 190 bottles the whisky is said to “epitomise rarity and exclusivity”, with each bottle and accompanying box engraved with ‘Travel Retail Exclusive’.
The Glenglassaugh 49 Year Old has an ABV of 44.4% and comes at a recommended selling price of approximately £8,300 (US$10,730). Each 70cl bottle includes a 5cl sample.
The single malt is gold coloured, with notes of treacle, cinnamon, cherry, plum wine and incense carried on a wave of blossom honey. Its taste is described as offering waves of plum and cherry compote with key lime and lemon truffle coated in dark chocolate and sea salt.
According to Brown-Forman, the Glenglassaugh 49 Year Old is “a testament to the rich heritage and meticulous craftsmanship of the Glenglassaugh Distillery”, whose whiskies have been shaped by land and sea since 1875.
Brown-Forman GTR Interim Marketing Director Ffion FitzGerald said: “Glenglassaugh 49 Year Old is not just a whisky; it’s a journey through time. Each sip encapsulates the essence of Glenglassaugh’s unique coastal terroir and our unwavering dedication to quality.
“We are incredibly proud to offer this exclusive expression to our discerning customers at select locations in travel retail worldwide alongside our core Glenglassaugh portfolio.”
The rebranded Glenglassaugh core portfolio includes three variants: Glenglassaugh 12 Year Old, Glenglassaugh Portsoy and Glenglassaugh Sandend.
The Serpentine Coastal Cask Collection by Glenglassaugh is a tribute to the brand’s storied past, offering vintage whiskies that highlight the distillery’s rich heritage. These old and rare whiskies date back to the 1970s, each cask selected by Master Blender Rachel Barrie.
The collection speaks to the interplay between nature and time, reflecting various facets of Glenglassaugh’s coastal character. Bottled at natural colour and non-chill filtered, all Serpentine Coastal Cask Collection bottles are individually numbered.
When Glenglassaugh Distillery reopened in 2008, it revealed rare casks, some of which had been ageing for more than five decades. “It is extremely rare to find casks that have been left to mature in coastal locations for such a long period,” Barrie said. “Our warehouses, perched on cliffs overlooking Sandend Bay, have acted as the custodians of this old and rare liquid for over five decades. These casks capture a moment in time like few other expressions can.”
The Serpentine Collection has been available globally since the end of January 2024, with a limited selection of casks released throughout the year. ✈
