INDIA. Ospree Duty Free has introduced The Balvenie Fifty Collection First Edition, the new ultra-prestige release from William Grant & Sons that marks 50 years of craftsmanship at the Speyside distillery.
As reported, the limited-edition series will release 125 bottles annually over the next three years. 13 bottles of the First Edition have been allocated for travel retail and were made available at selected airports from September.
Ospree Duty Free at Mumbai International Airport is the only location in the Indian sub-continent or the Middle East to house one of the First Edition bottles. It is priced at INR4,999,990/US$58,450.
Ospree Duty Free noted the release “represents a pinnacle of luxury for collectors and whisky connoisseurs”.
Ospree Duty Free CEO Gaurav Singh said: “At Ospree, we have taken progressive steps in curating the finest offerings for our customers, and housing The Balvenie Fifty is our commitment to exclusivity and excellence.
“This rare masterpiece goes beyond being just a whisky, it embodies decades of craftsmanship, heritage and passion. We provide our customers with an opportunity to own and experience one of the most exceptional and coveted releases in the world of fine spirits.”
The Balvenie Fifty features a single malt matured in a European oak refill butt filled in 1973. Its flavour profile combines caramelised fruits, rich spice and soft vanilla with delicate ginger spice and a citrus zing.
The Second Edition will feature a second cask — an American oak hogshead filled in 1973 — which will be combined with the first. The series will conclude with the addition of a third American oak barrel, filled in 1974.
