Rare 50-year-old bottle of whisky from Tomintoul distillery released

A rare 50-year-old bottle of whisky from Tomintoul distillery is being released – and will cost whisky lovers £10,000.

Following the esteemed 1973 bottling launched in 2018, Tomintoul has now released a limited edition single cask from the same year – Tomintoul Vintage 1973, Cask No. 261.

Distilled in February 1973, the rare single malt was initially matured for 33 years in American oak ex-bourbon barrels in Tomintoul’s Cairngorms warehouse. 

The Scotch was then filled into a single Oloroso Sherry hogshead cask, hand-selected by Master Distiller Robert Fleming, for further maturation.

This malt was matured for an additional 17 years before being bottled shortly after reaching 50 years old in April 2023.

Tomintoul Vintage 1973 Cask No. 261 has been bottled at natural colour and at a cask strength of 42.9% ABV.

The distillery is located in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park on the outskirts of Tomintoul.

Fourth generation Speyside distiller, Robert Fleming, selected the casks for this double wood matured expression.

‘At Tomintoul, we’re one of just a few single malt Scotch whiskies still lovingly produced by hand,’ he said.

‘Using traditional techniques that stretch back hundreds of years, we take great pride in our whisky and appreciate the flavour and complexity that develops from time spent in the cask.

‘We were able to let this cask of Tomintoul Vintage 1973 rest in its second stage of maturation in a handpicked Oloroso Sherry hogshead cask until it reached 50 years.

‘The result is a remarkably rich and opulent single malt. Layers of crème caramel, roast pecans and fruitcake combine with a gentle hint of tobacco, treacle and liquorice. 

‘The long-lasting finish is punctuated with notes of dark chocolate ganache fading into stem ginger and delicate spices.’

With only 281 bottles available, the limited release of the Tomintoul Vintage 1973 Cask No. 261 is now available to collectors globally at an RRP of £10,000.

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