Chivas Brothers Is Offering a Chance to Taste Its ‘Most Desired Whiskies’ — and Tickets Cost More Than $1,500

Chivas Brothers announced its new tasting experience, “The Vault.” (Photo: Chivas Brothers)

On Tuesday, Chivas Brothers announced a new whisky experience taking place at its Strathisla distillery. Simply titled “The Vault,” the tasting allows lucky whisky enthusiasts the opportunity to taste what the brand refers to as “rare and sought-after casks.” Tickets cost £1,200 ($1,520).

“By opening the doors of The Vault, we are providing a one-of-a-kind opportunity for those visiting Speyside, bringing some of the world’s rarest and most remarkable whiskies into the spotlight for whisky connoisseurs and collectors to enjoy, savor and purchase,” said Director of Blending and Inventory at Chivas Brothers Sandy Hyslop in a statement.

Fourteen casks are housed within The Vault, and the brand claims they have never been made available for purchase. The casks were chosen by Hyslop and Chivas’s Cask Expert Kevin Balmforth.

Some of the whiskies included are from The Glenlivet and the last stocks from the closed Caperdonich distillery. Royal Salute and Longmorn casks will be included in the selection. Individuals will be given the chance to purchase the casks, as well.

“The Vault is a unique place where we invite whisky aficionados to discover our exceptional cask program through a tasting experience like no other,” Chivas Brothers Head of Luxury Development Jacques-Henri Brivesaid said in a news release. “Every journey into The Vault is entirely bespoke, paired with the potential to own one of Chivas Brothers’ most desired whiskies and maturing it in the optimal conditions for up to four more years – which makes this offering a very special one.”

The Vault Cask Information, Via Chivas Brothers

The Glenlivet 25 Year Old: Second fill American Oak Barrel

Not even five second-fill American oak barrels are left in this vintage from The Glenlivet: this cask is one of them. The brand refers to it as “an exemplary whisky” from an icon of Speyside.

Aberlour 19 Year Old: First Fill American Oak Barrel

This offering is one of the oldest first-fill American oak casks of Aberlour within Chivas Brothers’ inventory. The cask was selected for its rarity, quality and balance, according to Chivas Brothers.

Longmorn 25 Year Old: First Fill American Oak Barrel

Chivas Brothers refers to this whisky as “a stunning example” of a Longmorn single malt. The whisky lost a lot to the Angel’s Share, according to Chivas, providing it with a high ABV strength and a rich color.

Longmorn 28 Year Old: Second Fill American Oak Barrel

Longmorn 28 year old underwent a long maturation period in a second-fill barrel and has what the brand refers to as “creamy vanilla,” “sweet” and “fruity notes.”

Longmorn 30 Year Old: First Fill American Oak Barrel

Described as “a true piece of liquid history” from Chivas Brothers, this whisky is considered one of the oldest offerings from Longmorn to date.

Caperdonich 25 Year Old: First Fill American Oak Barrel

This cask is the only first-fill American oak cask from 1998, according to Chivas Brothers. The whisky is considered surprisingly high-strength for its age, and the brand refers to it as a “true piece of history” from a lost distillery.

Caperdonich 29 Year Old: Second Fill American Oak Barrel

The whisky had a long maturation period in the second fill barrel, and the brand refers to it as a balanced, well-aged malt whisky. According to Chivas Brothers, it is one of two remaining second-fill barrels from the vintage, and only 15 casks remain from that year.

Caperdonich 30 Year Old: Refill Hogshead

Chivas Brothers refers to this cask as the oldest Caperdonich Peated parcel within the whisky brand’s stocks. The whisky is considered “extremely rare,” and the cask is from a limited run of peated malt whisky from the distillery.

Glen Keith 28 Year Old: First Fill American Oak Barrel

One of two sister casks, this offering was distilled before Glen Keith discontinued the production process. The brand describes it as having “a real sweet spot for the balance and complexity of flavor” due to the many years it spent maturing in the cask. The cask was selected from a middle tier in the warehouse, which Chivas Brothers claims helped it achieve its balanced profile.

Glen Keith 28 Year Old: First Fill American Oak Barrel

The second sister offering from Glen Keith, this whisky was distilled before Glen Keith stopped making whisky. The whisky has come into its own, and is incredibly complex after spending many years in cask.

Braes of Glenlivet 31 Year Old: First Fill American Oak Barrel

This offering is a “rare first fill cask” from the Braes of Glenlivet distillery, which today is known as Braeval. The whiskey had a high maturation location, which led to a larger portion of Angel’s Share, according to the brand. The brand claims increased cask interaction led to a darker color of the whisky.

Scapa 23 Year Old: First Fill American Oak Barrel

The first of a pair of sister casks from a time when Scapa Distillery had reduced its production. The casks were selected for their rarity, per Chivas Brothers, and the brand touts “sweet pineapple” as part of the spirit’s character. The whisky was balanced for two decades as it matured in first-fill American oak.

Scapa 23 Year Old: First Fill American Oak Barrel

This cask spent its time maturing near its sister and was chosen for flavor and rarity. The balanced whisky spent over two decades in first-fill American oak and was matured in a low tier, near its sister cask, according to Chivas Brothers.

Royal Salute 27 Year Old: First Fill Sherry Hogshead

This offering was drawn from a first-fill sherry hogshead that previously held Oloroso sherry for a year and then an “experimental blend of special sherries” for six months. The cask was later filled with the blended scotch, which was left to finish for more than seven years, according to Chivas Brothers.

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