The Balvenie Releases Scotch Whisky With a 14-Karat Gold Plated Bottle — And it Costs More Than a Tesla

The Balvenie unveiled a new scotch whisky within the brand’s trilogy series. (Photo: The Balvenie)

On Wednesday, The Balvenie unveiled the first whisky within a new collection meant to honor the distillery’s production process over the last half-century. The inaugural scotch within The Balvenie Fifty Collection hosts a suggested retail price of $53,000, and just 125 bottles exist.

The bottle features a “four-layer wood helix” and packaging including 100 different elements from Croglin Limited, a woodworking shop, according to the Speyside whisky brand. Croglin specializes in “whisky jewelry.”

Perhaps the most stunning aspect of the bottle’s presentation is a 14-karat gold-plated display. The juice inside was selected from a European oak refill butt that was filled in 1973 by former Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE. For several decades, the Balvenie’s team monitored the cask until it was ultimately chosen by Balvenie Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie.

The Balvenie shared that it intends to incorporate an American oak hogshead filled in the same year and marry the two together for the second release. To complete the trilogy, it intends to incorporate an American oak barrel and marry it to the two other whiskies.

“Each Edition in this collection is a testament to the craftsmanship that has defined our liquid over the past 50 years,” McKechnie said in a news release. “The unique characteristics of these rare casks come together to create a truly exceptional experience and set a new benchmark for our contribution to the rare and extraordinary whisky market at The Balvenie.”

Americans interested in forking out the cash to purchase one of these bottles instead of a Tesla Model 3 —which costs less than the scotch whisky — are going to have to snatch up these bottles quickly because just 14 will be available in the U.S.

This latest whisky hosts a significantly higher price than the brand’s most recent previous release, which launched in June.

The Balvenie added two limited-release scotch whiskies to its Stories Range. One whisky hosted a 14-year age statement and was aged in a bourbon barrel and the other featured an 18-year-old age statement that was finished in a French Pineau cask. The two radically different expressions were once again a testament to the whisky brand’s process and celebrated McKechnie’s relationship with the brand’s Warehouse and Samples Coordinator George Patterson.

As for the first offering within The Balvenie’s latest trilogy, it possesses an ABV of 52.3% and possesses the brand’s signature honeyed style. The Balvenie cites flavors of delicate vanilla, wisps of ginger, citrus fruit and caramelized fruit on the pour.

McKechnie expressed that the maturation process for this whisky was critical to the final expression, and she intends to carry the flavor profile throughout the series.

“Using a refill butt for the First Edition provides us with a distinctive flavor thread that will run through our next two releases, demonstrating the spectrum of flavors and aromas in our aged spirit,” McKechnie said. “It is a celebration of our legacy, our passion and our unwavering commitment to producing some of the finest whiskies in the world.”

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