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Lisa Cam

To celebrate its 200th anniversary, Scotland’s The Glenlivet Distillery has launched its oldest and rarest whisky yet, the Eternal Collection, First Edition, 55-Year-Old.
Only 100 bottles of the 55-year-old single malt have been produced, with two bottles allocated for sale in Hong Kong.
The taste has been described by The Glenlivet cask master Kevin Balmforth as a complex blend of autumn fruits, Seville oranges, blackcurrant jam, and zesty citrus, with a warm finish of cinnamon and nutmeg.
The distillery in the Speyside region of Scotland was founded in 1824 by George Smith and was the first legal distillery in Glenlivet parish. It soon gained a reputation for producing whisky of exceptional quality; Charles Dickens wrote to friends that it was his favourite.

The distillery’s 200th anniversary comes at a time when alcohol consumption patterns are changing.
According to an August 2023 Gallup poll based on self-reporting, 62 per cent of Americans adults under the age of 35 say they drink alcohol, a 10 percentage point drop compared with 20 years earlier. A Journal of the American Medical Association Network open survey also found that almost 30 per cent of US college students in 2018 reported abstaining from alcohol, up from 20 per cent in 2002.
Jayne Murphy, marketing director of Chivas Brothers, a subsidiary of French drinks giant Pernod Ricard which owns The Glenlivet, believes that there is a misconception about young people’s attitudes to alcohol.
“I think that there is a sense among that group where they are looking for quality over quantity so I feel they are still drinking, just not as much,” she says. “To me, it’s not about doing gimmicky things to get their attention, rather it’s about giving the right information they want.

“They’re incredibly passionate about stories and about the history and heritage of brands. If it’s a new brand they want to know who are the people behind it.
“I think that’s the way we’ll bring younger consumers in rather than drastically changing our marketing or our drinks strategy.
“From my experience with that generation, they are happy to go out and spend US$20 on a cocktail; they might only get one, but they want to know what’s going into the drink, what are the ingredients, who are the makers and know why this drink is so special.”

The Glenlivet refurbished its visitor centre during the coronavirus pandemic, and it is one of the few distilleries where guests can set foot in the still rooms where its spirits are created.
While the 55-year-old whisky is the oldest to have been released by The Glenlivet, it is not that much older than the 50 year-old whisky released in its Winchester collection.
The 200th anniversary whisky is priced at €50,000 (US$54,000) and is available through LeCercle by Pernod Ricard.
So what does the whisky taste like? Judging by our small sample it has a long finish, with notes of blackcurrant and orange that give way mid palate to peat, cigars and leather. These are followed by the signature The Glenlivet aromas of pineapple and tropical fruit, before end notes of cloves and cinnamon hit the back of the throat.
The release of the 200th anniversary whisky coincided with news of the Hong Kong government’s plans to abolish the 100 per cent tax it currently levies on imported spirits.
“It is expected that the benefits of the tax reduction will be reflected in higher prices on spirits in both retail stores and bars in the near future,” says Tracy Lam, the market director of Pernod Ricard in Hong Kong and Macau. “This will result in a more affordable prestige range of spirits, offering consumers a greater volume of choices and greater value.”


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The Glenlivet releases rare 55-year-old single-malt Scotch whisky for 200th anniversary

Scottish distiller The Glenlivet is releasing its oldest and rarest whisky: the Eternal Collection, First Edition, 55-Year-Old. Photo: The Glenlivet

The Glenlivet’s 200th anniversary celebration was held in the still room at its Speyside distillery. Photo: Lisa Cam

Visitors are able to see The Glenlivet stills where its spirits are produced. Photo: Lisa Cam

The Glenlivet’s visitor centre was renovated during the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: Lisa Cam

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Tankyu Distillery’s co-founders Kit Cheung (left) and Joseph Cheung announce their Japanese distillery project at a press conference in Hong Kong on September 30, 2024. Photo: Tankyu Distillery

Tankyu Distillery’s current line-up of spirits: Pale Ink (left), the original Perfume Trees gin (middle) and Thence fruit-flavoured elixirs (right). Photo: Tankyu Distillery

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Single malt whisky vs blended whisky: from how Scotch is distilled to ‘finishing’, a Chivas Regal master blender describes the differences

Glenlivet is one of the most popular single malt whiskies on the market, but what’s the difference between single malts and blended whiskies? A Chivas Regal master blender helps us understand what separates the two categories of whisky. Photo: The Glenlivet

Kevin Balmforth, blending manager and cask expert at Chivas. Photo: The Glenlivet

Single malt whisky distilling in pot stills. Photo: The Glenlivet

The Glenlivet 21 whisky. Photo: Glenlivet

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Food & Drink

The Scottish distillery will only be releasing 100 bottles of the spirit, and two bottles are coming to Hong Kong


The Scottish distillery will only be releasing 100 bottles of the spirit, and two bottles are coming to Hong Kong.


Wine and Spirits