In 1940, a special project was undertaken at the Glenfiddich distillery in Banffshire, Scotland. The decision was made to set aside nine casks of pure malt whisky and to let them slowly mature for half a century. In its January 1990 issue, "Wine Magazine" reported that the distillery had made 500 bottles of their fifty-year old whisky available for sale.

Several weeks ago (2 January 1999), now that the whiskey is entering its sixtieth year, I had a chance to taste it. Even though some claim that whiskey attains its maximum grace after eighteen years, there is no question but that this is special whiskey indeed, possessed of a warm light brown color, absolute clarity, a superbly rich bouquet, extraordinary smoothness and a remarkable richness of taste.

When the whiskey was first released nearly a decade ago, each numbered bottle in the limited series came in a handmade wood box, each bearing a special ownership certificate signed by the great grandson of William Grant, the founder of the distillery, the price jumped almost immediately to 3,500 pounds sterling per bottle. A few enthusiastic scotch whiskey lovers drank the golden nectar but more considered the whiskey as an investment. The logic of the investors was not wrong, for the whiskey has appreciated in value and is now going at occasional auctions or in a few select shops for between 6,000 and 6,500 sterling per bottle. Experts at Christies, the traditional evaluators of whiskies estimate that the value will continue to increase. To the best of my knowledge, the distillery still has several bottles to sell (they can be contacted by writing to William Grant and Sons, Banffshire, Scotland or by telephone at 0044: 81 332 1188) and at L'Oenophile, the fine wine and beverage store in Monte Carlo. I am told that prices are not negotiable.

© Daniel Rogov