Loch Lomond Whiskies has revealed a 50-year-old single malt whisky. Just 100 bottles of the Loch Lomond 50 Years Old will be released.

Distilled in 1973, the whisky has spent its five decades maturing in the Loch Lomond Distillery, the current site of which began production only nine years earlier in 1966. Since 2007, the whisky has been watched over by master blender Michael Henry.

Originally matured in refilled American oak casks, Henry took the decision to complete additional maturation in first fill bourbon casks from 2011, before a re-cask in oloroso sherry hogsheads in 2017.

Henry explained: “The decision to re-cask a whisky of this quality and age is not something I take lightly. However, the complexity and depth of flavour brought by the first fill bourbon​ and the oloroso sherry casks have made this a truly special single malt, which provides a window into our past and captures the original style of whisky making at Loch Lomond Distillery.”

The distillery says the combination of these three casks in maturation has resulted in a “light whisky, with notes of white flesh fruits, crisp citrus, and a tropical character.”

Loch Lomond is known for its straight neck pot stills, which until the 1990s were used for all the distillery’s whisky production, including that of the 50 Years Old. The distillery now uses a combination of the classic straight neck pot stills and swan neck stills.

The decanter in which the 50 Years Old is presented, made by Glencairn Crystal Studio, nods to the stills through copper finishings. The oak display cabinet references the loch for which the distillery is named through a turquoise outline.

Henry added: “Loch Lomond 50 Years Old is a rare example of our timeless distillation innovation… The expectations are high when you are working with liquid as special and as scarce as this, but it is a true honour to be the final custodian of such a special piece of history.”​

Loch Lomond 50 Year Old is bottled at cask strength (42.6% ABV) and is available via Loch Lomond and specialist retailers for £25,000.