The Glenrothes Unveils The 51

A Bold Reimagining: The Glenrothes Unveils The 51

Speyside, Scotland, UK (March 25, 2025) – The Glenrothes is proud to announce the release of The 51. Aged for 51 years, it is the distillery’s oldest and most daring whisky to date.

The Glenrothes was founded in 1879 with the vision of creating the world’s most elegant whisky. The 51 brings that hard-won vision to life. The Glenrothes uses exceptionally soft water, sourced from the distillery’s own private spring. The purity of this water helps to create a uniquely delicate spirit character, which intensifies over time. The 51 is a celebration of this phenomenon. This “strength in fragility” is shared by the wild orchids that grow hidden on The Glenrothes’ Speyside estate; they are the inspiration behind this exceptional single malt.

Crafted from just two casks, The 51 presents a complexity and vibrancy rarely found in whiskies of this age. One cask delivers deeply perfumed notes that evoke the fragility of an orchid's scent, while the other offers luxurious richness and depth. The resulting whisky, limited to only 100 bottles, is a rare and fragrant wonder: the orchid of The Glenrothes collection.

“The 51 is a testament to those rare moments in whisky making when patience, nature, and craft align perfectly. This whisky defies expectations – elegant yet powerful, it offers a singular experience for those who truly understand and appreciate rarity,” said Laura Rampling, Master Whisky Maker. “Each sip unveils new layers, from soft floral notes to deep complexity, much like the orchids that bloom year after year on our estate. We are thrilled to share this extraordinary and exclusive release with the world.”

Just as orchids are uniquely designed to attract a single pollinator, the packaging of The 51 is crafted to be entirely unique to its owner. In a daring evolution of the luxury whisky experience, The 51 is encased in a solid, sustainably sourced Jesmonite column. It is the first whisky in the world that can only be accessed by destroying its packaging; smashing the column with a hammer provided, each column breaking in its own unique way. The “orchid” hidden inside is a prize reserved exclusively for those who dare to discover. Upon retrieving the whisky, the owner is invited to return the fragments of column to The Glenrothes, where a Kintsugi artist will restore them with precious metal, transforming the remains into a one-of-a-kind vase in which a real orchid can grow. A lasting piece of art that is theirs alone.

Jonny Fowle, Global Head of Whisky at Sotheby’s, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the unique appeal of The 51: “In the last few years, the whisky market has overwhelmed collectors with ultra-premium whiskies at extremely high price points, making collectors less likely to open their bottles. Collectors are looking to be incentivised to drink their whiskies, and herein lies a great new approach to this very problem. The 51 is for the true lovers of whisky; those who interact, drink, and enjoy Scotch.”

On the liquid itself, Fowle remarked: “With the Glenrothes 51, the tropical fruit characteristics are bright and expressive, with a vitality that is rare to find in a whisky of such an age. It’s simultaneously energetic and sophisticated — this reflects The Glenrothes distillery’s ability to age, with each layer of flavour playing its own discrete role but with perfect integration. There have been some whiskies to achieve this, all of which are hailed with legendary status by collectors.”

The 51 is a pivotal moment for The Glenrothes. A bold reimagining rooted in the founding story of the distillery, it is a celebration of the rewards of commitment and a testament to the founders who dreamt of daring elegance – and forged beauty from brokenness to bring it to life. With only 100 bottles available globally and priced at £37,000 ($46,500) The 51 is an extremely limited release, offering whisky connoisseurs a chance to experience the first buds of change in an industry ready for innovation.

These limited bottles are available through select whisky specialists such as Sotheby's, boutique whisky shops and luxury retailers including Harrods. 

Tasting Notes

Nose: Succulent watermelon, the perfumed scent of fresh peach kernels and fresh almonds. Richly fragrant with notes of rose oil, bergamot, and black tea leaves. Base notes of sandalwood with just a hint of fennel seeds.

Palate: Fruit, fragrance and luxurious sweetness. Ripe melon, rose water, earl grey tea and a hint of antique oak. Creamy sweetness lingers with a nutty quality - ripe, freshly peeled almonds.

Finish: Fragrant with a soft, velvety sweetness.

About The Glenrothes

The Glenrothes is the creator and custodian of some of the world’s oldest and finest single malts, crafted by a small community of whisky-makers in the heart of Speyside. Founded in 1879 with the vision of creating “the world’s most elegant whisky”, The Glenrothes uses exceptionally soft water sourced from natural springs deep under the ground of their estate to craft single malts of remarkable delicacy. It is one of the few distilleries in the world that still uses their own private water source for every aspect of production. This exceptionally soft water is fundamental to the elemental elegance that is the signature of The Glenrothes house style.

About Edrington:  

Edrington UK is part of the global Edrington family and is responsible for the UK sales, marketing and distribution of ultra-premium and leading brands including The Macallan, Highland Park, The Glenrothes, Brugal rum, The Famous Grouse and Naked Malt.