Speyside's finest distillers find 150 into one does go

Published on 07/04/2006 01:19

A UNIQUE collaboration of some of Scotland's finest whisky distilleries has produced a one-off blend using more than 150 bottles of single malts from 26 Speyside distilleries.

The blend is being bottled for this year's Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.

The finished product is the work of Ed Dodson and Jim Cryle, who between them have 82 years' experience in the craft of whisky making.

Mr Cryle, a retired master distiller at The Glenlivet, has the task of "nosing" the blend. Mr Dodson, who retired as a master distiller at the Glen Moray distillery after 42 years in the business, has responsibility for tasting the product.

The finished drink will be the first to bring together 26 of the normally competitive distilleries. The malts used to create the blend range from fully matured ten-year-olds to extra matured 21-year-olds, including some rare ones.

Only one 70cl bottle of the exclusive whisky will be produced and auctioned among enthusiasts of unusual blends. Another 2,000 souvenir miniatures will be available during the festival.

Mr Dodson said: "Throughout my career I've dreamed of the chance to bring together many of the fabulous distinctive pure malts of Speyside into one definitive blend."

Mr Cryle added: "It's likely that the bottle will be bought by a collector, and never be opened."

• The world's oldest single malt whisky has been sold at auction for more than 11,000.

A 750ml bottle of Glenfiddich, distilled in 1937, fetched $20,000 during the sale in New York.