Glenglassaugh The Massandra Connection Muscat Finish 39 Years Old

$2,550 AUD

44.1% 700 ml

The is a rare and limited edition whisky release from the distillery. This expression was matured for 39 years in American oak ex-bourbon barrels before being finished in Massandra Muscat wine casks from the Massandra winery. The whisky was distilled in February 1973 and bottled 39 years later in July 2012. Why didn’t they keep it in the wood for a few more months to make it a 40-year-old? We may never know!

Muscat is a grape variety known for its sweet and aromatic characteristics, and the use of these casks for finishing can impart unique flavours and aromas to the whisky. Moreover, it is common for Muscat-finished whiskies to exhibit fruity and floral notes, with hints of honey, citrus, and spices. The sweet and rich qualities of Muscat wine can complement the underlying flavours of the whisky, creating a balanced and complex profile, as they do in this case.

This expression is highly sought-after by whisky collectors and enthusiasts due to its rarity and exceptional quality. Only a limited number of bottles  - 308 in total - were produced, making it a valuable addition to any whisky collection. Overall, the Glenglassaugh Massandra Connection Muscat Finish malt whisky offers an intriguing combination of whisky and Muscat wine flavours. If you enjoy exploring unique and limited-edition expressions, it will definitely be worth considering.

The ownership of the Massandra Winery reverted to Russia from the Ukrainian government with the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014, which makes this collection all the more intriguing - and valuable – from an historic perspective.

The Massandra Connection series is available as a complete collection. We have all of bottles number 25 and bottles number 26 in the form of the five bottle collection. The price for that is $11,000 thus giving a substantial discount on the individual bottle price.

 

This product is located in Australia.

Distillery

Glenglassaugh Distillery

Glenglassaugh Distillery is about 20 minutes’ drive from the solid country town of Banff. The distillery is on a bluff above a beach of sand and rock and overlooks the small fishing village of Sandend. It is a tranquil place, yet only a few hundred metres from the busy coastal road.

The distillery was built between 1873 and 1875, at a cost of £10,000 by Col. James Moir of the Glenglassaugh Distillery Company, with H. Mathieson as the first manager. Col. Moir ran the distillery with his two nephews until 1892, when it was purchased by Highland Distillers Company Limited. It suffered periods of lengthy closure from 1907 to 1931, and from 1936 to 1959, after which it was completely rebuilt in 1960. Thereafter, the distillery continued to produce whisky until 1986 when it was mothballed. 

The distillery sat silent for over 20 years until it was purchased by a group of investors and started production again in December 2008. In 2013, the BenRiach Distillery Company took over Glenglassaugh Distillery. In 2016 Brown-Forman acquired the Glenglassaugh Distillery alongside The GlenDronach and BenRiach distilleries.

There is a very good profile written by Ian Buxton in “Glenglassaugh: a Distillery Reborn” which appeared in 2010.