The age of age Hyper-aged whiskies make their mark

With record-breaking releases and remarkable stories, whiskies matured for 40 years and beyond are rewriting expectations

- STORY JOEL HARRISON

Single malt Scotch has been on something of a journey over the past decade. First, rising demand and diminishing stocks led to the appearance of so-called no age statement whiskies; producers arguing that flavour was more important than a declared age statement. Out went the 10- to 21-year-old expressions and in came assemblages designed to give Master Blenders freedom to play with stocks. Now the age statement is back. And how! In the past two years, a growing number of Scotch and Irish distillers have delved into the far reaches of their warehouses to reveal something extraordinary: whiskies aged for 40, 50, 65 and even 85 years. These hyper-aged expressions have captured the imagination of collectors and connoisseurs alike, offering a window into whisky-making history.

Whisky of the last century