Balvenie 50 Year Old: Price, Flavour Profile, Investment Potential

The Balvenie 50-Year-Old is a skillfully blended whiskey created by Malt Master David Stewart. 

This single malt Scotch whisky comes in three unique marriage editions – Marriage 0962, Marriage 0197, and Marriage 0614.      

But what makes the Balvenie 50 Year Old so special?    

In this article, we’ll explore the characteristics, price, and flavor profile of the Balvenie 50-year-old, how it was made, and whether it’s investment-worthy. 

We’ll also briefly explore the Balvenie Distillery and reveal how you can invest in whiskey casks through Vinovest. 

The Balvenie 50-Year-Old: Price, Flavor Profile, ABV & Characteristics 

The Balvenie fifty comes in three editions:   

• Marriage 0962: $36,600 
• Marriage 0197: $32,000
• Marriage 0614: $40,000

But how do these rare and expensive whiskies taste?        

In general, the dark golden liquid carries the signature Balvenie sweetness, which is complemented by dark fruits and tangy citrus notes. The delicious honeyed sweetness is enhanced by a gentle hint of brown sugar.

Let’s look at the details of each edition.

1. The Balvenie Fifty: Marriage 0962

Tasting Notes: Tasting notes of oak, maple syrup, sweet citrus notes, and nutmeg  

Nose: Malt, oak with sweeter aromas of brown sugar, honey, toffee, and spiced, ground ginger

Finish: Dried fruits and vanilla oak spice

ABV: 42.8%

2. The Balvenie Fifty: Marriage 0197

Tasting Notes: Spicy outburst, a gentle hint of delicious honeyed sweetness, dark bitter chocolate, and oak tannins 

Nose: Oak tannins, dark fruits, butter chocolate, and intense spice

Finish: Spicy and sweet oak

ABV: 42.0%

3. The Balvenie Fifty: Marriage 0614

Tasting Notes: Bitter chocolate, intense spice, maple syrup, hints of honey, and oak tannins  

Nose: Spices, oak, with sweeter aromas of fruit cake, raisins, sultanas, and ground ginger

Finish: Sweet and velvety with spicy oak

ABV: 46%

Next, let's take a closer look at how the Balvenie 50-year-old is made. 

How Was the Balvenie 50-Year-Old Made?

The Balvenie fifty was produced by Scottish craftsman David C Stewart. The malt master selected and married several aged whisky stocks (the old whiskies were aged 50 years or more before blending). 

These single malt whiskey stocks were matured in some of Balvenie’s oldest American oak casks.   

While maturing in the American oak cask, the whiskey stocks absorbed the oak’s complex flavors. So the liquid from each constituent cask influenced the flavor of the final blend.  

Let’s take a look at the casks that went into the making of each Balvenie edition: 

• Marriage 0962 was made in 2018 from the marriage of four 50-year-old casks with varying tastes and strengths. 
• Marriage 0197 (made in 2019) is a marriage of five casks – 6428, 6430, 9920, 3094, and 0732. Four of these casks were used in Marriage 0962, and an additional American oak cask was added.  
• Marriage 0614, made in 2020, utilizes the same five American oak casks as Marriage 0197 but with two additional casks added to the blend. 

Essentially, each additional single malt marriage features the same four casks and aged whisky stocks as the previous. An extra constituent cask was added to Marriage 0197, and three casks were added to Marriage 0614. 

Now, let's discover more about the distillery and the malt master that produced this velvety single-malt Scotch whisky. 

The Balvenie Distillery & Whisky Making

William Grant built the Balvenie distillery in 1892 and started producing whisky in 1893. 

The Balvenie also practices all five Rare Crafts of whisky making:

• Growing its own barley: The Balvenie is the only distillery in Scotland that grows its barley on-site.
• Malting barley: They began using traditional floor malting in 1929 and still use this method today. 
• Having an on-site coppersmith, cooperage, and malt master: The Scottish craftsman behind The Balvenie’s whiskies, David C Stewart MBE, has been at The Balvenie for around 54 years. They also keep a coppersmith on site, as well as a team of dedicated coopers who repair casks and barrels. 

Fun fact: The Balvenie has had only four malt masters in their history, including the Balvenie malt master David Stewart.    

Wondering if this coveted 50-year-old whiskey made by the Balvenie malt master is a worthwhile investment? 

Let’s take a look. 

Is the Balvenie 50-Year-Old Investment-worthy?

The Balvenie 50-year-old Scotch is highly sought-after among whisky investors and connoisseurs alike.   

When it was released in 2019, the recommended retail price of the Marriage 0614 was $40,499. Currently, it sells for an average of $46,228, roughly a 14% increase in three years.    

Like many old whiskies, the three editions of Balvenie 50-year-old are also incredibly rare. Each edition was produced in a limited quantity:

• Marriage 0962: 110 bottles
• Marriage 0197: 110 bottles
• Marriage 0614: 148 bottles

The number of Balvenie 50 whiskey bottles is also depleting, so it’s nearly impossible to acquire one.           

In addition, the whiskey market is growing steadily and is projected to increase by 5.9% annually, making this hard liquor a lucrative investment.  

Want to invest in whiskey? 

Let’s discover the best way to get started. 

Invest in Whiskey Casks Through Vinovest

With Vinovest, you can easily invest in the world’s rarest whiskies before they’re even bottled.

Vinovest is an AI-based investment platform that allows you to buy and sell some of the most investment-worthy whiskey casks. The platform makes it possible for investors to access the most enjoyable facets of whiskey investment without any of the drawbacks. Our expert team takes care of authentication, insurance, storage, and more. 

You will also receive a sample bottle yearly, and you can even have your whiskey bottled.

Why invest in whiskey casks?

Whiskey casks have historically increased in value by 12-18% per year. That’s because when you buy whiskey casks, the liquid inside still needs to mature. So, in a few years’ time, it naturally has higher value and demand, and you can sell your casks at a profit.

Now, if you’re ready to diversify your portfolio with whiskey casks, head over to Vinovest right away!