This Stunning Bottle Houses Single Malt Scotch That’s Half A Century Old

Dubbed the Bow Wave, this spectacular bottle of scotch from Old Pulteney dates back 45 years, making it the company’s oldest-ever single malt to be bottled and sold. Given its elite status, the scotch is contained in a bottle that’s just about as precious-looking as the elixir within it.

While the scotch isn’t particularly our domain expertise here, the bottle itself truly grabbed our eye as one of the most spectacular containers ever made. The whiskey, which has its origins in Northern Scotland, celebrates Old Pulteney’s maritime heritage with a bottle that takes inspiration from the waves around the area. The bottle assumes the shape of an egg, a universal symbol of origin and birth, and comes meticulously designed and hand-blown by the talented duo of Brodie Nairn and Nichola Burns from Glasstorm. The bottle is adorned with waves made from actual silver, while the bottle itself bears ripple marks, almost looking like the boulders that get carved by the waves on a rocky coastline. The clear glass at the base allows a glimpse of the liquid’s golden hue, gradually transitioning to a deep blue at the top, reminiscent of sunlight dancing on the water’s surface. Unlocking the hidden cork requires a bespoke anchor key, adding an element of intrigue to the experience. For display, the bottle rests gracefully on a single piece of locally sourced Scottish slate, completing its captivating presentation.

Designer: Glasstorm for Old Pulteney

The scotch spent 4 decades in American oak barrels, before being finished for an additional 5 years inside first-fill Spanish oak butts, which helped bring whisky’s notes of leather and nut, along with hints of dried pineapple, sandalwood, and myrrh. At 45 years old, the scotch is roughly 1/4th as old as the distillery itself. It exists as a one-off bottle and will be auctioned on the 5th of October at Sotheby’s as a part of Old Pulteney’s Distillers ‘One of One’ event.