World’s Oldest Whisky Comes In a Daniel Arsham Sculpture

Summary

The Balvenie unveils an 88-year-old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, its oldest whisky yetDaniel Arsham has designed the bottle and sculptural presentation of the whisky in a collaboration, titled 'The Dawn of Our Spirit,' alongside a performance premiering at Frieze SeoulThe collaboration includes a 12-year-old and 15-year-old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, inspired by the historic release

Ask a malt master, or any whisky lover: time is a quiet but seriously powerful player. And, as of late, The Balvenie knows it best. The Scottish label unveiled its 1931 Collection, led by an 88-year-old Single Malt Scotch, making it the distillery's — and the world's — oldest whisky ever released. Naturally, such a monumental edition called for a presentation to match, and who better than Daniel Arsham to give it a time-graced touch.

The 88-year-old whisky is an all-around ode to The Balvenie's Speyside distillery. With just 17 bottles in existence, the hand-blown, 18ct gold-engraved crystal decanter takes shape after the copper stills behind its unique profile. The sculptural housing is also finished with eight hand-patinated layers, inspired by the oxidized hues and textures found throughout the distillery. Meanwhile, the back is created from 88 layers of rich oak, nodding to casks in which the whisky was first laid down.

Those familiar with Arsham's work will also notice a resemblance to the artist's Bronze Eroded series, where icons, classical and contemporary, are cast as artifacts excavated from a distant future. "This collaboration has brought these themes together naturally," expressed Arsham, whose work explores memory, history, and material transformation.

"I wanted to create something that feels both ancient and contemporary, to make the passage of time tangible.” The 1931 Collection also includes a publically available 12-year-old and 15-year-old limited-edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky, with presentations by Arsham, echoing the verdigris patina and copper tones of the 88-year-old.

As for the profile, the whisky contains notes of buttery fudge, mint leaf, leather, and floral heather tones, with toffee, warm spice, and honey landing on the palate — an experience The Balvenie's Malt Master, Kelsey McKechnie, likens to "the serene silence of evergreen woods."

1931 was a defining year for The Balvenie, even beyond the pour of its most recent release. It also saw the opening of its Home Malt Floor, which continues to operate today. It's there that the whisky lay, tended to for decades by craftspeople. By 2019, it had "reached perfection." "Exceptional in both substance and significance, I quietly instructed for it to be bottled and locked away for safekeeping," McKechnie said.

To debut the collection, The Balvenie is hosting a run of sensorial performances directed by Arsham during Frieze Seoul 2026, bringing a slice of Scotland to Space S50 in Seongdong. Check out The Balvenie's website to learn more.

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