Overview: The Balvenie has unveiled the 1931 Collection, featuring an 88-year-old Single Malt Scotch Whisky that stands as the distillery’s oldest release to date. This monumental edition is presented in a collaboration with artist Daniel Arsham titled ‘The Dawn of Our Spirit’ and will debut alongside performances at Frieze Seoul.
The Full Story
The Scottish label introduced this collection led by an 88-year-old Single Malt Scotch, making it the distillery’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 collaboration includes a publicly available 12-year-old and 15-year-old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, with presentations by Arsham, echoing the verdigris patina and copper tones of the 88-year-old.
Production & Profile
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. Flavor notes include buttery fudge, mint leaf, leather, floral heather tones, toffee, warm spice, and honey. The profile is likened by Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie to “the serene silence of evergreen woods.”
Brand & Industry History
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.” McKechnie noted, “Exceptional in both substance and significance, I quietly instructed for it to be bottled and locked away for safekeeping.”
What This Means
The collaboration brings themes of memory, history, and material transformation together naturally. Arsham expressed a desire to create something that feels both ancient and contemporary, to make the passage of time tangible. His work resembles his Bronze Eroded series, where icons are cast as artifacts excavated from a distant future. 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.
Consumer Takeaway
This release offers collectors a limited edition bottle count of just 17 for the 88-year-old expression. The collection also provides access to the 12-year-old and 15-year-old Single Malt Scotch Whisky with presentations by Arsham.
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