Scotland’s oldest licensed distillery, Littlemill, has unveiled its oldest aged statement to date, a remarkable 47 Year Old single malt, which marks the second release from its Vanguards Collection. The whisky is housed in beautiful bespoke 30% lead crystal decanters which have been meticulously handcrafted by the talented team of craftspeople at Glencairn Crystal.
The Vanguards Collection was launched last year as a new annual series from Littlemill, which, following the distillery’s untimely closure in 1994, will draw on its most precious reserves to release a single expression each year for four years.
The decanter shape and style follows on from the inaugural Vanguards Collection Chapter One Robert Muir (45 Year Old) released in 2023 and is characteristic to the Littlemill range as supplied by Glencairn Cystal. Every decanter is unique in that each one has been carefully hand-blown and hand-cut and the lettering is intricately hand engraved with gold infill. An elegant polished and engraved stopper and collar have also been handcrafted with a high grade cork fitted into the stopper.
The Vanguards Collection was created to celebrate Littlemill’s legacy and the trailblazers who worked at its helm; a series of vanguards who innovated with technology and processes to leave an indelible mark on the whisky world.
Vanguards Chapter Two pays homage to Jane Macgregor, Littlemill distillery manager and believed to be one of the first women in history to hold a license for a distillery of scale in 1823, the same year the Excise Act passed. Under her leadership, the distillery witnessed a significant increase in production, and she unknowingly became one of the first of many women who are now shaping the world of whisky today.
The latest release will celebrate the ceilings she broke through in her pursuit of success. Her legacy will be revived via a new partnership with glass artist, Bethany Wood, owner of Blowfish Glass, located at the heart of the UK glassmaking community on the Stourbridge Crystal Mile.
The team at Glencairn Crystal worked closely with Bethany Wood, who drawing inspiration from Jane’s story has crafted 250 stunning glass bottle stopper discs using tools from the same era as Jane, which were fitted into the recess of the metal stopper. This means that each stopper is an individual piece of unique artwork to be used as a decorative feature on the decanter or on the striking wooden display cabinet.
Using a foot tool – an implement employed by early glassmakers to produce wine glass feet – Bethany creates the disc base. She then attaches coloured molten glass bubbles that, when exposed to gas, develop beautiful metallic hues. The bubbles are delicately bounced upon the disks, and the top layer is intentionally smashed to reveal a mesmerising ripple effect. This deliberate smashing effect is a metaphor for Jane’s journey, symbolising the glass ceilings she shattered during her career.
By using traditional glassmaking techniques and tools, Bethany not only honours Jane’s legacy but also bridges a connection to historical craftsmanship. This collaboration between Jane’s enduring spirit and Bethany’s artistic expertise creates a powerful narrative of perseverance, innovation, and triumph over adversity.
Each stopper, no two alike, incorporates striking metallic hues, inspired by Littlemill’s copper stills and the Scottish water which plays such an integral role in whisky making. It is presented in the door of a luxurious wooden display cabinet, carefully integrated into the design so it can be viewed from the outside or displayed on the inside. The wooden display cabinet has been crafted by Moran Wood Components and is also enhanced with metalware supplied by Glencairn Crystal.
Each cabinet also houses a branded 50ml miniature and a hardback book of the Littlemill story, so the very few lucky custodians of this exceptional single malt can explore and enjoy Scotland’s most fascinating whisky tale with an exquisite dram.
