From Cask to Glass: The Rise of Age-Statement Whiskies 

Age-statement whisky is a symbol opulence.  

93% of drinkers perceive age-statement whisky a prestigious flavour experience, signifying the need to be encased in a refined and luxurious glass bottle. As whisky ages, its character develops into something richer, more nuanced, and more prized.  

The recent revival of age-statement whisky in an age of contemporary, bolder blends has been prompted by the consumer demand for quality and transparency.  

Uncover the impact of this revival on the whisky world. 

Is Age Really Just a Number?

In the 18th century, the perception of aged whisky had been formed. Cheap and immature whisky was associated with the lower class, drunkenness and drinking dens. Merchants began serving their higher-class clientele with more, smooth, mature whisky, and in the mid 19th century, 5-10 years was deemed the optimum age for a mature spirit. In 1989 it became a legal requirement for age-statements to indicate the age of the youngest whisky in the blend. 

Thus, the popularity of age-statement whiskies spread far and wide. In the US, it became popular as more refined option to the liquor manufactured by bootleggers. An age-statement provided Americans with quality assurance and sophisticated flavour, which skyrocketed sales. 

The shift away from age-statement whisky was driven by freedom of flavour, allowing blenders and distillers to pursue untapped flavours. As their aged stock was finite, more distilleries were able to produce stocks that did not require aging.  

However, market shifts have created a high demand for quality, sophisticated flavour and transparency. With drinkers becoming more conscious consumers, many view drinking as a moment of indulgence to be savoured. For those rare moments of indulgence, modern consumers seek luxury. 

How Glass Bottles Elevate the Story of Age-Statement Whisky

Whisky has been bottled in glass since the 17th century. Being impermeable made it the perfect vessel to ensure quality is preserved and the Industrial Revolution made glass packaging more accessible.  

Glass bottles have played a key role in the story of a whisky. From flask shapes helping to conceal whisky in the Prohibition era, to the post-war boom, where refined glass bottle designs became status symbols.  

For age-statement whisky packaging, curated elegance is essential. Packaging is not just a vessel but a carefully crafted message, one that conveys heritage, rarity, and refinement to discerning drinkers. Part of the allure of an age statement lies in its implicit assurance of quality, serving almost as a seal of approval.  

From Vision to Vessel: Creating Bespoke Bottles

Whiskies distilled with so much care deserve an encasing to match. Verallia’s expert glassmakers have delivered bespoke glass bottles for some of the most prestigious brands in the industry. Solidify your distinctive taste with a bottle that stands out just as much. Our glassmaking experts can forge your story in glass. 

From moulding a truly distinctive silhouette that commands attention, to crafting bespoke textures that embody the essence of your brand, glass packaging offers endless possibilities to set your spirit apart. Bespoke bottles present your spirit as an exclusive offering, a collectible bottle that becomes the pride of any connoisseur’s treasury. 

Decorative Excellence in Glass

From spray coating to window painting, decoration is an excellent tool to harness to elevate your glass bottle. For age-statement whiskies, decoration can act as the final flourish, a visual cue that signifies the quality of the whisky.  

Precious metal finishes truly add a stamp of excellence to age-statement whiskies, a signifier of prestige. Accents in gold, silver or copper can accentuate your emblem with elegance, creating a striking point of distinction. These finishes offer enduring durability to match their timeless appeal. 

Badge and cartouche applications are a traditional way to signify quality. Acting as a ‘seal of approval’ cartouches are embellishments created using die-casting, faux wax or flexible aluminium. They take pride of place, on the shoulder of glass bottles, an emblem of elegance. 

 

Bottling the Scottish Highlands

Ardnamurchan Distillery turned to Verallia to bring their whisky’s unique identity to life through glass. The result is a striking, tactile bottle that perfectly mirrors the spirit’s sense of place – rugged, remote, and deeply rooted in the Scottish Highlands. 

Working in collaboration with Edinburgh-based Nevis Design, our team developed a bottle that embodies both the beauty of the Scottish Highlands and the distillery’s green ethos. Crafted with a minimum of 50% recycled glass content, the 620g bottle balances sustainability with a premium feel. Its refined silhouette features an embossed Ardnamurchan logo, and a thicker base moulded with the Gaelic phrase “Headlands of the Great Seas” – a nod to the distillery’s coastal heritage. 

 

 

 

With no secondary packaging, the bottle itself tells the brand story. Clear, tactile, and understated, it lets the whisky take centre stage while reflecting the distillery’s commitment to transparency and environmental responsibility. The result is a design that feels luxurious yet conscious, a true reflection of modern whisky-making values.  

Verallia’s partnership with Ardnamurchan demonstrates how thoughtful packaging design can make a statement. It’s proof that a bottle can be both a storyteller and a showpiece, capturing the essence of a brand while setting a new standard for sustainability in the whisky sector. 

Time Well Bottled 

As consumer priorities continue to shift, the popularity of age-statement whisky will only grow. While contemporary distillers explore bold new flavours of non-age-statement whisky (NAS), age-statement expressions remain rooted in one defining principle: scarcity. The years required to mature a whisky create depth, complexity, and value that cannot be rushed.  

Yet the story of age is not complete without the glass bottle. Whisky and glass share a natural partnership: one shaped by quality, artistry and opulence. The glass bottle preserves the spirit’s character, showcases its colour and clarity, and elevates its rarity with a sense of ceremony.  

Together, whisky and glass create a lasting symbol of time, tradition, and craftsmanship. 

Looking to showcase your age-statement whisky in glass packaging that matches its prestige? Get in touch with our team to explore how we can bring your brand’s story to life.