The Balvenie and artist Daniel Arsham have collaborated on a special whisky that is the whole package—literally. The renowned single malt Scotch whisky distillery has recently unveiled the Eighty-Eight-Year-Old as part of its The 1931 Collection. At nearly a century aged (distilled in 1931), it’s the oldest whisky ever released by The Balvenie. To commemorate this once-in-a-lifetime spirit, the distillery tapped Arsham to create a “sculptural form” worthy of the prized liquid.
In Arsham’s interpretation, the Eighty-Eight-Year-Old is presented as a “time-worn relic.” Using his signature layered visuals, he crafted eight tiers, each representing a decade during which it was distilled. The overall form was made from hand-patinated bronze, intended to mirror the textures and colors found throughout the distillery while referencing the oxidation that naturally occurs in copper over time. On its opposite side is wood, made from 88 symbolic layers of oak. At the center of the layers, acting as a pedestal for the bottle, is a copper disc formed from a decommissioned distillery still. It places a physical piece of The Balvenie’s history within Arsham’s contemporary work.
The liquid is housed in a hand-blown crystal decanter that, like Arsham’s sculpture, recalls where the product was produced. It features “The Balvenie Ball,” which was inspired by the shape of its copper stills. The bottle is placed as though it was uncovered from the center of the relic, a discovery that was decades in the making but worth it all the same.
“At The Balvenie, I encountered a spirit that has been carefully shaped by generations of people who have protected and refined their craft, while remaining deeply connected to their origins,” Arsham explains about the collaboration. “Much of my work explores time, material transformation, and the histories that objects carry. This collaboration has brought these themes together naturally; I wanted to create something that feels both ancient and contemporary, to make the passage of time tangible.”
The Balvenie has partnered with Frieze Seoul to debut The 1931 Collection. It shows up as an immersive, sensorial performance directed by Arsham. Dancers, choreographed by Sukyung Yoo, move through eight acts across a barley-grain canvas inspired by The Balvenie’s Home Malting Floor. Their feet shift the grains, and part of the performance involves raking the particles in patterns on the stage. Accompanying them is a soundscape composed using ambient sounds from The Balvenie distillery. Occasionally, Arsham will join the performance, drawing on his own practice of moving meditation to inform how he moves his body.
Learn more about The 1931 Collection on The Balvenie’s website.
The Balvenie and artist Daniel Arsham have collaborated on a special whisky that is the whole package—literally.
Photo: Grant Anderson
The renowned single malt Scotch whisky distillery has recently unveiled the Eighty-Eight-Year-Old as part of its The 1931 Collection.
Photo: Grant Anderson
To commemorate this once-in-a-lifetime spirit, the distillery tapped Arsham to create a “sculptural form” worthy of the prized liquid.
Photo: Grant Anderson
In Arsham’s interpretation, the Eighty-Eight-Year-Old is presented as a “time-worn relic.” Using his signature layered visuals, he crafted eight tiers, each representing a decade during which it was distilled.
The Balvenie has partnered with Frieze Seoul to debut The 1931 Collection.
It shows up as an immersive, sensorial performance directed by Arsham.
Dancers, choreographed by Sukyung Yoo, move through eight acts across a barley-grain canvas inspired by The Balvenie’s Home Malting Floor.
Accompanying them is a soundscape composed using ambient sounds from The Balvenie distillery.
