Whisky During the U.S. Bicentennial
The United States celebrated its bicentennial in 1976, a year also marked by the first Ebola virus outbreak in Sudan and Zaire.
In whisky, limited edition releases commemorating historical milestones gained popularity. Glenlivet released a special bicentennial edition that quickly became a collector's item. The scarcity of these limited-edition bottles has led them to be great long-term investments.
Environmental sustainability also entered the industry lexicon, with more distilleries adopting organic farming practices for their grains. Marketing initiatives increasingly targeted international markets, particularly the burgeoning middle classes in countries like Japan and the newly industrialized countries of Southeast Asia.
For collectors, whiskies from 1976 are historically significant and feature some standout releases that offer excellent investment opportunities.