Ballantine's Scotch whisky, which is owned by Pernod Ricard, has developed a new line of 40-year-old expressions to honor the company's master blenders.
This release is called The Remembering and is the first whisky of the series titled The Masterclass Collection. Only 108 bottles of the first expression in the series, called The Remembering, have been produced.
Ballantine's The Masterclass Collection is a limited edition range of blended Scotch whiskies that features rare and exceptional whiskies selected by Ballantine's Master Blender Sandy Hyslop. These whiskies are crafted using a combination of malt and grain whiskies that have been carefully selected to create a rich and complex flavor profile. The Masterclass Collection is presented in a unique and elegant packaging that showcases the expertise and attention to detail that goes into every bottle of Ballantine's whisky. This range is highly sought after by whisky enthusiasts and collectors alike.
“This is an incredibly special and poignant collection to work on, as I was taken back to my early days spent in the warehouse with Jack. The fact that Jack nosed these whiskies holds special significance, and this first chapter is a tribute to the distinctive character of Ballantine’s and the guidance and inspiration on which I’ve built my own skills. The lessons I learnt from Jack are repeated to my own team now, and they’ll be continued to be passed on in years to come.” ~ Ballantine’s master blender Sandy Hyslop
The whisky has been aged in oak barrels for 40 years and is "both complex and harmonious."
The whisky from the now-defunct Dumbarton Distillery, where Hyslop initially learned from Goudy on his path to becoming a master blender, served as inspiration for The Remembering.
Traditional Coffey stills were also utilized in the distillery, giving the alcohol a creamy, smooth quality that was complemented by an "opulent sweetness" from maturation in American oak barrels.
The whisky exhibits flavors of rich toffee, spicy clove spice, and spiced red apple.
“We’re very proud to unveil the new Ballantine’s 40 Year Old Masterclass Collection in travel retail. Deeply rooted in heritage and commitment to outstanding quality, we’re confident these new ultra-limited releases will delight travelers and whisky enthusiasts looking for the perfect liquids for collecting and gifting.” ~ Liya Zhang, vice-president of marketing at Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail
Individually numbered and presented within a box covered in a three-dimensional paper artwork made especially for the series by Scottish artist Kyla McCallum, the bottles are housed inside.
Just 27 of the 108 bottles of The Remembering will be sold in worldwide travel retail.
In 2027, to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the company, the fifth and final bottling of the series will be made available.
This news comes amidst consumers calling for a Pernod Ricard Boycott (The owner of Ballantine's). Read more about the reasons behind the backlash
About Ballantine's
Ballantine's is a popular brand of blended Scotch whisky, which was founded in 1827 by George Ballantine. The brand is now owned by Pernod Ricard, a French spirits company, and is one of the best-selling whiskies in the world. Ballantine's offers a wide range of whiskies, including their flagship expression, Ballantine's Finest, which is a blended Scotch whisky made with more than 50 different single malts. They also have a range of aged expressions, such as the Ballantine's 12 Year Old and Ballantine's 17 Year Old, as well as limited edition releases like The Masterclass Collection. In addition to their whiskies, Ballantine's has also released a range of ready-to-drink cocktails in cans.
