Independent Scotch whisky producer Blind Summit Whisky has unveiled its most exclusive collection to date. Drawn from a single Macallan cask distilled in 1989, the release comprises two individually bottled whiskies, with just 30 sets available worldwide. Bottles are available individually at £1,250 per 50cl bottle, or as a paired set for £2,500.
The collection features two distinct whiskies, separately finished in Rivesaltes fortified wine and Barbados rum casks. Each finishing cask was selected to build on Macallan’s natural flavour profile, with the Rivesaltes finish deepening dried fruit and nut richness, while the Barbados rum finish draws out brighter tropical notes, giving each whisky its own character.
More than two years in the making, Blind Summit Co-Founder & Whiskymaker James Zorab divided the cask and oversaw both finishes throughout the process. He carefully preserved the balance and character of the original whisky while allowing each expression to develop independently. This resulted in two whiskies with distinct character from a shared origin, each revealing a different interpretation of the same whisky.
James Zorab, Co-Founder & Whiskymaker at Blind Summit Whisky, said: “Our responsibility with a whisky of this age was to respect what the years in cask had already achieved. Each finishing cask was chosen to build on the character of the spirit rather than change it, and both were monitored closely throughout so that the finish never overtook the whisky. What we have bottled is two honest expressions of one exceptional cask.”
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Blind Summit Whisky, an independent bottler, is based in Leith, Edinburgh. Founded by Jamie Dawson and James Zorab, the pair bring more than 40 years’ combined experience across whisky and fine wine, having developed a meticulous approach to cask selection and finishing through more than 50 releases to date.
Adding his thoughts, Jamie Dawson, Co-Founder of Blind Summit Whisky, said: “Sometimes you have to be bold. We didn’t want to release another Macallan finished in Oloroso simply because that’s what’s expected. Splitting the cask gave us the opportunity to explore two very different finishing journeys while making sure the character of the original whisky always remained at the heart of both expressions. The result is two distinct single malts with a common ancestry.”
Each pair is presented in Blind Summit’s signature 50cl packaging, featuring a unique mirrored label that forms a single continuous artwork across the set. This design was created in partnership with Blind Summit’s long-time Leith collaborators, Studio Reekee. The limited-edition sets are available now via the Blind Summit Whisky website, by contacting hello@blindsummitwhisky.com or through Blind Summit’s worldwide trade partners.
