Leith whisky bottler creates two rare, 35-year-old Macallan whiskies from a single cask
Independent Scotch-whisky producer, Blind Summit Whisky, has unveiled what it describes as its most exclusive collection to date.
Drawn from a single Macallan cask distilled in 1989, the release comprises two individually bottled whiskies, separately finished in Rivesaltes fortified wine and Barbados rum casks.
Bottles are available at £1,250 per 50cl bottle, or as a paired set for £2,500, with just 30 sets available worldwide.
Drawing on Blind Summit's collective years of whisky-making experience, each finishing cask was selected to build on, rather than mask, Macallan's natural flavour profile. The Rivesaltes fortified wine finish deepens dried fruit-and-nut richness, while the Barbados rum finish draws out brighter tropical notes, giving each whisky its own character.
Over two years, Blind Summit co-founder and whisky maker, James Zorab, divided the cask and oversaw both finishes throughout, carefully preserving the balance and character of the original whisky while allowing each expression to develop independently. The result is two whiskies with distinct character from a shared origin, each revealing a different interpretation of the same whisky.
James 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."
Co-founder, Jamie Dawson, added: "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, with a mirrored label forming a single continuous artwork across the set, created in partnership with Blind Summit's long-time Leith collaborators, Studio Reekee.
Pictured, left-right: Jamie Dawson and James Zorab
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