Celebrate World Whisky Day with these 5 bottles from The Last Drop Distillers archive

Words: Josh Lee

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Saturday 20th May marked World Whisky Day 2023, and, as the past few years of upheaval and constant change have proven to us, few things are as comforting and calming as a tumbler or two of the brown stuff at the end of a tasking week.

These days, the choice of whiskies runs far and wide, which, sometimes, can feel a little overwhelming – so, to slim down the ones to know, we’ve teamed up with spirits label The Last Drop Distillers to profile a tightly edited list of some of its most remarkable, unrepeatable whisky releases, some of which are available for purchase and some of which are sold out.

Based in London, The Last Drop Distillers is celebrated for its international search for the finest, rarest and most remarkable spirits, from cognac to bourbon, and, most relevant to this week, whisky (and whiskey). For the company, its unwavering commitment to curating and creating exceptional bottlings is not limited by label or region – to date, there have been whisky releases from Scotland, Japan and the United States – but, instead, finding rare, unique and, above all, delicious spirits is the driving priority. This notion is further harnessed by collaborations with some of the world’s leading spirits experts. Notably, Drew Mayville, Master Distiller of Buffalo Trace Distillery, and Colin JP Scott, former Master Blender at Chivas Brothers and the current Master Blender for The Last Drop Distillers, have crafted their own blends for the company.

So, in celebration of the big day, here are five bottles worth knowing about…

Created by The Last Drop’s Master Blender, Colin JP Scott, this release was the company’s debut Signature Blend, marking its evolution from the curation of rare spirits to also creating superlative libations. Drawing upon his hinterland of know-how and expertise in blending, much of which was honed during his time at Chivas Brothers, where he created the renowned Chivas Regal 18 Year Old, Scott crafted a 50-year-old blended Scotch Whisky comprising aged malt and grain whiskies and limited to just 500 bottles.

Having matured in both sherry and bourbon oak casks, the end product, defined by its warm golden-amber hue, has a rich, luxurious taste that is counterbalanced by a vibrant freshness: notably, sweet spices and creamy toffee are enlivened by red apples and dried apricots that harmonise with scented floral notes. The taste lingers long after the sip, leaving the drinker with a strong impression of one of the world’s great blending architects. “I’m immensely proud of the complexity of this whisky as well as its significance as my inaugural release as The Last Drop’s Master Blender and our first Signature Blend,” says Scott.

The first Japanese whisky to be released by The Last Drop Distillers, No.25, a Blended Malt Whisky, was a significant marker in how the label would approach the global process of curation that it continues today. With a release size of 177 bottles, this was a special homage to the country’s historic distilleries – most notably, within ex-sherry cask, were malts from the world-famous Hanyu Distillery, which was opened in 1980 by the Akuto family and closed at the beginning of the millennium. These were married and matured alongside other malts sourced from across Japan.

This fine blend reveals a pale-straw colour with delicate hues: the result of the wood maturation, and opens with soft hints of aged Chenin and a toasty hit that fades into custard, tangerine and apple. Floral scents – jasmine and meadow hay, among them –take over, before a white-chocolate finish rounds things out. The addition of water can open surprising elements within this tipple, which has a surprisingly high ABV of 60%, creating an even softer texture and amplifying the bright, elegant taste.

A high-aged liquid that’s remained vibrant and fresh, the 27th release is a standout among a range of distinctive products. It was distilled at the Glenturret Distillery – one of the oldest names in the world of Scotch Whisky distilling, and one of the most celebrated, too, not only for its small-batch production, but also for its direct access to Loch Turret, where the soft water gives the whisky its unique characteristics – this Highland Single Malt, aged 44 years, is a rare, wondrous find.

Notably, the golden sheen reflects the decades the liquid has spent in a former sherry cask, and the complex palate plays out in rich smacks of apricot, floral sweetness and silky tannins. Subtle notes of spices and oak lead into sherry and liquorice, and the Madeira finish, which has a nutty quality, underlines the drink’s maturity. With low wood influence and a strong balance and structure, it is a single malt of great distinction and exciting depth. “Such aged but still bright and enticing whiskies are as rare as the mythical unicorn,” so says the brand.

Adding to the Signature Blend range is Release No.28, limited to 1,458 volumes and created by Drew Mayville, Master Blender at the much-awarded Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky. Drew had long dreamt of creating a one-of-a-kind bottling and for this special collaboration, Mayville conceived a peerless blend of Kentucky Straight Whiskeys, including tiny quantities of the most special straight ryes and both wheated and rye bourbons from the archives at Buffalo Trace that he had long been storing away. “As a Master Blender, I wholeheartedly believe that one can take individual components that are already exceptional to create an extraordinarily beautiful end product,” he says.

As part of the process, Mayville tasted more than 40 different vintage bourbon and rye whiskeys, before arriving at the final product, which was bottled at 60.7% (121.4 proof,) and left uncut and unfiltered to maximise the complexity. It is a punchy experience, with dark fruit, figs, and dates that hit the nose before a powerful collision of candy and orange peel and “a journey through a veritable spice merchant’s storeroom, and into a saddle room full of worn leather and wax.” This character and vitality comes about when the tang of rye hits the chocolate quality of bourbon whiskeys, and is tied together by the quality of the oak in which the marriage takes place.

We finish with a tantalising bottle: Tom’s Blend No. 1: a tribute to co-founder of The Last Drop Distillers, Tom Jago, who, at 6pm every evening, would pour himself a dram, splash a little water, and think about the day just gone.

This bottling is The Last Drop’s house pour: it is served at events and occasionally gifted to lucky recipients but is not and never has been for sale. Only 1,000 bottles were created with Tom himself and world whisky authority Charlie MacLean: it is a reflection of what Jago appreciated in a whisky –an elegant, textured andmulti-layered 18-year-old blend made of 50 per cent Single Malts, including a hint of smoke from Islay, rich flavours from Highland whiskies that had been heavily sherried, and fruit-forward Speyside matured in American Oak, all of which played into Jago’s personal preferences. It celebrates the harmony of blended whisky that can also be identified in the three blended whisky releases in our current 2023 Collection. And from the day it was bottled until the day he died, it was Tom’s daily 6 o’clock dram.

Want more from The Last Drop Distillers? Read all about their 2023 Collection, a celebration of global spirits…

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