Ballantine’s debuts second 40YO blend

Chivas Brothers-owned Scotch whisky brand Ballantine’s has released the second expression in its Masterclass Collection: Chapter Two ‘The Waiting’.

The Masterclass Collection is a series of five 40-year-old whiskies that pay tribute to the knowledge of the brand’s five master blenders, past and present.

‘The Waiting’ refers to the patience required to create high-aged Scotch.

Drawing on lessons taught to him as an apprentice by former master blender Jack Goudy, current master blender Sandy Hyslop has hand-selected liquid from casks laid down by Goudy to create the new blend.

The expression has a ‘powerful experience of flavour depth and intensity’ created by American oak, with ‘smooth sweet tones’ and ‘a hint of gentle smoke’.

It is bottled at cask strength, 45.4% ABV, and retails for US$12,000.

Hyslop said: “Time brings distinction to a whisky, but it also brings huge responsibility. You need a combination of patience, passion and dedication to meticulously monitor and nose hundreds of samples a day to pinpoint the exact moment that a flavour profile has reached its maximum potential. It has to be exactly right because there’s no turning back the clock.

“Jack Goudy taught me how to play the long game, and I’m repeating these lessons to my own team to preserve the stature and legacy of Ballantine’s for many years to come.”

Chapter Two ‘The Waiting’ comes in individually numbered bottles, packaged inside a presentation box and 3D paper art piece created by Scottish artist Kyla McCallum.

Only 108 bottles are available globally.

Chapters Three and Four will be released in 2025 and 2026, with the final edition being released in 2027 to mark the brand’s 200th anniversary.

Last month, Ballantine’s debuted its first single grain whisky.

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