Elite Traveler Summer 2023

It is no surprise that the distilleries that enjoy the richest histories and strongest traditions also boast the bi gg est bottom lines

HOUSE OF HAZELWOOD William Grant & Sons introduced the world to single malt whisky in the 1960s. Today, single malts dominate the luxury end of the market and account for most of what is considered highly collectible. Ironically, it is now William Grant & Sons, or at least a subsidiary of it, that is attempting to shine a light on less appreciated variations. House of Hazelwood, launched in 2022, is a collection of whiskies taken directly from the owning family’s private stock. The family kept miscellaneous casks aside for personal consumption, gifting and fl ight-of-fancy experiments. Before House of Hazelwood, these casks sat idle in warehouses, decades into their maturation, with no plan for their future. The eight whiskies released to date are all distinctive, ranging from light and refreshing grain whiskies to heavy malt blends aged for almost 60 years. They are also vanishingly rare, with one release, A Singular Blend, limited to just 74 bottles. A Singular Blend forms part of the prestigious Charles Gordon Collection, reserved for the oldest and rarest casks that House of Hazelwood can fi nd. However, our pick comes from the Legacy Collection, which is for the younger, more available expressions. The Eight Grain is a remarkable whisky made up of liquids taken from eight of Scotland’s closed and active grain distilleries. Massively underrepresented in Scotland, grain whiskies can accomplish tremendous complexity at this age. This has all the hallmarks of a vintage blend with butterscotch, banana and tropical fruits. It features a silky texture on the palate with only the faintest notes of wood, even at cask strength. For marketing director Jonathan Gibson, a collection model was the only way to showcase such distinctive whiskies. He said: “The great thing with House of Hazelwood is that we can take people on this incredible fl avor journey that goes over the entire Scotch whisky fl avor pro fi le. It’s a journey of discovery.” houseofhazelwood.com

THE MACALLAN JAMES BOND 60 TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION This six-bottle series from The Macallan di ff ers from the rest, as each bottle contains the same expression of whisky. The separating factor is in the bottle design and its packaging. Each one marks a di ff erent decade of the James Bond franchise with colors that encapsulate the era and design details that resonate with 007 fans. The Macallan has a long-lasting relationship with Bond, with some of its most famous whiskies appearing in the fi lms. Celebrating this partnership and the Bond franchise’s 60th anniversary, The Macallan developed a new whisky that is as strong and punchy as the MI6 agent. Like all things from The Macallan, the collection is incredibly sought-after and di ffi cult to acquire. On its launch day at Harrods department store in London, lines snaked around the block. Why is it worth thee ff ort? One collection recently sold for over $28,252 at auction, four times the SRP. That did, however, come complete with one of just 300 Globe-Trotter trunks designed speci fi cally to house the six exclusive bottles — the ultimate prize for The Macallan and Bond fanatics. themacallan.com

House of Hazelwood’s A Singular Blend is limited to just 74 bottles

Photos Dino Gomez, Manny Rodriguez