ABD Maestro and Speyside Capital Debut Ultra-Rare 34 Year-Old Single Malt with ‘The Collective’ in India

Superstar Ranveer Singh, co-founder of ABD Maestro, unveils a landmark 60-bottle release priced at £9,100 each

Speyside Capital, the Scotland-based whisky asset manager, has played a pivotal role in a historic ultra-rare independent bottling of a single malt Scotch whisky, in collaboration with ABD Maestro, the super-premium and luxury spirits arm of Allied Blenders & Distillers (ABD), the third largest spirits organisation in India.

The release marks a defining moment in the spirits landscape, blending Scottish heritage with the vibrant, high-growth luxury market of India.

This inaugural limited edition release under ABD Maestro’s new ultra-grand ‘The Collective’ service brings together Scottish whisky heritage and India’s growing appetite for the world’s rarest spirits. It reflects Speyside Capital’s growing role as a trusted partner for international brand owners seeking to create bespoke, ultra-premium Scotch whisky releases for emerging high-growth luxury markets.

Distilled at Macallan Distillery in 1991 and matured for over three decades, this 34-year-old single malt whisky balances delicate florals, soft citrus and malty notes with added depth and sherry-led richness, reflecting both time and careful stewardship.

Limited to just 60 hand-filled decanters, each individually numbered, engraved and manually gold-lettered in Scotland, the release is crafted to appeal to seasoned collectors and enthusiasts, with each bottle accompanied by a personally signed letter from Ranveer Singh, Bollywood superstar and co-founder of ABD Maestro.

‘The Collective’ has been custom-created for ABD Maestro with Speyside Capital acting as brand and project partner, supporting the release through cask sourcing, long-term maturation stewardship, and end-to-end advisory across the structuring and delivery of this ultra-rare bottling.

Paul Kopec, CEO of Speyside Capital, said: “This is a landmark project for Speyside Capital, and we are incredibly proud to support such a prestigious and culturally significant release. It demonstrates how far the Indian luxury market has evolved and the growing appetite for ultra-rare Scotch whisky among sophisticated collectors and investors.

“We see this as a major step forward in Scotch whisky establishing a stronger foothold at the very top end of the Indian premium spirits market. Through years of partnership development and strategic groundwork in the region, Speyside Capital is ideally positioned to support this growth, and we expect India to become a key pillar of our international business in the years ahead.”

India is one of the fastest-growing markets globally for luxury consumption, and the upcoming UK- India FTA is expected to further enhance accessibility and competitiveness at the ultra-high-end of the category.

The Collective Limited Edition 34-Year-Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky is priced at a consumer retail price of ₹11 Lakhs or £9100 (700ml) in Mumbai and will be available via Travel Retail and select major Indian cities, with access strictly limited and offered exclusively on a pre-order.

About Speyside Capital

Speyside Capital is a Scotland-based whisky asset management firm specialising in rare Scotch whisky casks, bespoke private client bottlings, and ultra-premium whisky ownership strategies. Working with collectors, family offices, and international partners, the firm provides sourcing, maturation strategy, portfolio management, and global exit solutions across the luxury spirits sector.

Macallan is a registered trademark of The Macallan Distillers Ltd. This release is an independent bottling and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the distillery.

Killowen Distillery is proud to present the fourth chapter in the Sagaland journey, Killowen Barántúil: Imbolc.

While whiskey-making is our craft, Sagaland allows us to tell stories that reach beyond the cask, blending Ireland’s mythological, culinary, and artistic heritage into one immersive experience.

For those following since Part 1, this release continues our collaboration with The Irish Mythology Podcast and FabCow / Fran Leavey, uniting story, sound, and visual art to bring Ireland’s ancient legends to life.

Killowen Distillery is proud to present the fourth chapter in the Sagaland journey, Killowen Barántúil: Imbolc.

While whiskey-making is our craft, Sagaland allows us to tell stories that reach beyond the cask, blending Ireland’s mythological, culinary, and artistic heritage into one immersive experience.

For those following since Part 1, this release continues our collaboration with The Irish Mythology Podcast and FabCow / Fran Leavey, uniting story, sound, and visual art to bring Ireland’s ancient legends to life.

The Whiskey

As our first ever Madeira cask expression, this cask was sampled last month as part of a long-overdue routine quality control. We were delighted to announce there and then that this would be the next Sagaland release. Like Bríd and Imbolc, the subtle rose colour reminds us of the brightness of the coming season.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Incredibly aromatic, with notes of strawberry and stewed apple, layered over a background of burnt toffee.

Palate: Custard, followed immediately by dried plum and milk chocolate.

Finish: Orange peel, fresh cream, and red apple skin.

The Story

Imbolc

Each Sagaland release includes an insert card revealing the next chapter in the myth. Part 4 continues the saga with Imbolc, written by The Irish Mythology Podcast.

Scan the barcode on your insert to listen to the story and experience it as it was meant to be told.

The accompanying artwork by FabCow / Fran Leavey captures the energy, darkness, and beauty of Ireland’s oldest tales with remarkable depth.

For anyone who missed earlier chapters, a few of the leather books and previous insert cards are still available on our website, though in very limited numbers.

Release Details

Release Date: Friday 27th @4pm (GMT – Killowen Time)
Price: £120

Purchase Here

N.B. Link will not be live until 4pm on Friday 27th February

A heartfelt thank you to the Irish Mythology Podcast and FabCow for their creative partnership throughout the Sagaland series – and to all of you who continue to share this journey with us.

Sláinte

The Killowen Distillery Team

Purchase Here

N.B. Link will not be live until 4pm on Friday 27th February

World Whiskies Awards 2026

We’ve got some rather lovely news to share.  The Cotswolds Distillery has been recognised at the World Whiskies Awards 2026, celebrating not only our carefully crafted spirits, but the people behind them too. Each award is a quiet nod to the care, patience and passion that goes into every bottle we make – from the first cut of spirit to the final pour. We hope you’ll raise a glass with us this evening to celebrate!

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£185

Our Xtra Old Particular range carries only aged and rare Single Cask Scotch Whiskies from some of Scotland’s most acclaimed and celebrated Distilleries, including those that are long-closed. Each one a marvel in its own right, XOP is bottled at Natural Cask Strength, exceptionally old and truly spectacular. Packed with extraordinary flavour, our Exceptional Single Cask Whiskies exemplify our ‘As Natural As It Gets’ Philosophy by serving a rich reward for those looking to savour a dram straight from the cask.

Johnnie Walker Red Label 1985 vs 2025

THE VIDEO REVIEW

Johnnie Walker Red Label, a bottle that has crossed all of our eye lines at some point. 

Today we’ll be comparing a 1985 bottling versus a modern day bottling of the blend. What could the differences be? Are older whiskies actually better? Time to find out.

The expression was first released in 1906 under the name ‘Walker’s Special Old Highland’. The expression ran alongside a whisky with a white label and one with a black label. As the whiskies were commonly referred to by the colour of their labels, Johnnie Walker decided to implement a rebrand. As such, in 1909, ‘Walker’s Special Old Highland’ was renamed ‘Red Label’. The iconic Striding Man logo was introduced in the same year.

Johnnie Walker Red Label has been the top-selling blended scotch whisky in the world since 1945, even during the period between 1977 and 1983 when the expression was absent from the UK domestic market.

This whisky can contain up to 35 separate whiskies from both malt and grain distilleries, as well as the 1985 bottling no doubt containing some Paxarette, while the modern bottling definitely has E150A caramel colouring. Comparing them both side by side is quite interesting purely based on colour. The ’85 is a little lighter, but the closeness in colour is still quite a marvel.

ONE OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST WHISKY FESTIVALS

LAUNCHES THEIR 2026 PREVIEW

Craigellachie Distillery of the Chairman of Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, Henry Angus and Steven Dalgarno, Distillery Manager of Craigellachie Distillery who are hosting the opening dinner and this year’s ceilidh.

Now in its 27^th year, the annual celebration of Scotland’s national drink has become one of the largest events of its kind anywhere in the world, bringing thousands of visitors to the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival since 1999.

Contributing over £2.2million annually to the local economy, there is a vast array of over 600 events, over 6-days.  Kicking off on Wednesday, 29^th April 2026, it takes visitors right through the first May bank holiday weekend.

The festival is renowned for attracting visitors who want to discover more about whisky, in an area that boasts the greatest concentration of beloved brands.  With 51 working distilleries, they make up more than a third of Scotland’s total number in Speyside alone.  Peppering towns including Elgin, Forres, Keith, Aberlour, Dufftown and Rothes, the festival continues to build on its reputation as a globally recognised event, providing high-quality experiences for visitors.

So, what to expect from the line-up this year?  Attendees from over 40 countries who descend on Speyside, will find immersive tours and tastings as well as coopering masterclasses and chefs creating whisky-paired dinners.  There is the chance to meet Master Blenders and get tours behind the closed doors of dunnage warehouses where festival goers can draw samples from the casks themselves.  Visitors can enjoy fireside drams or sipping whisky on Findhorn beach.  Plus, the Dram Tram returns, where passengers can soak in the scenery in their Gold Carriage from Dufftown to Keith whilst savouring a special whisky enroute.  Of course, it wouldn’t be a Scottish whisky celebration without the Friday night ceilidh which will be held at Craigellachie Distillery and is a highlight of the 6-day calendar.

Henry Angus, Chairman of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival commented; “The festival is the perfect way to launch World Whisky Month and is all about showcasing the very best of what’s in this area.  Whilst we have an amazing quantity of events, the quality of them is what really shines through.  It’s wonderful to see the whole of the Speyside community getting behind it as a highlight on the calendar.  We’ve seen a great increase in visitor numbers and ticket sales in the last couple of years, which tells us that we are continuing to build on how successful this international festival has become to the area.”

Speyside also boasts incredible scenery.  A chance to embrace the country air with aromas from barley malted to make the whisky.  There is a plethora of cosy chic hotels, self-catering pads and B&Bs to choose from. Plus, Stagecoach is extending its local bus service from Aberdeen and Inverness for day trippers.

SSWF 2025 Event Listing Imagery – Dallas Dhu Distillery: Drams from the Archives

The festival will launch with almost 80 events lined up on Wednesday 29^th April, including an industry dinner, co-hosted for the first time by Craigellachie Distillery, as part of their 135^th anniversary celebrations this year.

For those wanting to take a deep dive into whisky making, the 4-day Whisky School is back for its 10^th year.  Providing an incredible insight into the industry from a doyen of industry experts, it starts just a few days before the festival kicks off.   A limited number of spaces are still available on the website.

TICKET INFORMATION

Previews for ticket sales go live at 12noon on 18^th February

Launch of ticket sales is live at 12noon on 24^th February

WEBSITE – https://www.spiritofspeyside.com/

Spirit of Speyside

Spirit of Speyside organises some of the world’s premier whisky events, welcoming visitors to the beauty of Speyside from across the globe each year. The organisation is responsible for the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival each year with hundreds of events incorporating the Whisky School and Whisky Awards. The same team also hosts Spirit of Speyside: Distilled, exclusively for whisky distillers.

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival

First launched in 1999, the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival’s annual celebration of Scotland’s national drink has developed into one of the largest events of its kind anywhere in the world. This year it will celebrate its 27^th anniversary with a programme of around 500+ whisky-inspired events over 6 days.  The Festival is a true mecca for the curious beginner and the whisky connoisseur alike. Festival events take place throughout Speyside, the biggest whisky-producing region in Scotland, located in the Moray area in the north-east of the country between Aberdeen and Inverness. Over the years, the Festival has developed close links with many Speyside businesses and communities who help to fund the festival. It is a true team effort to deliver an ever-improving range of events and services to make the six days of the festival a truly unforgettable experience.

COMBINING INNOVATION, COLLABORATION AND TRADITION ON THE KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL!

Founded in 2014, Bardstown Bourbon Company may be a relative newbie on the Kentucky Bourbon scene, but in just over a decade, they have emerged as one of the top 10 distilleries in the US by volume, as well as the largest custom distiller in the country. Key to achieving that status has has been their incessant commitment to innovation which is most obviously evidenced in their state-of-the-art production facility, widely considered the most sophisticated in the industry with cutting-edge techniques, technology and equipment. They are also distinct in their ongoing pursuit of collaborative opportunities with world-class partners outside of their immediate industry, e.g. wine, brandy and other spirits producers, to craft whiskies with unique and intriguing finishes. At the same time, they honor time-tested distillation traditions and maintain a focus on craftsmanship in their relentless pursuit of excellence.

The result of this three-pronged philosophy of innovation, collaboration and tradition is a product portfolio that consistently garners the highest critical acclaim along with an ever-growing consumer fan base that seemingly can’t get enough of what they have to offer. We are proud to present our current selections from the Bardstown collection and can assure that there will be more from where these came from in the months and years ahead.

Cheers!

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The Epicurean

Côte-Rôtie Edition | Red Wine Cask

Delight in the exceptional Epicurean 12 years old Côte Rôtie Cask Finish, a distinguished addition to our Signature Series. This Lowland Malt, refined yet indulgent, has been enriched by an iconic northern Rhône Red Wine Cask, releasing layers of fruity, spiced richness. Limited to just 240 bottles, this release celebrates Lowland sophistication at its finest – elegant, rare and unforgettable.

Region: Lowlands
Abv: 55.9%
Vol: 70cl
Cask: Côte Rôtie Cask Finish
Spec: No Colour Added
Spec: No Chill-Filtration

LIMITED TO JUST 240 BOTTLES

Meet The Epicurean – our 1930s Glasgow man, a real cheeky character who was ever the life and soul of the party and a connoisseur of fine food and drink. A master of versatility, this fresh, zesty, grassy marriage of the finest Lowland malts is perfect for cocktail hour or simply for sipping. Part of the Remarkable Regional Malts range, the ultimate distillation of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Regions.

How Scotch Whisky Came To Be

With International Scotch Day on February 8, it’s the perfect time to explore what makes Scotch whisky, Scotch. Each bottle is a distilled Scottish spirit made from grain and matured in oak casks. From simple ingredients – cereals, water, yeast and oak – comes one of the world’s most diverse and complex drinks, shaped by more than 250 distilleries across Scotland, each interpreting them in its own way.

Learn More

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