Ballantine’s Presents Chapter Three of its 40 Year Old Masterclass Collection – The Moment
Ballantine’s continues to celebrate its artisanal heritage with the highly anticipated launch of the third chapter in its Ballantine’s 40 Year Old Masterclass Collection – “The Moment”. This collection features five unique 40-year-old blends, paying homage to the invaluable skills and knowledge passed down through generations of Ballantine’s Master Blenders. “The Moment” is a new release, embodying the art of precision and timing in whisky craftsmanship. It masterfully showcases how former Master Blender Jack Goudy imparted his crucial skill of identifying hundreds of oak casks and samples, determining their readiness for blending, to current acclaimed Master Blender Sandy Hyslop. This exceptionally rare, handcrafted whisky fully embodies the rich character of Miltonduff distillery, a cornerstone single malt in Ballantine’s blends. “The Moment” offers a rich, sweet, and creamy smooth palate, balanced with delicate warm spice, perfectly encapsulating Ballantine’s distinctive signature style. Master Blender Sandy Hyslop states that creating such high-aged whiskies requires immense patience, and “The Moment” holds deeper meaning, pointing to the precise instant when whisky reaches its perfect peak. It is the ability to identify that perfect harmony among thousands of casks, a skill Jack Goudy passed on to him, defining the soul of Ballantine’s. This release is a tribute to that critical discernment, celebrating the brilliance of the Miltonduff style and the enduring legacy left by those who came before. To match the exceptional liquid, each individually numbered bottle is presented in a handcrafted wood-veneered cabinet, accented with recycled oak surfaces, intricately woven fabric, and polished etched metal hardware. To further enhance the appreciation experience, each chapter includes a meticulously folded paper art piece by renowned Scottish artist Kyla McCallum. Its enduring and grounded design is placed at the rear of the bottle, symbolizing the moment whisky reaches its optimum state. The artist’s exquisite design vividly recreates the sight of rows of aged casks stretching into the distance within Ballantine’s dunnage warehouses. From hundreds of casks, only a Master Blender’s expertise can determine when each cask is ready for blending and bottling. Master Blender Sandy Hyslop personally blends each 40-year-old expression at cask strength, ensuring each bottling within the Masterclass Collection series possesses a distinct character, highlighting the brand’s commitment to uniqueness and quality.
2025-11-24
Source: https://www.whiskyintelligence.com/2025/11/ballantines-unveils-chapter-three-of-its-exclusive-40-year-old-masterclass-collection-the-moment-scotch-whisky-news/