Skip to main content

These new whiskies from Chivas Brothers can only be found in duty free

Pick up a bottle the next time you travel

Royal Salute

Two new whisky collections from Chivas Brothers are on their way to release, but if you want to pick up a bottle from either, then you’ll need to check your airport next time you’re flying. The new releases are exclusive to “global travel retail” — or duty-free to you and me.

Royal Salute Small Batch Collection

The first of the pair comes from Royal Salute, which is debuting its Small Batch collection. The idea is to showcase rare and unusual whiskies that have been aged for several decades in various casks. Eight whiskies are in the collection, all presented in distinctive purple packaging and each aged between 25 and 28 years. Some of the casks used include rye, French oak, and Pedro Ximénez sherry, and the bottles will sell for between $450 and $750.

Recommended Videos

“Each of the eight whiskies available in this Small Batch collection were matured in special casks which I have personally selected on my travels around the world,” said Sandy Hyslop, master blender at Chivas Brothers. “This is a truly unique collection, with each individual whisky having a unique flavor profile, providing an array of choice to suit different preferences and open up new tasting experiences.”

Ballantine’s Golden Hour

The second release is from Ballantine’s, which is introducing a 23-year-old Golden Hour series. The series features blended Scotches aged for 23 years, with the first release aged in Cognac casks. This 40% abv bottle will be released first in travel retail in the Asia Pacific region, selling for $279.

“Introducing an unexpected twist to our widely loved Ballantine’s 23 Years Old is a big responsibility, and this exclusive release caters for aficionados searching for a new drinking experience with a sweeter profile,” Hyslop said. “Pushing our cask diversification into ex-Cognac barrels is an exciting innovation in Ballantine’s history, and the result is a luxurious and vibrant Scotch.”

Georgina Torbet
Georgina Torbet is a cocktail enthusiast based in Berlin, with an ever-growing gin collection and a love for trying out new…
Famed brand Templeton is releasing a new Flagship rye whiskey
Fans of rye whiskey will be excited for Templeton's new expression
Templeton American Whiskey

Rye whiskey drinkers know all about Templeton Distillery. Located in Templeton, Iowa, the distillery is well-known for its 4-Year-Old, 6-Year-Old, and limited-release rye whiskeys (as well as bourbons). Recently, the brand added a new flagship rye whiskey called Templeton Straight Rye Whiskey to its list of expressions.
Templeton Straight Rye Whiskey

The brand is releasing Templeton Straight Rye Whiskey nationwide. It was crafted to pay tribute to the pre-prohibition era when the distillery was first founded. This complex, sipping whiskey was made with a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley. It was matured for at least four years in first-fill American oak barrels. It's bottled at 90-proof and non-chill filtered.

Read more
J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery honors veterans with new bourbon release
Just in time for Veterans Day, J. Mattingly 1845 is releasing a special edition bourbon
J. Mattingly 1845

Just in time for Veterans Day, Frankfort, Kentucky’s J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery is releasing the fifth edition of its popular Combat Infantry Badge (CIB) Bourbon. The whiskey gets its name from the Combat Infantry Badges, which are awarded to Army Infantry and Special Forces soldiers with the rank of Colonel and below who were engaged in active ground combat during their military service.

It’s more than just a whiskey to honor combat veterans; it’s also made for a good cause. A portion of the sales for every bottle of this annual release is donated to military nonprofit charities. This year, the charity is Blue Skies for the Good Guys and Gals Warrier Foundation, which honors veterans, wounded soldiers, and their families.
J. Mattingly 1845 Combat Infantry Badge (CIB) Bourbon

Read more
Barrell announced the release of Barrell New Year Bourbon 2025
Barrell just announced the release of a complex blended whiskey
Whiskey glass

Founded in 2013, Barrell Craft Spirits is a Louisville, Kentucky-based brand known for its independent blending and bottling of unique, complex, sourced whiskeys and rum. And while we could spend an article writing about its award-winning rums, today, it’s all about whiskey—specifically, the newest release from the iconic brand.
Barrell New Year Bourbon 2025

Last week, Barrell Craft Spirits announced the release of Barrell New Year Bourbon 2025. Distilled and matured to pay tribute to the renewal a new year brings, only 12,000 bottles of this limited-edition expression will be released to the public.

Read more