Our quest for “Dream Drams” at London’s Whisky Show 2023 included our target to taste a dram or two from Elixir’s new Macbeth series. With Five Acts, to be released annually until 2027, this is an incredibly ambitious project.
We are honoured to present the first nine bottlings in an ongoing series inspired by William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth. This landmark release is the culmination of a multi-year collaboration between Lexi Burgess, whisky writer Dave Broom and independent bottler Elixir Distillers.
Those who know me well would be aware my partner is an actor – with the Stage his first love. So anything that pays serious attention to the world of theatre – and the bard William Shakespeare no less – will get my attention. So when I saw the remarkable range featured, we simply had to try! Sukhinder Singh later shared how proud he is of this collaboration and collection – with very good reason!
No surprise, all of these whiskies were “Dream Drams” so we had the tough choice of picking what to try! As several were (deservedly) multi-token, our selection narrowed to just two which were for only one token. Before I share which we selected, here is a bit of an overview of the 2023 expressions.
From Macbeth Act One, there were…
- The Leads: Glen Grant 56 year “Old King Duncan” 48.2% for GBP 10,000
- The Ghosts: Cambus 31-year Single Grain “First Ghost” 43.2% (Speyside) GBP 301
- The Witches: Ardbeg 19 year “First Witch” 51.7% (Islay) GBP 550
- The Murderers: Ledaig 18 year “First Murderer” 50.5% (Island) GBP 220
The Thanes:
- Benriach 31 year “Menteith” 53.1% (Speyside) GBP 750
- Glen Garioch 31 year “Angus” 54.6% (Highland) GBP 750
- Linkwood 31 year “Lady Macduff” 48.2% (Speyside) GBP 750
The Household:
- Ardmore 12 year “Seyton Household” 52.5% (Highland) GBP 100
- Blair Athol 10 year “Bloody Sergeant Household” 51.8% (Highland) GBP 95
We selected a pair of Thanes – wow!
The first of 12 noble thanes in the series are Angus and Menteith, who march to confront Macbeth in the play’s final act: portrayed respectively by a rich, complex Glen Garioch and a superbly fruity Benriach. Then we have the tragically fated Lady Macduff, who necessitated a particularly special whisky. ‘Linkwood is an all-time favourite distillery and it was a thrill to find a 31-year-old expression distilled in 1991 that worked so perfectly,’ Oliver explains. ‘Although I would probably have had to rewrite Macbeth if there wasn’t a place for this amazing whisky.’
What a wonderful way to explore some fine drams in such a dramatic fashion!
I selected the Linkwood – at a venerable 31 years of age – this was no lightweight! What did I think?
Linkwood 31 year “Lady Macduff” (1991 – 2023) 48.2%
- Nose – A beautiful light spice, a hint of heather, joyful and floral, joined by orchard fruits – from pear to white peach… as it opens more in the glass, it reveals deeper and more mature elements, elegant
- Palate – Simply spectacular! Light and dark combine, concentrated fruits and wood, resinous with some spice, truly exceptional
- Finish – Long lasting, dry with a citrus twist and light spice
What an incredible whisky! Truly something very special, worthy of attention. I hope there will be another opportunity to sit down and properly savor.
What more do we know? The bottle notes share a quote from Macbeth.
Casting this role in Livingstone’s Macbeth series required whisky maker Elixir Distillers to find a single malt of rare elegance and beauty. This vatting of four ex-bourbon barrels from Linkwood distillery proves the perfect embodiment of the ill-fated Lady Macduff. The nose shows all the flowers, citrus and white fruit characteristic of Linkwood, while the palate harbours hidden depths suggestive of its inspiration’s strength and resolve. An exceptionally fine Speyside malt.
I would be inclined to agree.
My tasting companion chose the BenRiach – a bold and brilliant choice indeed!
BenRiach 31 year “Menteith” (1992 – 2023) 53.1% (Speyside) GBP 750
- Nose – Robust and seductive, there were berries, yet also a sweet floral topping in addition to the dark fruits, powerful yet balanced
- Palate – Definitely mature, polished wood, nutty, toffee, some earthy elements
- Finish – Long and strong
Oh, how I wish we had more than a mere “swish!” of this one! It was a tempting treat, teasing us with its rich and potent character.
What more do we know? Here is how it is described:
‘Revenges burn in them, for their dear causes would, to the bleeding and the grim alarm, excite the mortified man.’ The speaker of these immortal words is Menteith, a nobleman who marches to oppose Macbeth in the play’s final act. To portray this herald of battle, Elixir Distillers head blender Oliver Chilton selected bourbon barrels from Benriach distillery in the Scottish Highlands. At 31-years-old this is a deep, earthy dram that balances wild notes of hedgerow and forest floor with the nuttiness and rich vanilla characteristic of good-quality American oak.
What a thrilling and theatrical start! I just wish we could have explored more than just two!
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