Britain’s oldest wine and spirits merchant, Berry Bros. & Rudd, continues to fuse storytelling with exceptional whisky craftsmanship in its latest release, The Duel. This rare and poetic double release captures the spirit of the fabled last duel of London, said to have taken place in Pickering Place, the very heart of the brand’s historic St James’s Street premises.
As with any duel, there are two sides to the story. The Duel brings them vividly to life through two distinct single malts: Justice and Honour.
Justice, representing truth and precision, comes in the form of a 54-year-old Speyside single malt from a classified distillery. It opens with golden honey, citrus peel, and seasoned oak before revealing layers of marmalade, apricot, and vanilla pod. The palate is deliberate and harmonious, closing with a lingering touch of gentle spice.
Honour, the romantic counterpoint, is expressed through a 34-year-old Laphroaig from 1991. It exudes the evocative aromas of soot, smoke, and seaside air, unfolding into meaty depth, soft sugar, and coal dust. It’s a whisky of warmth and sentiment bold, lingering, and full of heart.
Lizzy Rudd, Chair of Berry Bros. & Rudd, said: “Over my time as Chair, I have heard many wildly different versions of the story, with each one capturing the imagination. The Duel is our way of bottling that intrigue.”
Presented in hand-blown Dartington Crystal decanters, the whiskies are set within a bespoke jesmonite cabinet that symbolically brings the two spirits face to face. Each bottle design mirrors its character fluted precision for Justice and textured depth for Honour, separated only by a brass coin that nods to the ritual of the duel itself.
With only 50 sets available, priced at £20,000 (UK RRP), Berry Bros. & Rudd: The Duel is now available, exclusively at www.bbr.com.
