Blended scotch whisky brand, Ballantine’s, has added two new bottlings to its True Music Icons collection, paying tribute to two legends of the UK music scene: Elton John and John Lennon.
The limited edition whiskies will be available for purchase in global markets as well as via The Whisky Exchange from Monday 23rd September 2024.
Ballantine’s Whisky
The blended whisky inside the limited edition bottles remains true to Ballantine’s tried and tested recipe, which has made it the second most popular blended scotch whisky brand in the world (according to the IWSR 2023). The blend contains whiskies from various Chivas Brothers-owned distilleries such as Miltonduff, Glenburgie, and Scapa.
Elton John & John Lennon, True Music Icons
Following the release of two special expressions celebrating the legacies of Queen and AC/DC, Ballantine’s has paid tribute to Elton John, one of the preeminent figures in the UK music scene in the 1970s, and a cultural icon.
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Elton John burst onto the music scene in 1969 with the release of his album Empty Sky. Since then, he has had ten number-one singles and eight number-one albums over the course of his six-decade-long career. Some of his most beloved hits include ‘Rocket Man’ (1972), ‘Candle In The Wind’ (1973, later re-recorded in honor of Princess Diana), and ‘Your Song’ (1970).
John Lennon began his music career as a member of The Beatles, widely regarded as one of the greatest bands of all time. Some of his songwriting credits for the band (most written with Paul McCartney) include ‘Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds’ (1967), ‘All You Need Is Love’ (1967), and ‘Help! (1965). After The Beatles split in 1970, John Lennon went solo. His most famous song from this era is ‘Imagine’ (1971).
John Lennon died on December 8th, 1980, after being shot in New York. He was 40 years old.
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Lennon and John were also close personal friends, releasing a single together named ‘Whatever Gets You Thru The Night’, followed by a performance at Madison Square Garden in 1974.
The Bottle Designs
The design of Ballantine’s True Music Icons bottlings perfectly reflects the characters and legacies of each performer. Elton John’s bottle features an impression of the singer at the Dodger Stadium in 1975, one of his most iconic performances. The bottle also features a holographic version of his famous star logo.
John Lennon’s bottle is inspired by his famous self-portrait sketch and features his official logo. The color white on the label conjures images of the famous white piano on which he recorded ‘Imagine’.
Ballantine’s & Music
“Ballantine’s has a rich heritage in music and what better way to celebrate a decade of our True Music platform than by paying tribute to two of the 20th century’s most revered music icons on our iconic Finest bottle,” Paul-Andre Vacheron, Global Marketing Director for Ballantine’s at Chivas Brothers.
“Both Elton John and John Lennon are artists who are all about doing things their own way. They have not only contributed to music culture, but defined it, by staying true to who they are – a mindset that reflects the spirit of what Ballantine’s stands for, inspired by our pioneering founder George Ballantine. We look forward to seeing these collectable designs rock out on shelves around the world.”
Ballantine’s Cocktails
Ballantine’s also has some serving suggestions for the Ballantine’s Finest Whisky inside the limited edition bottles. See a couple of the cocktail recipes below.
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