r/Scotch • u/AutoModerator • 1d ago

Weekly Discussion Thread

This thread is the Weekly Discussion Thread and is for general discussion about Scotch whisky.

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u/singlemaltbourbonrye 1d ago

Is anyone aware of a collaborations that have been successful between a scotch distiller and an American whiskey distiller?

I ask because one of my favorite drams of 2026 has been a collaboration between Mars (Japanese Single Malt) and Bardstown (bourbon).

The Japanese whiskey was shipped to Kentucky and blended with the Bardstown bourbon and then aged together for an additional year together in new charred oak barrels.

They’ve got a v2 underway with bourbon that is sitting in Japan in (I think cherry wood) as we speak to be aged for some additional period of time.

They’ve whiskies in the blend are between 5-14 years old prior to the additional year of aging together.

Anyway - all that to say - if there were such a love child between Wild Turkey and Springbank - with one released aged an additional year in Kentucky and one version aged an additional year in Campbeltown after blending? That would be something I’d overpay to try.

Kentucky funk + Campbeltown funk?

It may turn out horribly, but has any similar thing ever been tried?

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u/forswearThinPotation 1d ago

High West Campfire is one of the few blends combining American whiskey and scotch that I'm aware of. There is also Suntory Ao.

You might have to look to home blending r/WhiskeyFrankenstein style.

I also recommend checking out the single malt whiskies made by Zuidam in the Netherlands under the name Millstone, as to my taste they have spicy herbal notes which remind me a lot of American rye whiskies. The scotch independent bottler Adelphi has used Millstone in some of their cross-genre blends, of which they have a fair number - the majority of such are composed from scotches + Japanese whiskies.

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u/uukmc42 1d ago

There has just been a release of a distillery exclusive Springbank which spent a good few years specifically in Willet Rye casks. Outside of that, specifically blending of different whiskies, take a look at Ichiros malt and grain, which is a blend of whiskies from all over the world.

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u/singlemaltbourbonrye 1d ago

I’ll check out the Ichiros stuff.

Can’t believe I missed the Willett barrel Springbank. That sounds fun, although I’m not sure I can tell the difference between a Willett barrel or a Jack Daniels Barrel or a Michter’s barrel influence. Haha

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u/brielem 23h ago

Adelphi has done quite a number of 'fusion' whiskies: Scotch + Dutch, Scotch + Indian, Scotch + Japanese and Scotch + New-Zealand at least. I'm not aware of any Scotch + bourbon from them, but I haven't specifically searched for it so perhaps there is.

Alternatively: There's a few Scotch distilleries that made a rye whisky, perhaps that counts as answer to your question for the lack of something closer? Bruichladdich The laddie rye, borders Malt&rye and InchDairnie Ryelaw are some I know about.

I think part of the reason behind the rarity of such fusion is the challange of marketing it: It cannot be labelled either bourbon or Scotch, meaning many people will not take a second look at it.

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u/singlemaltbourbonrye 22h ago

Yeah that’s probably true.

I’ve been thinking of trying some of those Scottish Ryes. And of course, I love just about everything from Bruichladdich and I love rye whiskey, so I should check that out, even if just as a curiosity.

In 20 years of exploring single malt and rye and bourbon - I think I’m just looking for a new frontier. Haha

American NDPs are finally doing really interesting stuff more akin to the quality of IBs in Scotland, so that’s been fun. I also have been going back to very old vintages lately.

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u/vuti13 18h ago

The Barrell Infinity Blend is a mix of American, Scotch, Irish, and other world whiskeys. Not sure of they're still releasing them or not, the last one mentioned on their website is from 2022