Expression re-launched with new blend and design

Scotch whisky Hankey Bannister has unveiled a striking new design and blend for its 21 Year Old Partners’ Reserve Blended Scotch Whisky.

The award-winning blended Scotch whisky from International Beverage’s master blender Stuart Harvey has hand selected rare and exceptional casks to craft the blend, each allowed to rest for a minimum of 21 years in the finest Spanish ex-sherry and ex-bourbon oak, as well as American oak ex-bourbon casks.

The result is an indulgent and luxurious Scotch, perfect for special occasions and gifting.

The influence of contrasting wood imbues Hankey Bannister 21 Year Old Partners’ Reserve with a complex, characterful flavour. Spanish casks slowly create distinctive aromatic nuances of spiced citrus fruit, with chocolate and raisin on the palate. Creamy vanilla and toffee overtones are derived from the American oak, culminating in a smooth, creamy, slightly spicy chocolate finish.

Complementing the quality of the whisky is a new super-premium geometric bottle, enhanced by gold foil decoration, an embossed metallic label and a dark wood cork closure. A soft leather-like, subtly embossed box completes the exquisite packaging.

The new 21 Year Old release is part of Hankey Bannister’s ongoing investment to bring the story and sartorial appeal of its pioneering founders to life – the ‘style’ of flamboyant London socialite Beaumont Hankey and the ‘substance’ of his astute business partner, Hugh Bannister.

Hankey Bannister brand manager Lynne Buckley said‘We believe that this striking new pack works brilliantly in communicating Hankey Bannister’s substance with style brand story, whilst also reflecting the exceptional quality of the whisky.

‘There is huge demand in the global marketplace for a blended whisky that combines a high quality product with a distinctive brand story and, with Hankey Bannister, we are spoiled on both counts.

‘Our founders provide us with a rich brand proposition. And whilst centuries may have passed, the qualities they stood for – tradition, craftsmanship, originality, sophistication and style – are all completely relevant for modern-day whisky drinkers.’

Hankey Bannister 21 Year Old Partners’ Reserve is crafted to an original recipe from single malts selected from International Beverage’s five distilleries, which are then expertly combined with more delicate Grain whiskies to produce a unique blend.

Produced as a small batch of just 3000 bottles, it retails at £105.

Messrs Hankey and Bannister’s wines & spirits business was originally established in 1757 at John Street in London’s stylish West End. When these two remarkable men took charge, their focus was on making superior Scotch whisky blends to suit the sophisticated tastes of their renowned society clients – which included The Prince Regent, William IV, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and writer Evelyn Waugh. In 1901 Hankey Bannister received its first royal warrant from George V, with a second being granted in 1940 by George VI – extended for a further ten years in 1950.

Hankey Bannister was purchased by Inver House Distillers, now part of International Beverage, in 1988. The blend is meticulously crafted to the original recipe of its founders, using the finest Highland malts in the International Beverage portfolio, including single malts from Pulteney, Balblair, Knockdhu, Speyburn and Balmenach distilleries. These are then expertly combined with more delicate grain whiskies to produce a distinctive blend.