With over 325 years of history, Britain’s oldest wine and spirits merchants, Berry Bros. & Rudd, today announces the launch of The Duel: a rare duo of single malt Scotch whiskies, each representing a side of the fabled last duel of London, said to take place at the heart of its St James’ Street premises, in Pickering Place.
As with all duels, there are two sides to the story. This new release from Berry Bros. & Rudd embraces that ambiguity, presenting two intertwining narratives – at times aligned, at times contradictory – with the spirits themselves giving voice to each distinct side of the story.
One side, Justice, representing a more factual retelling of the story, is embodied in a 54-year-old Speyside single malt from a classified distillery. It opens with golden honey, citrus peel, and seasoned oak. The texture is dense and deliberate, with notes of orange marmalade, apricot, and vanilla pod. The finish is long and composed, with gentle spice emerging on close inspection. Every detail is measured. Nothing is accidental. Justice; exact and enduring.
Honour, representing the more romantic and poetic side, tells its tale through a 1991 Laphroaig, aged 34 years in a single Hogshead. A romantic spirit, it breathes soot and smoke, like a summer barbecue carried on the wind. On the palate, meaty notes melt into soft sugar and coal dust. It moves with charm, leaving warmth and story behind. A whisky of feeling, not reason, Honour lingers in every sip.
Lizzy Rudd, Chair at Berry Bros. & Rudd added:
“With a tapestry as rich and enduring as Berry Bros. & Rudd, we have our fair share of stories. 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.”
Felix Dear, Spirits Curator at Berry Bros. & Rudd said:
“Our position as an independent bottler allows us the rare opportunity to bring together two whiskies which would never normally collide. The Duel invites an extremely limited number of buyers to immerse themselves in a sensory exploration of the intersecting and contrasting narratives of both Justice and Honour and decide for themselves who triumphs.
“This exquisite release offers the opportunity to own two of the finest and rarest bottlings, from Scotland’s most coveted and contrasting whisky regions. It’s also a rare moment for collectors to step into Berry Bros. & Rudd’s 327-year history themselves, as a decision maker in London’s last historic duel.”
Honour and Justice are presented in hand-blown, lead-free crystal decanters made by British makers, Dartington Crystal, each one uniquely decorated to reflect the distinct character of the whisky within. Honour features a mottled texture that accentuates its bold, smoky Islay profile, while Justice is adorned with precise flutes to highlight the crisp elegance of its Speyside origin.
The display case, crafted from eco-friendly jesmonite, echoes these contrasts: a swirling, layered texture for Honour; and a polished, intricately detailed finish for Justice. Between them rests a brass coin – a mark of authenticity and a subtle nod to the tradition of the duel.
Inspired by the ritual of a traditional duel, where opponents begin facing away before turning to meet, the custom cabinet mirrors this choreography. When closed, the decanters sit in counterpose. As the doors open, precision mechanics rotate them one hundred and eighty degrees, revealing two opposing spirits, brought face to face, united and defined by their differences.
With only 50 available and priced at £20,000 (UK RRP), Berry Bros. & Rudd: The Duel will be available from Wednesday 1st October 2025 on www.bbr.com.