Berry Bros. & Rudd, Britain’s oldest wine and spirits merchant, has launched its 2026 Odyssey collection, titled The Auld and the Bold, which explores the relationship between Scotland’s whisky traditions and a new generation of distillers worldwide. The collection features 20 single-cask bottlings and will be available from 16 July 2026 at the merchant’s spirits shop at No. 1 St James’s Street, London.
The collection comprises single-cask whiskies, rums and a cognac. It continues the Odyssey series, which Berry Bros. & Rudd first launched in 2024 as an ongoing set of themed annual releases connected by a shared influence.
The Auld and the Bold examines how Scotch whisky traditions have inspired producers across the globe. It also highlights the styles that continue to shape Scotland’s distilleries.
Send Me The 2026 Cask Buying Guide
Our Cask Buying Guide was the first independent guide written for private buyers and remains the most comprehensive available. No sales pitch or inflated promises, just clear, practical guidance on ownership, pricing, risks and what to check before you buy
"*" indicates required fields
Felix Dear, Spirits Curator at Berry Bros. & Rudd, explained the concept behind this year’s release. "For this year’s Odyssey collection, we wanted to explore the relationship between heritage and innovation," he said.
Dear added that Scotch whisky remains a global benchmark. "Scotch whisky remains the benchmark that has inspired generations of distillers, but some of the most exciting spirits being made today are emerging from places far beyond Scotland."
He also described what unites the bottlings. "Whether the spirit comes from Speyside, Tasmania, Yorkshire or New Zealand, what unites these bottlings is a commitment to character, craftsmanship and a strong sense of place," Dear said.
The Scottish whiskies show the breadth of Scotch. They range from the Glenlossie 1975, priced at £1,500.00, to the fruit-forward Glencadam and a Blair Athol finished in an unusual Viognier cask.
Sherry influence features in the Longmorn, Glen Garioch and Tamdhu bottlings. Peat and smoke define the Caol Ila, Williamson and Ruadh Mhor expressions.
Beyond Scotland, the collection includes whiskies from producers inspired by Scotch tradition. Australia’s Lark uses Tawny cask maturation, while India’s Paul John combines Scottish peat with tropical ageing.
New Zealand’s Thomson brings a Manuka-smoked character, and England’s Spirit of Yorkshire offers a vibrant, fruit-driven single malt. Denmark’s Thy and Finland’s Teerenpeli draw on Scotch techniques using local barley and climate.
Three Caribbean rums join the release. These include bottlings from Foursquare, Diamond and the sought-after Caroni, priced at £495.00. Completing the collection is a 35-year-old early-landed Cognac from Frapin, distilled in France and matured in the UK.
According to the official notes from the brand, the Foursquare rum leads with "coconut mushroom sweets, warm toffee and singed oak." The Frapin Cognac opens with "radiant orchard fruits and crème brûlée."
For more information on the Odyssey: The Auld and the Bold collection, visit www.bbr.com.