RZA pens poem to Ballantine’s whisky and Scotland

Wu-Tang Clan frontman RZA has penned a poem to Ballantine’s as the Scotch whisky brand launches a limited edition bottle to signal the culmination of their collaboration.

The frontman wrote the work alongside the launch of Ballantine’s 7 American Barre x RZA, and the bottle design is inspired by RZA’s poetry, which he wrote during his time with the distillery in Scotland.

According to Ballantine’s, the beauty of the surrounding green farmland, blankets of rolling clouds across Scottish Highland plains, and the whisky-making process inspired RZA to capture the experience in a poem that he then left in founder George Ballantine’s library.

The whisky aims to be a typical Scotch whisky meeting “American attitude” which the label containing an intricate pattern from the handwritten words of RZA’s poem, complete with the Wu-Tang Clan hands icon.

It is aged for seven years and finished in American oak barrels, combining the depth of Scotch whisky with the sweet touch of American oak to give a true fusion of both Scottish and US cultures.

The flavour profile includes creamy notes with the  vanilla and apple characteristics that form part of Ballantine’s signature style, as well as extra layers of sweet caramel from the American barrel.

When asked about creating the new bottle design RZA said: “This is a true representation of my entire journey with Ballantine’s. On my first visit to Speyside I found the land and the people so inspiring, it compelled me to capture the experience in a poem. To see this come to life through the bottle design is a true coming together of our cultures.”

Paul-André Vacheron, Ballantine’s Marketing Director at Chivas Brothers added: “Our shared belief in doing things your own way is what this collaboration is all about and the unique bottle design adorned with RZA’s words from his time in Scotland, is the perfect poetic note to end our journey together on.”

The bottle is the last of a number of releases as part of the RZA and Ballantine’s collaboration, including a bespoke Crosley record player and speaker, a fashion collaboration with Japanese streetwear brand Neighborhood, and a Ballantine’s inspired hot sauce with Flying Goose.

RZA’s Poem

Scotland, greenery on the countryside

Enjoying the scenery on a country ride

Stone cottages adorn the road on opposite sides

It seems beauty has no place to hide

Surrounded by farmland of sheep and grain

Blankets of clouds, skies preparing to release the rain

Showering life-giving water onto the Highland plains

That will be used to infuse the malt and then it’s drained

With the best parts separated from the rest

And we all take a sip, to put the process to its test