Berry Bros & Rudd unveils limited-edition whisky set inspired by London’s last duel

Berry Bros & Rudd, the UK’s oldest wine and spirits merchant, has announced the release of a limited-edition whisky set called The Duel. The release comprises two rare single malt Scotch whiskies, with only 50 sets – each priced at £20,000- available from 1^st October 2025 via the company’s website. The launch pays homage to the historic last duel said to have taken place just behind the company’s flagship London premises on St James’s Street.

The Duel features two contrasting whiskies: Justice, a 54-year-old Speyside single malt from a classified distillery, and Honour, a 34-year-old Laphroaig from Islay. The concept behind the release is to represent the dual perspectives of a historic event – one rooted in fact, the other in romanticism. Justice is described as offering notes of golden honey, citrus peel and seasoned oak, with a dense texture and a composed, spicy finish. Honour, meanwhile, is characterised by smoky and meaty aromas, with sweet and mineralic undertones. Each whisky has been bottled in a hand-blown, lead-free decanter created by Dartington Crystal. The decanters are individually designed to reflect the character of each spirit: Justice features precise fluting, while Honour bears a mottled texture.

The set is housed in a custom display case made from eco-friendly jesmonite and engineered to present the two bottles in a mirrored choreography, echoing the ritual of a traditional duel where opponents begin back-to-back before turning to face one another. A brass coin rests between the bottles, intended as a mark of authenticity and a symbolic nod to the duel’s legacy.

Lizzy Rudd, chair of the company, said: “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.” Spirits curator Felix Dear added: “Our position as an independent bottler allows us the rare opportunity to bring together two whiskies which would never normally collide. The Duel offers an opportunity for a very limited number of buyers to explore the intersecting and contrasting narratives of both Justice and Honour and decide for themselves who triumphs.”

Food Desk

The Duel is released by Berry Bros & Rudd on 1^st October 2025. For further information, visit the brand’s website here.