Every year, leading wine and spirits brands never fail to introduce new releases that honour tradition and craftsmanship while revealing innovations in the industry. Whether it’s a limited-edition blend of cognac created by a seasoned master blender or an exclusive gin that’s distilled with a unique ingredient harvested at the peak of its season, there’s always something exciting for consumers and collectors to look forward to.
If you’re looking around for new and limited-edition expressions that are worth adding to your alcohol cabinet, then you’ve come to the right place. Ahead, we’ve gleaned some of the most anticipated alcohol launches in Malaysia that are worth collecting and clinking glasses with like-minded friends.
[Note: This article will be updated throughout 2024 as more releases become available in the market.]
Martell Single Cru Collection
Maison Martell proudly introduces the Martell Single Cru collection – paying homage to the four unique grand crus of the Cognac region. Crafted by Cellar Master Christophe Valtaud, the collection comprises only eaux-de-vie that offers the most precise personality, aroma, ageing potential and authentic expression of the terroir it represents. The collection is categorised into three editions, ranging from the core Discovery Edition to a selection of rare and extra-rare vintages.
The Discovery Edition presents an introduction to the three main crus of the Cognac region: Fin Bois, Borderies and Petite Champagne. Meanwhile, the Martell Single Cru Aged Edition features eaux-de-vie from the two most exclusive Cognac terroirs: Borderies and Grand Champagne. Lastly, the Vintage Edition is reserved for exceptional cognacs that represent a single eau-de-vie sourced from a single terroir in a single year. This is carefully selected by the Cellar Master, who determines the defining point at which an eau-de-vie is ready to reveal its finest, purest and rarest qualities. A new cognac will be added to the Vintage Edition each year, starting with the Martell Single Cru Borderies 1999.
READ MORE: Explore the four grand crus of Cognac with Martell’s Single Cru Collection
Price:
The Discovery Edition: RM580 per bottle / RM620 per bottle of the Martell Borderies
Aged Edition: Martell Single Cru XO Grande Champagne – RM1,440 | Martell Single Cru XXO Borderies – RM2,830
Vintage Edition: Martell Single Cru Borderies 1999 – RM10,800 (limited quantities)
For more information, visit martell.com.
Rémy Martin 300 Anniversary Coupe
In celebration of its 300th anniversary this year, the House of Rémy Martin has unveiled its limited-edition 300th Anniversary Coupe, which pays tribute to the past, present and future of the Maison. Rémy Martin Cellar Master Baptiste Loiseau drew on the Maison’s 290th Coupe – which was nourished by the eaux-de-vie from the 275th Coupe before it – and enriched this collective work with a special selection of harmonious, elegant eaux-de-vie from Grand Champagne.
The 300th Anniversary Coupe is housed in a glass carafe inspired by the iconic shape of the 250th Anniversary Coupe created in 1974. It is enhanced with embossed lines that represent the forward motion of the Rémy Martin Centaur’s javelin, the iconic emblem of the Maison since 1870. Each decanter is unique, numbered, sealed and comes with its own bespoke wooden case containing a special note from the Cellar Master, along with a unique code to access exclusive digital content on remymartin.com.
Inside, the cognac boasts a luminous amber patina, with bright aromas of candied orange and passion fruit on the nose, rounded off by a delicate combination of sandalwood, mixed spices, and floral notes. On the palate, the spirit holds an impressive structure that bursts with candied fruit and passion fruit notes. This is complemented by hints of figs, exotic fruits, and nuts, leaving a lingering elegant, fruity, and oaky finish.
Only 6,724 units of the 300th Anniversary Coupe are available worldwide, 84 of which are made available in Malaysia. Interested customers may purchase the bottle at The Chamber (The Starhill, Pavilion Bukit Jalil, Sunway Pyramid), BSC Fine Foods, B.I.G Publika, and Hank’s The Gardens Mall.
READ MORE: Rémy Martin dreams forward with limited-edition 300th Anniversary Coupe
For more information, visit remymartin.com.
The Glenlivet 12-Year-Old 200 Anniversary Edition
To commemorate its illustrious 200-year-old history, The Glenlivet has launched its 12 Year Old 200 Year Anniversary Edition – the first of a series of limited editions that will be released throughout the year. Offering a unique take on the iconic blend, this special release is matured in 100% first-fill American Oak casks and presented at 43% ABV. It offers the perfect balance of sweet and fruity notes with honeycomb and zesty orange hints, and a long vanilla finish.
Designed by Studio Berdi in Bogota, Colombia, the commemorative bottle was discovered through a crowdsourcing campaign that welcomed independent artists from around the world to participate in breaking traditions with limited-edition design. The winning design was selected from over 400 designs submitted by artists in 42 countries, embodying 200 years of the distillery’s history and its brand ethos of “forever moving forwards” – from its inception by visionary founder George Smith to its current status as a pioneering single malt.
The Glenlivet 12 Year Old 200 Year Anniversary Edition can be found at selected wine and spirits retails stores in Malaysia such as The Chamber, The Bottle Thirsty Spirits, Wine Warehouse, Magnum Wine & Spirits and WL Wine and Liquor, as well as selected premium supermarkets.
Price: From RM423
For more information, visit theglenlivet.com.
Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition
In conjunction with Japan’s spring season, Roku Gin released the Sakura Bloom Edition, a limited-edition gin that embodies the Japanese concept of “shun”. This marks an important milestone in the House of Suntory’s Festival Collection with the first release in this global series of exceptional Roku Gin spirits made to capture the essence of each season.
Crafted by master distillers using a careful selection of six botanicals, the Roku Sakura Bloom Edition has a soft, elegant, and sweet floral profile. Each sip is delicately layered with hints of saltiness from the blossom leaves, resulting in a gin that is as complex as it is refreshing.
The Roku Sakura Bloom Edition is available for a limited time both online via ChillOut, Nomu, E-Bar, Whiskery, Tong Woh and in selected retail locations across Malaysia such as Village Grocer, Jaya Grocer, BIG, and Pavilion Bukit Jalil starting from 14 May 2024.
Price: From RM260
For more information, visit rokugin-sakurabloom.com.
Hennessy Master Blender’s Selection No.5
Hennessy has announced the latest addition to the Master Blender’s Selection series: Master Blender’s Selection No 5. Breaking a three-year hiatus since the last release in 2021, this limited-edition blend is a result of tradition, innovation, artistry and the expertise of the Maison’s distillers.
Created under the expertise of Renaud Fillioux de Gironde, 8th Generation Master Blender at Hennessy, the Master Blender’s Selection No. 5 is crafted from a careful selection of eaux-de-vie from 18 unique families of distillers, followed by a maturation period of at least seven years in French oak barrels. This process merges the characteristics and personalities of the eaux-de-vie to create an unparalleled cognac with complex aromas.
On the nose, it offers spice and candied orange notes, leading to a smooth palate with hints of cocoa, sweet spices, and a creamy texture, followed by nuances of light tobacco and candied orange. It is also Hennessy’s only cognac bottled at 43% ABV. The Master Blender’s Selection No. 5 will be available from 7th May 2024 exclusively at selected retailers in Malaysia.
Belvedere 10
True to the brand’s innovative spirit, Belvedere has unveiled the world’s first luxury vodka – the Belvedere 10. The name is inspired by the vodka-making process used in 1910 when the distillery was first established, paying tribute to its origins. That recipe has been remastered for a new generation that demands perfection, thus resulting in a meticulous production process consisting of one rye, one farm, one field, and one harvest.
Specifically, the Belvedere 10 begins with a single harvest of organic Diamond Rye, grown in a single field on an estate in north-east Poland. Crafted in small batches, the spirit is distilled four times to elevate the texture, depth, and dimensions of the spirit. It is then rested for exactly 10 months to create a velvety smooth mouthfeel.
The resulting liquid offers a blend of coconut, cacao and vanilla notes with a hint of fresh lemon on the nose. Its creamy palate is enhanced with light honeyed sweetness, bursts of caramel and green coffee, followed by lasting hints of nutty praline and rich dark cacao. Befitting its multifaceted character, the Belvedere 10 comes in a white geometric totem-like flacon that exudes elegance and opulence.
For more information, visit belvederevodka.com.