At The Lakes, we hold a close affinity towards our friends in Japanese whisky distilleries. We share an unrelenting focus on learning, developing and continuously improving to create more flavour in our whisky. Constant introspection, innovation and a desire to learn from Scotch Whisky heritage but interpret it in our own way, align us as ‘new world’ whiskymakers. Perhaps without intending to, though always with an eye to developing the future of the brand, she created the most valuable whisky in the world. The Famous Grouse has launched The Famous One, its first blended whisky with an initial exclusive online retail period. Japan is a nation of drinkers who socialise in izakayas (an informal Japanese bar) to enjoy delicious highballs of Kirin, Suntory and Nikka inspired whisky with soda, accompanied almost always with food or otsumami. Sotheby’s are set to auction a bottle containing the world’s most valuable whisky, The Macallan Adami 1926.

Heavily influenced by our dark and sweet PX sherry casks, this is a decadent whisky, perfect after dinner or to relax and unwind.Softer and more porous, Spanish oak encourages a higher degree of interaction between spirit and cask. The more open grain allows the whisky to travel deeper into the wood, drawing out rich and intense flavours, as well as creating a beautiful and natural colour. In the meantime, why not try The One, or one of our other cask expressions, The One Colheita, or The One Manzanilla Cask Finished whiskies? To add to the whisky's rarity, this is the first bottle to have undergone reconditioning by The Macallan Distillery ahead of being presented at auction. Principally matured in European oak Oloroso and PX casks, this is a deep, rich and intense whisky. Where, traditionally, we use American, French, and Spanish oak to create a timeless sherry-led whisky, with The One Sherry Cask Finished, it is the characters of Spanish wood which bring a new dimension to the flavour profile. Joakim Leijon, global brand director at The Famous Grouse, said: "We wanted to create a blend that allowed people enjoying whisky for the first time to explore a softer, sweeter, flavour profile. The Famous One retains all the brand's complexity and smooth texture, but with the additional honeyed, citrus and vanilla characters, it truly stands out on its own.

Once stirred, a garnish of lemon or lime zest or a wedge of citrus fruit juiced into the drink will complement almost every whisky choice. The nutty, vanilla and orchard fruit flavours in a whisky will generally always benefit from citrus twist in a whisky highball - simply pinch a strip of orange or lemon peel to release the citrus oils before adding to your drink with a flourish. The aim was to create a modern and more indulgent take on The Famous Grouse: one that is still perfect for sharing with friends but designed to be enjoyed in a range of smooth, sweet whisky serves." The famed Scotch whisky brand said The Famous One had been developed "with all the complexity, smooth taste, quality and character" of its classic blend. It uses a blend of grain and malt whiskies selected by The Famous Grouse master blender and matured in sherry-seasoned American oak casks and ex-Bourbon casks.

You can use any whisky that you personally favour to make a whisky highball – from a grassy peaty single malt, vanilla laced Bourbon, or ginger spiced blended whisky.