Whisky to mark World Cup released in bottles kitted out in artwork inspired by Italia 90 and France 98

Limited edition whisky range timed to coincide with a summer of international football

Football’s coming home – and it’s bringing whisky. Spirits retailer and independent bottler Master of Malt has announced a five-expression limited edition whisky range timed to coincide with a summer of international football – whoever we’re cheering for.

The five-expression collection spans English, Scottish and Irish whisky, each bottle kitted out in label artwork by in-house duo Ben McKeown and Chris Gunter – inspired by the iconic kits of the Italia 90 and France 98 games – the tournaments a generation still talks about.

And while the luck of the Irish may have failed them during this year’s qualifiers, the collection still features an Irish whiskey. In whisky, as in football, you have to commit to your squad long before the final whistle – and a cracking whiskey transcends the result.

Adnams 9 Year Old — English Rye Whisky | £39.95

A striking single cask from Adnams in Southwold, Suffolk – one of England’s finest craft distilleries and producer of one of the best rye whiskies on the planet. Matured in a French oak wine cask, it’s creamy, spicy and irresistibly drinkable – orange cream, ginger, Victoria sponge and honey on the palate.

An English Distillery 12 Year Old — English Single Malt | £59.95

The best defence is a good offence – and this cask strength single malt from an undisclosed English distillery easily diffuses any shade non-believers can throw at English whisky. Matured in a bourbon cask, it’s bold and structured at full strength but rewards patience – add water and it opens up beautifully, revealing melon rind, molasses, ice cream and waffles.

A Highland Distillery 12 Year Old — Highland Single Malt | £44.95

Humble, proud, complex and approachable – a secret Highland single malt matured in an Oloroso cask that is a reflection of everything we love about Scotch whisky, and indeed, the Scottish people themselves. Fruity, nutty and terribly friendly on the nose, with roasted nuts, sultanas, salt and sweetness on the palate.

Ben Nevis 27 Year Old — Highland Single Malt | £249.95

This one plays in a different league. Distilled at Ben Nevis Distillery in Fort William in December 1998 – the month Scotland last played at a World Cup – this single cask has spent 27 years maturing through refill and refill PX casks before being disgorged in March 2026. Old Ben Nevis has character, integrity and depth, and at just 129 bottles, this is one of the most precious casks in the warehouse. Layered oak, spice and herbal notes on the nose; tropical fruit, melon rind, molasses and texture on the palate. The finish is complex, graceful and elegant.

Irish Whiskey 8 Year Old — Double Cask | £49.95

A game of two halves – a 13-year-old red wine barrique and an 8-year-old first-fill bourbon barrel from an undisclosed Irish distillery – that together produce something greater than the sum of its parts. Fresh and fruity on the nose, with fleshy sweetness balanced by oak and tannin on the palate, finishing on grapes, melon and vanilla custard.