Limited edition Rza x Ballantine's whisky revealed - and there's a poem to prove it

The final collab with the legendary hip-hop producer is here...

Limited edition Rza x Ballantine's whisky revealed - and there's a poem to prove it

Wu-tang Clan founder and Hip-Hop legend Rza has swapped decks for drams for his latest release, teaming up with Ballantine's for a limited-edition whisky.

The Ballantine's 7 American Barrel x RZA Limited Edition is a nice mix-up of Scottish and American cultures and Rza, who is no stranger to penning lyrics, has created a poem in celebration.

ShortList is possession of a bottle of the whisky and it's stunning. The label features an intricate pattern constructed from the handwritten words of RZA’s poem, complete with the iconic Wu-Tang Clan hands.

Limited edition Rza x Ballantine whisky revealed - and there's a poem to prove it

Image Credit: Ballantine's

There have been a number of Rza x Ballantine's releases - you may remember the Ballantine's X Flying Goose Sriracha hot sauce one - but this one is said to be the culmination of this partnership.

Plus this is the only one where he penned a poem which you can read below:


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


And putting the process to the test we did, with a whisky taste test. You'll be pleased to read that this whisky 'ain’t nuthing ta f’ wit'.

Limited edition Rza x Ballantine whisky revealed - and there's a poem to prove it

Image Credit: Ballantine's

You can definitely get the infusion of the American Barrel, with the taste ending in a vanilla-caramel mix. This is one for those who like their whiskies on the sweeter side.

The Ballantine's 7 American Barrel x RZA Limited Edition is available now from from The Whiskey Exchange, priced at £37.95.

Marc Chacksfield
Content Director

As Content Director of Shortlist, Marc likes nothing more than to compile endless lists of an evening by candlelight. He started out life as a movie writer for numerous (now defunct) magazines and soon found himself online - editing a gaggle of gadget sites, including TechRadar, Digital Camera World and Tom's Guide UK. At Shortlist you'll find him mostly writing about movies and tech, so no change there then.