Scotch whisky brand Ballantine’s has revealed the latest stars honoured in its True Music Icons collection: Elton John and John Lennon. The artists are the inspiration behind two new special edition designs for Ballantine’s Finest.

The series began in 2023 with the inaugural release of the True Music Icons collection, which celebrated AC/DC and Queen. Ballantine’s recently marked a decade of its True Music platform, a programme which champions music communities.

The second edition of True Music Icons comes in the 50th year since John Lennon’s last live performance, when he appeared at the Madison Square Garden in 1974. Both limited edition labels are designed to reflect the individuality of the artist: the Lennon bottle design features his self-portrait sketch, while the Elton John release is inspired by his Dodger Stadium performance of 1975.

Paul-Andre Vacheron, global marketing director for Ballantine’s at Chivas Brothers, commented: “Ballantine's has a rich heritage in music and what better way to celebrate a decade of our True Music platform than by paying tribute to two of the 20th century's most revered music icons on our iconic Finest bottle.

“Both Elton John and John Lennon are artists who are all about doing things their own way. They have not only contributed to music culture, but defined it, by staying true to who they are — a mindset that reflects the spirit of what Ballantine’s stands for, inspired by our pioneering founder George Ballantine. We look forward to seeing these collectable designs rock out on shelves around the world.”

Earlier this year Ballantine’s collaborated with Wu-Tang Clan frontman RZA for another limited-edition release as part of the brand’s Stay True campaign.

Ballantine’s True Musical Icons Elton John and John Lennon Editions will be available to purchase from retailers worldwide from Monday 23 September.