Although Ian Fleming gave us a character who has often been associated with fine wines and spirits, his books regularly missed the mark on what a Scottish-born ex-navy man would choose from the drinks cabinet; Bond was the spy who loved bourbon more than Scotch. Via commercial tie-ins, recent movies have portrayed Bond (and even his protagonists) with more whisky patriotism – The Macallan 1962 Fine & Rare appears in Skyfall; an 18-year-old in Spectre.

That relationship (which is continuing under Amazon’s stewardship of Bond) has also unleashed creativity at the Speyside distillery. Following 2022’s The Macallan James Bond 60th Anniversary Release, celebrating the start of the (so far) 25-film franchise, this new release focuses on a single film: 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever. This was the last Eon Productions movie starring Sean Connery (who did later star as Bond again in the non-Eon remake of Thunderball, Never Say Never Again).

An anniversary of 55 years is somewhat random to glorify, but there is no 1966, ’76, ’86 or even ’96 Bond movie and, to be fair, as whisky maker Russell Greig began working on developing the whisky, the liquid and this movie seemed perfectly paired.

It is an 18-year-old single malt, specifically a 2007 vintage. Naturally, this being The Macallan, which co-owns Valdespino, one of the most revered bodegas in Jerez, sherry ageing is to the fore. One of the great displays of movie Bond’s connoisseurship (or snobbery, depending) is near the beginning of Diamonds Are Forever: Bond is offered a sherry and compliments it as ‘an unusually fine solera… ’51, I believe’. An impatient M corrects him: ‘There is no year for sherry, 007,’ to which Bond replies, ‘I was referring to the original vintage on which the sherry is based, sir… 1851.’

In Diamonds Are Forever, which begins with Bond investigating a plot to destabilise the diamond industry, everything is not as it seems, and there is a surprise in the tribute whisky too. The make-up includes American oak (as a nod to the Nevada location of much of the movie) whisky aged in an unusual cask for The Macallan – red wine. This is also a reference to another Bond booze gotcha moment, when an assassin posing as a sommelier doesn’t know that Mouton Rothschild is a claret.

The packaging captures moments like this in the film, with script excerpts and Ken Adam’s design sketches – and there is even a part of the script on the inside of the label that reveals, as you drink the whisky, a major plot twist.

There are a number of whisky makers at The Macallan, so there is a little friendly competition to take the lead on different projects. ‘With this one I kind of stayed quiet in the corner with my fingers crossed, to be honest,’ says Russell Greig. ‘I really wanted to do it. I was assistant whisky maker on the 60th Anniversary Release and saw how Kirsteen Campbell worked to tell a story through a whisky. And my creative juices were just flowing with ideas that reflected the film. Plus, as a Scot, I wanted to do one that had Sean Connery as Bond!’

As well as telling a story, the liquid he has delivered is a real treat – one that would appeal to The Macallan stalwarts and sceptics (they are out there!) alike. Bottled at 45.5% ABV, it has the red-brown colour of the Nevada desert’s Aztec sandstone. As well as those American oak notes on the nose – vanilla, sultanas, sweet spice – there are hints of dried red fruits, too. On the palate, what starts sweet, with chocolate and caramel, dries into cranberry and savoury spices, with a long, complex and shining finish.

‘Heartwarming, Mr Wint… a glowing tribute, Mr Kidd.’

The Macallan Diamonds Are Forever 55th Anniversary Release (£600) will be available via the distillery until 17 February, then at selected UK retailers from 5 March; themacallan.com