The Glenlivet has been producing whisky at its Speyside distillery in Scotland since 1824. But in the 21st century, The Glenlivet’s reach is global, with bottles found in dives, speakeasies, upscale establishments, liquor stores, and home bars in every corner of the seven continents (we assume there’s at least a bottle or two to be found in Antarctica).

To celebrate its extensive international footprint, the brand is reimagining its 12-Year-Old single malt — one of the world’s most popular single malts — with its new “Beyond Speyside” series, featuring the whisky with cask finishes from spirits around the world.

The first bottling in the series, The Glenlivet 12 Year Old Jamaica Edition, Treasure Beach, is finished for an undisclosed length of time in casks that formerly held Jamaican rum. “We wanted to venture beyond tradition to discover remarkable taste experiences and bring new dimension to our whisky,” says Kevin Balmforth, Glenlivet’s cask master. “Jamaica felt like the perfect place to begin as a destination full of vibrancy, warmth, and originality, much like our whisky itself.”

Balmforth sees Speyside and Jamaica as kindred spirits, beyond just the spirits they produce. “Both Scotland and Jamaica are defined by a deep connection to tradition and craftsmanship, but they each bring a distinct energy to the table,” he observes. “The Glenlivet has always stood for refinement and innovation, producing whiskies that balance fruit, floral notes, and smoothness. Jamaican rum, by contrast, is known for its intensity, vibrancy, and warmth. Together, they create a dialogue between worlds where Speyside’s refinement meets Jamaica’s rhythm and soul.”

The Jamaica Edition begins its life as a classic 12-year-old Glenlivet before its secondary maturation. Balmforth notes that the rum casks used are the same ones as for Glenlivet’s Caribbean Reserve rum cask-finished expression — he describes it as “a high-ester rum with notes of pineapple, banana, and toffee. We found the balance of flavors with a higher ester rum created the right flavor profile.”

However, with Jamaica Edition, “we experimented with a different, more generous cask ratio. Here we identified a balanced ratio that intensifies the tropical sweetness and amplifies the smooth finish, creating a richer and more expressive flavor profile that captures the Caribbean influence without overpowering the signature Speyside characteristics.”

The Glenlivet describes Jamaica Edition as having vibrant tropical aromas of fresh mango and pineapple with hints of coconut, balanced with a burst of green apple. On the palate, it offers fruity sweet notes of juicy pineapple, complemented by rich vanilla and toffee, culminating in a smooth and velvety caramel finish. It’s meant to be sipped neat, on the rocks, or in its signature cocktail, the Banana Old Fashioned, which features banana syrup and a banana leaf garnish.

To help spread the word about the Beyond Speyside series and the Jamaica Edition in particular, the Glenlivet has collaborated with renowned Scottish actor Thomas Doherty for a digital campaign.

Doherty, who has previously worked with the brand on its Glenlivet Tartan pattern, is touring and exploring the island with Miqueal-Symone Williams, a former Miss Universe Jamaica. Jamaican-Scottish menswear designer Nicholas Daley will also be creating a travel-focused capsule collection featuring The Glenlivet tartan, set to launch in 2026.

The Beyond Speyside series will become a permanent part of the Glenlivet range going forward, but the Jamaica Edition will only be available for a limited time. Exact quantities are not being disclosed, but production will cease at some point before reaching the next destination in the liquid travelogue in 2026.