To celebrate the launch of this year’s Diageo Special Releases we’ve updated our complete auction collector’s guide to Diageo Special Releases.
All of the whiskies came from distilleries owned by Diageo or its forbears and were almost always bottled at cask strength in limited numbers.
The series was created on the back of the success of the Rare Malts Collection and began life targeted towards educated whisky consumers and collectors.
A total of 38 distilleries and two blends have featured since the inception of the Special Releases in 2001.
Below I’ve compiled a complete collector’s list of all the Special Releases ever bottled, with recommended retail release prices, but first I spoke to Nick Morgan who was responsible for setting up the Special Releases programme when he was global marketing director for Diageo’s malt whiskies back in 2001.
Nick Morgan with his whisky books. A Long Stride and Everything You Need To Know About Whisky.
What was the original purpose of the Special Releases?
I was managing the Rare Malts programme which was a very time consuming and fiddly exercise, with relatively limited reward as the original pricing for them had been so conservative, it would have been a steep climb to get them to where they needed to be.
It was also hard to maintain the ‘rules’ of rotation and age that we had set ourselves for each of the twice yearly bottlings. It was just a faff. We had pretty good sight of the Diageo inventory by this stage so knew that we had some really interesting old and rare whiskies to play with which were all in remarkably good condition. Some of which were being sold to independent bottlers, which just seemed ridiculous, so we thought we would try take control of the keys to the sweetshop. It also gave us a chance to bring back some old favourites like Lagavulin 12.
It was a chance to bring some truly special whiskies to the market and to make a bit of money. Whiskies at a price that consumers could afford and still afford to enjoy the whiskies. I remember one of the things we talked about when we formulated the idea was ‘demonstrating industry leadership in single malts’. We wanted the trade and consumers to take us seriously. I think we achieved that.
How did they become known as annual Special Releases?
In Diageo every bottling campaign had to have a name, and this one got ‘Special Releases’, I suppose because they were special whiskies and it was a special campaign. It was never dreamt up as a trade or consumer facing name, that just happened by accident.
Was the intention that they were always going to be released annually?
Yes. We had got stuck doing two Rare Malts releases each year and didn’t want to fall into the same trap.
Did the series achieve what it set out to do?
More than. When we started there were sceptics who doubted we would be able to sell bottles at £100 or more.
No one in Diageo was really that interested when we started the Special Releases, we were derided by some as ‘hobbyists’. It was only when people began to realise how much money could be made from them that heads started to turn.
Clearly over the years they have become very important for the value they generate for Diageo, even if the selection of whiskies is quite different these days. And as I said, it certainly helped put Diageo malts on the map, and made people realise that we were as passionate about them, and took them just as seriously, as anyone else.
In what way have Diageo Special Releases influenced the whisky industry as a whole?
I do believe they were game changing in terms of the production and marketing of rare and collectible whiskies.
Why has the Special Releases mission evolved?
There’s only so much Glenury Royal or Convalmore in the world.
There was always going to be a point when the real stars of the programme were going to run out, and the marketeers would have to find other ways to try to generate equivalent interest and value with perhaps less rare or unusual whiskies in the inventory.
I think that’s what has been happening over the past five years or so.
What would you have done differently?
Charged more at the beginning for whiskies like Port Ellen and Brora. The moaners always used to moan about the pricing, but we were behind the game from the start.
Any regrets?
Well I regret stoking the flames of greed that now burn so strongly in the world of malt whisky. I think the obsession with high prices and flipping brands on the secondary market took a lot of pleasure out of what was originally quite an innocent, and in some senses, naïve programme.
Diageo Special Releases – Complete List
Here’s what you need to know about Diageo Special Releases, starting from the very beginning in 2001.
Diageo Special Releases 2001
Back at the dawn of the new century there were just two limited editions in the inaugural 2001 Diageo Special Releases.
While the Talisker 28 Year Old is is listed here because it is sometimes (wrongly!) referred to as one of the Special Releases this was, more acurately, an Oddbins exclusive.
Port Ellen 22 Year Old 1979 56.2% ABV
6,000 bottles
£110
Talisker 25 Year Old 1975 59.9% ABV
6,000 bottles
£95
Talisker 1973 28 Year Old 43.3% ABV
100 bottles
£495
Diageo Special Releases 2002
The 2002 Diageo Special Releases now included seven single malts.
3,000 bottles
£150
Port Ellen 24 Year Old 1978 59.35% ABV
12,000 bottles
£110
Oban 32 Year Old 1969 55.1% ABV
6,000 bottles
£175
Dalwhinnie 1966 36 Year Old 47.2% ABV
1,500 bottles
£300
Talisker 20 Year Old 1981 62% ABV
9,000 bottles
£80 (70cl)
Talisker 20 Year Old 1981 59.7% ABV
(75cl for USA)
Lagavulin 25 Year Old 57.2% ABV
9,000 bottles
£125
Quantity unknown
£40
Diageo Special Releases 2003
The 2002 Diageo Special Releases included nine single malts.
Cragganmore 29 Year Old 1973 52.5% ABV
6,000 bottles
£140
Glen Elgin 32 Year Old 1971 42.3% ABV
1,500 bottles
£310
Glen Ord 28 Year Old 1975 58.3% ABV
3,600 bottles
£180
Glenury Royal 50 Year Old 1953 42.8% ABV
500 bottles
£950
3,000 bottles
£175
Port Ellen 24 Year Old 1979 57.3% ABV
9,000 bottles
£110
Dalwhinnie 29 Year Old 1973 57.8% ABV
5,250 bottles
£150
Talisker 20 Year Old 1982 58.8% ABV
12,000 bottles
£90
Lagavulin 12 Year Old 57.8% ABV
quantity unknown
£40
Diageo Special Releases 2004
The 2004 Diageo Special Releases included Caol Ila for the first time as well as Mortlach and Linlithgow-St Magdalene.
Caol Ila 25 Year Old 1978 59.4% ABV
6,000 bottles
£100
Mortlach 32 Year Old 1971 50.1% ABV
2,160 bottles
£280
Linlithgow-St Magdalene 30 Year Old 1973 59.6% ABV
1,500 bottles
£250
Glen Ord 25 Year Old 1978 58.2%
3,600 bottles
£100
Oban 20 Year Old 1984 57.9% ABV
1,260 bottles
£150
Cragganmore 10 Year Old 1993 60.1% ABV
15,000 bottles
£40
Talisker 25 Year Old 57.8% ABV
Quantity unknown
£105
Port Ellen 25 Year Old 1978 56.2% ABV
5,100 bottles
£110
3,000
£175
Lagavulin 12 Year Old 58.2% ABV
Quantity unknown
£40
Diageo Special Releases 2005
The 2005 Diageo Special Releases took on three more distilleries Cardhu, Brechin-North Port and Convalmore.
Cardhu was only available in France and Spain.
Brechin 28 Year Old 1977 53.3% ABV
2,040 bottles
£125
Convalmore 28 Year Old 1977 57.9% ABV
3,900 bottles
£95
3,900 bottles
€140
Talisker 25 Year Old 57.2% ABV
15,600 bottles
£105
Caol Ila 25 Year Old 1979 58.4% ABV
6,000 bottles
£100
Glen Ord 30 Year Old 58.7% ABV
6,000 bottles
£150
Glenury Royal 36 Year Old 1968 51.2% ABV
2,100 bottles
£495
3,000 bottles
£175
Port Ellen 25 Year Old 1979 57.4% ABV
5,280 bottles
£120
Lagavulin 12 Year Old 57.7% ABV
Quantity unknown
£40
Diageo Special Releases 2006
The 2006 Diageo Special Releases was a textbook year with no distilleries added to the classic line up
Caol Ila 8 Years Old 1997 59.8% ABV
12,990 bottles
£32
Cragganmore 17 Year Old 1988 55.5% ABV
5,970 bottles
£55
Dalwhinnie 20 Year Old 1986 56.8% ABV
4,200 bottles
£90
Talisker 25 Year Old 56.9% ABV
4,860 bottles
£105
Talisker 30 Year Old 51.9% ABV
3,000 bottles
£160
Port Ellen 27 Year Old 1978 54.2% ABV
4,560 bottles
£125
2,130 bottles
£175
Lagavulin 30 Year Old 1976 52.6% ABV
2,340 bottles
£210
Lagavulin 12 Year Old 57.5% ABV
Quantity unknown
£40
Diageo Special Releases 2007
The 2007 Diageo Special Releases saw its first Rosebank and Glenkinchie as well as its first No Age Statement (NAS) whisky. It also included an oddity Royal Lochnagar bottled at 43% ABV.
Rosebank 25 Year Old 1981 61.4% ABV
4,710 bottles
£130
4,710 bottles
£125
Glenkinchie 20 Year Old 58.4% ABV
5,124 bottles
£70
Talisker 25 Year Old 58.1% ABV
6,894 bottles
£120
Talisker 30 Year Old 50.7% ABV
2,958 bottles
£180
Lagavulin 12 Year Old 56.4% ABV
Quantity unknown
£42
Lagavulin 21 Year Old 1985 56.5% ABV
6,642 bottles
£110
Caol Ila 8 Year Old 1998 64.9% ABV
9,690 bottles
£33
Glenury Royal 36 Year Old 1970 57.9% ABV
1,926 bottles
£500
2,958 bottles
£190
Port Ellen 28 Year Old 1979 53.8% ABV
5,274 bottles
£140
Diageo Special Releases 2008
The post-credit crunch 2008 Diageo Special Releases experimented with a triptych of Linkwood aged in different cask types. The experiment was never repeated.
Linkwood 26 Year Old Port 56.9% ABV
1,260 bottles
£130
Linkwood 26 Year Old Rum 54.5% ABV
1,260 bottles
£130
Linkwood 26 Year Old Sweet Red Wine 55.5%
1,260 bottles
£130
Caol Ila 8 Year Old 1999 64.2% ABV
5,664 bottles
£43
Glen Elgin 16 Year Old 1991 58.5% ABV
9,954 bottles
£52
Talisker 25 Year Old 54.2% ABV
6,708 bottles
£132
Talisker 30 Year Old 49.5% ABV
3,000 bottles
£205
3,000 bottles
£175
Port Ellen 29 Year Old 1978 55.3% ABV
6,660 bottles
£180
Lagavulin 12 Year Old 56.4% ABV
Quantity unknown
£50
Diageo Special Releases 2009
Three distilleries were introduced to the 2009 Diageo Special Releases.
Benrinnes 23 Year Old 1985 58.8% ABV
6,000 bottles
£150
Mannochmore 18 Year Old 1990 54.9% ABV
2,604 bottles
£105
Pittyvaich 20 Year Old 1989 57.5% ABV
6,000 bottles
£115
Talisker 25 Year Old 54.8% ABV
5,862 bottles
£150
Talisker 30 Year Old 53.1% ABV
3,000 bottles
£215
Caol Ila 10 Year Old 1998 65.8% ABV
6,000 bottles
£43
Lagavulin 12 Year Old 57.9% ABV
Quantity unknown
£57
2,958 bottles
£230
Port Ellen 30 Year Old 1979 57.7% ABV
5,916 bottles
£200
Diageo Special Releases 2010
Glen Spey made its first and last appearance in the 2010 Special Releases along with a first release for Auchroisk.
Glen Spey 21 Year Old 1989 50.4% ABV
6,000 bottles
£120
Auchroisk 20 Year Old 58.1% ABV
6,000 bottles
£115
Glenkinchie 20 Year Old 1990 55.1% ABV
6,000
£125
Caol Ila 12 Year Old 1997 57.6% ABV
6,000 bottles
£52
Talisker 30 Year Old 57.3% ABV
3,000 bottles
£230
2,958 bottles
£280
Port Ellen 31 Year Old 1978 54.6% ABV
3,000 bottles
£250
Cragganmore 21 Year Old 1989 56% ABV
6,000 bottles
£135
Lagavulin 12 Year Old 56.5% ABV
Quantity unknown
£59
Diageo Special Releases 2011
2011 Diageo Special Releases saw the first grain whisky, a Port Dundas Lowland grain distillery, to be included.
Knockando was bottled at 43% ABV rather than cask strength.
Glenury Royal was bottled in 2011 and officially included in 2011’s releases but only arrived onto the market in 2012 following an undisclosed bottling issue (and hence nicknamed ‘Glen Awry’ by some whisky wits).
Port Dundas 20 Year Old 1990 57.4% ABV
1,920 bottles
£110
Knockando 25 Year Old 1985 43% ABV
4,500 bottles
£135
Glenury Royal 40 Year Old 1970 59.4% ABV
1,404 bottles
£525
Lagavulin 12 Year Old 57.5% ABV
Quantity unknown
£63
Rosebank 21 Year Old 1990 53.8% ABV
5,886 bottles
£160
Port Ellen 32 Year Old 1979 53.9% ABV
2,988 bottles
£300
1,500 bottles
£300
6,000 bottles
£55
Diageo Special Releases 2012
The 2012 Diageo Special Releases was ‘reassuringly expensive’ we were told that ‘Bottlings will continue until stocks are exhausted, with numbers usually limited to between 100 and 6,000 of each make bottle.‘
Dalwhinnie 25 Year Old 1987 52.1% ABV
5,358 bottles
£185
Auchroisk 30 Year Old 1981 54.7% ABV
2,976 bottles
£230
Caol Ila 14 Year Old 1997 59.3% ABV
5,958 bottles
£66
Lagavulin 12 Year Old 56.1% ABV
Quantity unknown
£71
Lagavlin 21 Year Old 1991 52% ABV
2,772 bottles
£350
Talisker 35 Year Old 1977 54.6% ABV
3,090 bottles
£525
Port Ellen 32 Year Old 1979 52.5% ABV
2,964% ABV
£600
Brora 35 Year Old 1976-1977 48.1% ABV
1,566 bottles
£400
Diageo Special Releases 2013 ‘Exquisitely Rare’
2013 Diageo Special Releases saw dramatic price increases for Brora and Port Ellen, perhaps in the hope of capturing Bordeaux wine investors who were beginning to abandon ever increasing En Primeur prices.
In compensation a new superhero, Dufftown was drafted in for the first time as ‘The Singleton’ franchise got absorbed into the Special Releases saga.
Singleton of Dufftown 28 Year Old 1985 52.3% ABV
3,816 bottles
£235
Brora 35 Year Old 1977 49.9% ABV
2,944 bottles
£750
Port Ellen 34 Year Old 1978 55% ABV
2,958 bottles
£1,500
Quantity unknown
£70
Cardhu 21 Year Old 1991 54.2% ABV
6,000 bottles
£160
Convalmore 36 Year Old 1977 58% ABV
2,980 bottles
£600
Oban 21 Year Old 58.5% ABV
2,860 bottles
£225
Lagavulin 12 Year Old 55.1% ABV
Quantity unknown
£80
Lagavulin 37 Year Old 1976 51% ABV
1,868 bottles
£1,950
Talisker 27 Year Old 1985 56.1% ABV
3,000 bottles
£475
Diageo Special Releases 2014 ‘Extraordinary and Exquisite flavours of Scotland’
There were eleven single malts ‘rigorously selected from rare, precious stocks by a team of experts’ in the 2014 Diageo Special Releases.
Dr Nick Morgan, then Diageo’s head of whisky outreach was ‘astonished that each year we manage to find such a remarkable and varied range of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies for our Special Releases‘.
Dr Jim Beveridge, then Johnnie Walker master blender was named as the person who crafted the ‘richly mature and complex Clynelish’ using individually selected casks from some of the distillery’s oldest reserves, all aged for at least fifteen years.
Maureen Robinson, then Diageo’s master blender was ‘delighted with the Singleton of Glendullan 38 year old, which bursts with the vibrant, fruity flavours that the distillery is famed for.‘
3,000 bottles
£500
Singleton of Glendullan 38 Year Old 1976 60.8% ABV
2,800 bottles
£750
Strathmill 25 Year Old 1988 52.4% ABV
3,500 bottles
£275
Benrinnes 21 Year Old 1992 56.9% ABV
3,500 bottles
£240
Caol Ila 15 Year Old 1998 61.5% ABV
Quantity unknown
£75
Caol Ila 30 Year Old 1983 55.1% ABV
6,300 bottles
£425
Cragganmore 25 Year Old 1988 58.5% ABV
3,500 bottles
£299
Rosebank 21 Year Old 1992 55.3% ABV
4,000 bottles
£300
Lagavulin 12 Year Old 56.4% ABV
Quantity unknown
£80
Brora 35 Year Old 1978 48.6% ABV
3,000 bottles
£1,200
Port Ellen 35 Year Old 1978 56.5% ABV
3,000 bottles
£2,200
Diageo Special Releases 2015 ‘Impeccably Crafted Favours Of Scotland’
2015 Diageo Special Releases again included a curiously peaty unpeated Caol Ila.
The clean, fresh and fruity Cally Single Grain was the oldest Caledonian ever released.
Dr Nick Morgan, then Diageo’s head of whisky outreach was ‘thrilled to share the collection with whisky experts everywhere.‘
Dr Jim Beveridge, then Johnnie Walker master blender had ‘created another richly mature and complex Clynelish Select Reserve’
‘The Cally’ Caledonian 40 Year Old 1974 53.3% ABV
5,097 bottles
£750
Dailuaine 34 Year Old 1980 50.9% ABV
£3,000 bottles
£380
Lagavulin 12 Year Old 56.8% ABV
Quantity unknown
£80
Caol Ila Unpeated 17 Year Old 1997 55.9% ABV
Quantity unknown
£90
Pittyvaich 25 Year Old 1989 49.9% ABV
6,000 bottles
£250
3,000 bottles
£550
Dalwhinnie 25 Year Old 1989 48.8% ABV
6,000 bottles
£325
Brora 37 Year Old 1977 50.4% ABV
3,000 bottles
£1,300
Port Ellen 32 Year Old 1983 53.9% ABV
3,000 bottles
£2,400
Diageo Special Releases 2016 ‘Impeccably Crafted Favours Of Scotland’
For 2016’s Diageo Special Releases the ‘vanishingly rare‘ Cambus 40 was the year’s oldest release and only the third ever single grain from the series.
Dr Nick Morgan, Diageo’s then head of whisky outreach said: ‘The variety and quality of whiskies in the collection is simply fantastic, and once again we’re confident enthusiasts will discover new favourites in unusual and rare releases‘
Cambus 40 Year Old 1975 52.7% ABV
1,812 bottles
£950
Auchroisk 25 Year Old 1990 51.2% ABV
3,954 bottles
£1,450
Mannochmore 25 Year Old 199o 53.4% ABV
3,954 bottles
£350
Glenkinchie 25 Year Old 1991 57.2% ABV
5,928 bottles
£300
4,932 bottles
£550
Linkwood 37 Year Old 1978 50.3% ABV
6,114 bottles
£600
Lagavulin 12 Year Old 57.7% ABV
Quantity unknown
£80
Caol Ila Unpeated 15 Year Old 2000 61.5% ABV
Quantity unknown
£90
Brora 38 Year Old 1977 48.6% ABV
2,984 bottles
£1,450
Port Ellen 37 Year Old 1978 55.2% ABV
2,940 bottles
£2,500
Diageo Special Releases 2017 ‘Impeccably Crafted Favours Of Scotland’
The 2017 Diageo Special Releases became remembered as Brora and Port Ellen’s final performance in the series.
At the time of their release Dr Nick Morgan, then Diageo’s head of whisky outreach was particularly ‘keen to see the response to the new Collectivium XXVIII.’
Quantity unknown
£150
Blair Athol 23 Year Old 1993 58.4% ABV
5,514
£400
Port Dundas 52 Year Old 1964 44.6% ABV
752 bottles
£775
Lagavulin 12 Year Old 56.5% ABV
Quantity unknown
£90
Caol Ila Unpeated 18 Year Old 59.8%
Quantity unknown
£100
Teaninich 17 Year Old 1999 55.9% ABV
Quantity unknown
£275
Convalmore 32 Year Old 1984 48.2% ABV
3,972 bottles
£1,200
Glen Elgin 18 Year Old 1998 54.8% ABV
5,352 bottles
£300
Brora 34 Year Old 1982 51.9% ABV
3,000 bottles
£1,450
Port Ellen 37 Year Old 1979 51% ABV
2,988 bottles
£2,625
Diageo Special Releases 2018 ‘Impeccably Crafted’
2018 Diageo Special Releases saw the first appearance Carsebridge, Inchgower and ‘Cladach’, a blended malt from Diageo’s six coastal distilleries and an 8 year old Talisker.
Each whisky within the 2018 Special Releases represented ‘a fragment of Scotch Whisky history’ and ‘an extra special and rare opportunity to collect bottles’
Carsebridge (Grain) 48 Year Old 1970 43.2% ABV
1,000 bottles
£750
Inchgower 27 Year Old 1990 55.3% ABV
8,544 bottles
£295
Cladach Blended Malt NAS 57.1% ABV
Quantity unknown
£152
Lagavulin 12 Year Old 2005 57.8% ABV
Quantity unknown
£108
Caol Ila Unpeated 15 Year Old 2002 59.1% ABV
Quantity unknown
£97.95
Caol Ila 35 Year Old 1982 58.1% ABV
3,276 bottles
£660
Talisker 8 Year Old 2009 59.4% ABV
Quantity unknown
£68.95
Oban 21 Year Old 1996 57.2% ABV
Quantity unknown
£445
Pittyvaich 28 Year Old 1989 52.1% ABV
4,680 bottles
£325
Singleton of Glen Ord 14 Year Old 2002 57.6% ABV
Quantity unknown
£99.95
Diageo Special Releases 2019 ‘Rare By Nature’
The 2019 Diageo Special Releases were inpired by the theme ‘Rare by Nature’. It was the first year the line up was launched with a visually unified packaging theme ‘evoking the distinctive nature and characteristics of each distillery‘.
Whisky enthusiasts were invited to ‘uncover each distillery’s story one by one’ and explore ‘the varied surroundings of each distillery celebrated on its bottle’.
‘Double’ matured in Amontillado sherry seasoned hogsheads
4,860 bottles
£120
Cragganmore 12 Year Old 58.4% ABV
From medium peated, refill American oak casks
Quantity unknown
£85
Dalwhinnie 30 Year Old 54.7% ABV
From refill hogsheads and butts
7,586 bottles
£500
Lagavulin 12 Year Old 56.5% ABV
From refill American oak casks
Quantity unknown
£110
Mortlach 26 Year Old 53.3% ABV
Fresh toasted first fill Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso Sherry seasoned casks
3,883 bottles
£1,500
Pittyvaich 29 Year Old 51.4% ABV
Double matured in Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry seasoned bodega casks
4,976 bottles
£330
Talisker 15 Year Old 57.3% ABV
Freshly charred American oak hogsheads
Quantity unknown
£110
The Singleton of Glen Ord 18 Year Old 55% ABV
Fresh charred American oak hogsheads
Quantity unknown
£130
Diageo Special Releases 2020 ‘Rare By Nature’
The 2020 Diageo Special Releases of ‘eight vibrant expressions carefully chosen to bring a taste of Scotland to every enthusiast’s home‘ came out in a year of Covid lock downs with an ‘encore theme‘.
From refill, new, and ex-bourbon American oak
Quantity unknown
£85
Cragganmore 20 Year Old 55.8% ABV
From refill casks and new fresh charred casks
Quantity unknown
£130
Dalwhinnie 30 Year Old 51.9% ABV
From refill hogsheads
6,978 bottles
£550
Lagavulin 12 Year Old 56.4% ABV
From refill American oak casks
Quantity unknown
£125
Mortlach 21 Year Old 56.9% ABV
From Pedro Ximenez & Oloroso Sherry seasoned casks
7,692 bottles
£575
Pittyvaich 30 Year Old 50.8% ABV
From first fill bourbon casks
7,056 bottles
£400
From pot-still Caribbean rum casks.
Quantity unknown
£90
The Singleton of Dufftown 17 Year Old 55.1% ABV
Matured only in refill American oak hogsheads
Quantity unknown
£110
Diageo Special Releases 2021 ‘Legends Untold’
The 2021 Special Releases were unveiled on 30 September 2021 with augmented reality (activated by a QR code on the packaging), illustrations of mythical creatures by Ken Taylor, and its own filmic plot. The press release captures the post lockdown vibe of the time:
‘According to our ancient fables, otherworldly beings have fiercely protected the heartlands of remote Scottish distilleries for an eternity. This autumn by a twist of fate, the mythical creatures of the distilleries are set to come to life revealing their true characters. Drawn from some of Scotland’s most interesting, legendary distilleries, this collection nods to the hidden gems that can be found in each corner of the Scottish terrain amongst the lochs and rugged highlands. Guarded for only a privileged few to know and savour, this collection of whiskies will spark the imaginations of every whisky lover, spirit-enthusiast, and fantasist as soon as it touches their lips.’
The ‘one of a kind collection‘ was available in greater quantities than before. Master Blender Dr Craig Wilson explained that ‘the mythical creatures of this year’s collection represent the true expressions of the distilleries.’
This was not just whisky, it was a ‘multi sensory experience‘ designed to captivate our senses from the comfort of our own homes.
Mortlach 13 Year Old 55.9% ABV
Virgin and refill American oak casks
Quantity unknown
£135
Singleton of Glendullan 19 Year Old 54.6% ABV
Refill American oak casks, finished in cognac casks
Quantity unknown
£140
Heavily peated refill casks
Quantity unknown
£90
Lagavulin 26 Year Old 44.2% ABV
Pedro Ximenez/Oloroso seasoned first fill casks
7,542 bottles
£1,650
Lagavulin 12 Year Old 56.5% ABV
Refill American Oak casks
Quantity unknown
£130
Cardhu 14 Year Old 55.5% ABV
Refill American oak casks, finished in red wine casks
Quantity unknown
£120
Oban 12 Year Old 56.2% ABV
Freshly charred American Oak casks
Quantity unknown
£105
Royal Lochnagar 16 Year Old 57.5% ABV
American Oak and European Oak refill casks
Quantity unknown
£200
Diageo Special Releases 2022 ‘Elusive Expressions’
The 2022 Diageo Special Releases is a concept album named ‘Elusive Expressions Special Releases Scotch Whisky Collection‘.
The latest chapter was again illustrated by Ken Taylor and now also Kevin Tong with designs that ‘fuse fantasy, art and whisky‘ via ‘unconventional and immersive storytelling‘ in graphic novel style cocktail recipes for Special Releases fans to recreate at home.
Mortlach NAS 57.8% ABV
Refill American oak, virgin tawny port and red muscat seasoned casks
£250
Talisker 11 Year Old 55.1% ABV
American oak bourbon first fill, refill and wine seasoned casks
£110 (70cl)
£35 (20cl)
Lagavulin 12 Year Old 57.3% ABV
Heavily peated American oak refilled and virgin oak casks
£135 (70cl)
£42 (20cl)
The Singleton of Glen Ord 15 Year Old 54.2% ABV
Refill American and European oak
£120 (70cl)
£38 (20cl)
Cardhu 16 Year Old 58% ABV
Refill and recharred American Oak, Jamaican pot still rum seasoned casks
£160 (70cl)
£50 (20cl)
Oban 10 Year Old 57.1% ABV
Refill and new American oak and amontillado seasoned casks
£105
Cameronbridge 26 Year Old 56.2% ABV
Refill American oak casks
£275
Clynelish 12 Year Old 58.5% ABV
Refill American oak and Pedro Ximenez/Oloroso seasoned casks
£175
