Yes, it’s that time of the year again. Based on some label designs that were recently approved by the American Alcohol & Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (search for vendor code 14617 here), we already know what will come out of Diageo’s Special Releases hat shortly. At least we know six of the most important expressions.
Diageo Special Releases for 2015:
- Brora 37 Year Old (50,4%, OB 2015, 2078 btl.) – € 1750
- Caol Ila 17 Year Old 1997 “unpeated style” (55,9%, OB 2015, ex-bourbon barrels) – € 120
- Clynelish Select Reserve (56,1%, OB 2015, 2946 btl.) – € 750
- Dailuaine 34 Year Old 1980 (50,9%, OB 2015, 2952 btl.) – € 550
- Dalwhinnie 25 Year Old 1989 (48,8%, OB 2015, refill hogsheads, 5916 btl.) – € 440
- Lagavulin 12 Year Old (56,8%, OB 2015, 15th release) – € 100
- Port Ellen 32 Year Old 1983 (53,9%, OB 2015, 15th annual release, 2964 btl.) – € 3250
- Pittyvaich 25 Year Old 1989 (OB 2015) – € 320
- Caledonian “The Cally” 40 Year Old 1974 (53,3%, OB 2015, single grain whisky, 5060 btl.) – € 950
That means a new Brora distilled in 1977/1978 (probably both as there doesn’t seem to be a mention of a vintage).
Also the first Port Ellen annual release that wasn’t distilled in 1978 or 1979, but in 1983, the last year of production. Does this mean the 1970’s stocks are completely gone, or are they saving some casks for a truly special release, let’s say in 2018?
Clynelish gets a new NAS expression (called Select Reserve like last year) “crafted for taste from hand selected casks”.
All pretty much as expected. The expressions we couldn’t really predict are the Dalwhinnie 25yo 1989, the Cally 40yo and the Pittyvaich.
Update 15/08/2015: Pittyvaich 25 Year Old and The Cally 40 Year Old (a single grain that will be part of the Classic Malts) appeared online.
Update 18/08/2015: A Dailuaine 34 Year Old 1980 (50,9%) appeared online, but it’s uncertain whether this will be part of the Special Releases or a standalone release.
Update 07/10/2015: pictures and first prices appeared online (some changes may still occur due to exchange rates). All information is now final. Bottles will appear in stores by the end of October.
Update 30/05/2016: the first bottlings of the Diageo Special Releases 2016 have appeared.