Diageo’s Special Releases 2015
Diageo has once again unveiled its much-anticipated annual collection of rare whiskies from across Scotland – here are the group’s Special Releases of 2015.
Port Ellen 32 Year Old is one of the rare whiskies included in Diageo’s Special Releases 2015Comprised of rare liquid selected by Diageo’s team of whisky experts, the range is spearheaded by a 32-year-old bottling from the silent Port Ellen distillery.
Other releases in the range include a Cally whisky, which has never been released to the public before, and a new Clynelish Special Reserve single malt specially crafted by master blender Jim Beveridge.
All whiskies included in the range have very limited availability and are bottled at natural cask strength. They will be available from specialist retailers in Northern Europe, in selected Asian markets and in the US.
“Year on year I am astounded by the depth of flavours that are woven into these truly precious whiskies,” said Dr Nick Morgan, Diageo’s head of whisky outreach.
“This year is a special one, we have a real variety of whiskies from distilleries which have been un-earthed by our talented master blenders such as The Cally. Once again, the Special Releases range has surpassed expectations and we’re thrilled to share the collection with whisky experts everywhere.”
Click through the following pages to discover the full range of Diageo’s Special Releases 2015.
Brora 37 Year Old
Distilled: 1977
ABV: 50.4%
Price: £1,300
Bottles available: 2,976
This 37-year-old is the oldest Brora bottled by Diageo as part of its Special Releases collection. Aged in refill American oak hogshead filled in 1977, the whisky was created at the closed Brora distillery on the Sutherland coast.
What they say: “If a chocolatier made a malt it would surely taste like this, with cocoa-rich shells and centres of caramel, cherry fruit and marzipan offset by a perfectly judged sea-salt piquancy.”
The Cally 40 Year Old
Distilled: 1974
ABV: 53.3%
Price: £750
Bottles available: 5,060
A whisky from the closed Caledonian Distillery, based in Edinburgh, The Cally has never before been released as a single grain. This is the oldest Caledonian ever released by the original distillers and is aged in refill American oak hogsheads.
What they say: “Highly complex yet wonderfully openand accessible, with compelling nose; clean, fresh and fruity with a pleasing, oaky character that is amplified when a little water is added.”
Caol Ila 17 Year Old
Distilled: 1997
ABV: 55.9%
Price: £90
Bottles available: Limited availability worldwide
Created at Islay distillery Coal Ila, this is the tenth unpeated release from the brand. Distilled in 1997, this is also the oldest Coal Ila released in Diageo’s Special Reserve range yet. The first of these releases will come from American oak ex-Bourbon casks.
What they say: “A little less ‘full on’ than previous expression, it still has all its fruity sharpness, hints od smoke and the sea, grainy cereals and bittersweet tannins, and becomes soft, harmonious and welcoming with water.”
Clynelish Select Reserve
ABV: 56.1%
Price: £550
Bottles available: 2,946
This no-age-statement single malt has been created using liquid hand-selected from ex-Bourbon first-fill American oak, rejuvenated and refill American oak and ex-bodega and refill European oak butts. The whisky has been aged for a minimum of fifteen years, and often far more.
What they say: “A cautious nose leads to a surprisingly rich and embracing palate and a beautifully balanced finish and this full-flavoured, waxy Clynelish is equally good to drinks with water, which emphasises its delicious smooth-drinking nature and shows off its smooth chocolate-orange flavours.”
Dailuaine 34 Year Old
Distilled: 1980
ABV: 50.9%
Price: £380
Bottles available: 2,952
This is the oldest bottling ever to come directly from the Speyside Dailuaine Distillery by a dozen years and is the first new bottling for six years. It is aged in refill American oak casks.
What they say: “Beautifully balanced, structured and focused, both at cask strength and when smoothed out with water. It’s precise, with a clean, well-shaped nose, and is delightfully rich yet also drying in palate and finish.
Dalwhinnie 25 Year Old
Distilled: 1989
ABV: 48.8%
Price: £325
Bottles available: 5,916
Created at the highest, coldest distillery in Scotland, Dalwhinnie, this whisky is also aged in refill American oak and is the latest of five limited edition distillery releases.
What they say: “Well shaped, smoothly fragrant and with intriguing notes of hay and moorland; really clean and fresh for its age, it’s drier and less honeyed than you may expect.”
Lagavulin 12 Year Old
ABV: 48.8%
Price: £80
Bottles available: limited quantities worldwide
Produced at the Lagavulin Distillery on Islay’s rocky south coast, this bottling is described as an introduction to the special releases range. It has been matured in refill American oak casks for at least 12 years.
What they say: “Classic, pleasantly relaxed and cleanly structured with a fine balance of cereal sweetness, appetising sharpness and dry, volcanic smoke, all adroitly set off by citrus and mint.”
Pittyvaich 25 Year Old
Distilled: 1989
ABV: 49.9%
Price: £250
Bottles available: 5,922
Single malts from the short-lived and now closed Pittyvaich Distillery on Speyside are rare things. This 25-year-old whisky has lived longer than the distillery itself, which was first established in 1975 and closed in 1993.
What they say: “Ideal for after dinner contemplation: well-balanced, with a sweet, malty nose and palate, and also a refined oiliness and subtle pungency, with a smooth, aromatic and drying conclusion.”
Port Ellen 32 Year Old
Distilled: 1983
ABV: 53.9%
Price: £2,400
Bottles available: 2,964
Whiskies from the closed Port Ellen distillery in Islay are widely coveted, particularly when they are as old as 32 years. This whisky has been matured in refill European oak butts filled in 1983 – the last year of production at the distillery.
What they say: “With profound smokiness, more easily approached with water, this is an outstandingly dark expression, exceptional both as Port Ellen and by any other standards, deeply complex yet carrying its years elegantly.”
