Diageo launches Spirited Xchange whisky collection

Dr Stuart Morrison, Diageo’s portfolio master blender, has selected eight single malts for this year’s Spirited Xchange Special Releases Scotch whisky collection.

The collection features whiskies from brands such as Talisker, Lagavulin and The Singleton.

Spirited Xchange’s ‘intricately’ designed packaging features illustrations by eight artists from across the globe. Each has been inspired by the distilleries and spirits in the collection.

“This year, we’re proudly revealing our new series of distillery-first expressions: Spirited Xchange Special Releases 2023,” Morrison said. “For me, Spirited Xchange is about identifying and celebrating the ideas, flavours, and tastes that surround us each day and inspire our curiosity to create.

“This collection has given us the opportunity to roam freely through our vast portfolio and experiment with old and new cask types, including various wine and local spirits casks to create eight one-of-a-kind expressions that we’ve never imagined before.”

The Katana’s Edge is a Mortlach whisky finished in ex-Kanosuke Japanese whisky and ex-Pinot Noir casks. It has an umami flavour that cuts through its ripe, fruity sweetness.

From The Singleton, The Silken Gown is finished in rich Chardonnay de Bourgogne French oak casks, with flavours of toffee and buttery golden fruit.

Talisker’s The Wild Explorador is finished in a combination of white, tawny and ruby Port casks and celebrates the sea with currents of spice and waves of dark fruit.

Lagavulin’s The Ink of Legends honours the ancient art of tattooing using ‘impressive’ illustrative strokes and highly saturated colours. It has Lagavulin’s renowned smokiness and is finished in Don Julio Añejo Tequila casks.

Roseisle Distillery features in the collection for the first time with its first public release, The Origami Kite, which has sweet vanilla notes and a touch of molasses.

Glenkinchie’s The Floral Treasure 27 Year Old is one of the brand’s most mature bottlings to date, carrying floral aromas.

From Oban, The Soul of Calypso has vibrant flavours of tropical fruit and sugar cane emerging from the Caribbean pot still rum casks.

Clynelish’s The Jazz Crescendo has vanilla spice and smooth caramel notes, owing to its exclusive maturation in ex-Bourbon American oak casks.

The Special Releases collection will be available in limited quantities from malts.com from today (18 September) and on specialist retail shelves from 1 October.

Last year’s Special Releases were hand selected by master blender Dr Craig Wilson.