Diageo unveils its oldest Mortlach whisky cask
The one-off casks from the 2025 edition of Diageo’s private whisky showcase include the programme’s oldest Mortlach.
The Casks of Distinction programme offers 12 single unrepeatable casks from Diageo’s vast collection in Scotland, which are each individually available up for private sale.
The casks selected for the lineup are considered some of the company’s rarest and most unique, handpicked from Diageo’s stock of more than 10 million casks from the nearly whisky 40 distilleries it owns in Scotland.
Diageo says its master whisky makers dedicated more than 4,200 hours annually to sourcing and assessing casks for the programme.
This year’s presentation, hosted at Raffles Sentosa in Singapore, was headlined by the programme’s oldest Mortlach cask.
The cask, number 4155 from 1984, was matured for 41 years in American oak. It is the last cask from Mortlach’s 1984 production, and ‘the defining expression’, Diageo says, of the distillery’s 2.81 times distillation, known as ‘The Way’.
The Speyside distillery’s master blender, Dr Craig Wilson said: “As the final cask laid down in 1984 ever to be released from Mortlach, we are proud to present a piece of history from this storied Speyside distillery.
“Despite its age, a fresh maltiness still comes through and as black pepper and clove builds on the palate, the unmistakable Mortlach meatiness and a dry woodiness carries through to an exceptionally long finish. It is a bold and complex expression that captures the very essence of Mortlach, and in my opinion, [the] exquisite cask has earned its name and then some.”
Other casks in the lineup include an unpeated Caol Ila 1997; a Caol Ila 1990; a ghost Speyside Pittyvaich 1989; Talisker 1979; a ghost Caledonian 1984; a Benrinnes 1991 cask; Cragganmore 1985; Dailuaine 1990; Dalwhinnie 1989; Glenlossie 1994; Pittyvaich 1989 cask; and a Royal Lochnagar 1988.
Each cask comes complete with personalised bottles, as well as the choice of further maturation for up to five years and an optional decorative cask end. Owners will also receive tailored experiences to the distilleries from which their casks originate.
While previous editions have taken place in London, Scotland and New York, the 2025 showcase’s return to Singapore reflects ‘the global stature of the programme’, Diageo noted.
Cavaliere Giovanni Viterale, cluster general manager of Raffles Sentosa Singapore and Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa, added: “We are honoured to unveil The Twelve by Casks of Distinction at Raffles Sentosa Singapore.
“Set amidst Sentosa’s natural sanctuary, this moment redefines the standard ultra-luxury whisky experiences in the region, establishes Singapore as a global destination for whisky connoisseurs, and reflects the shared values of heritage, rarity, and refinement that connect our brand with Diageo’s most exclusive liquid collection.”
In other Diageo news from the week, the company announced that it would outsource some of its roles in Northern Ireland, while its plans to upgrade Talisker Distillery were opposed by locals.
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