Lagavulin 37YO leads Diageo Special Releases 2013

Diageo is releasing the oldest expression of Lagavulin single malt Scotch to date as part of its 10 annual limited edition Special Releases for 2013.

Lagavulin 37 Year Old is the oldest release from the Islay distillery to date

With bottlings of aged Lagavulin “exceptionally rare”, the Lagavulin 37-year-old is the oldest release from the Islay distillery to date.

Bottled at cask strength (51.0% abv), the whisky – which has been matured in a combination of refill American and European oak for 37 years – is described as “sensational, rounded and comforting” with notes of charcoal, ripe tropical fruits, honey, pine, treacle tart and black tea.

“Lagavulin is probably the most sought-after single malt whisky in production today – universally acknowledged as one of the unchallenged grands crus of Scotch whisky,” said Georgie Crawford, distillery manager at Lagavulin. “For many years we have been unable to supply sufficient mature spirit to meet worldwide demand. So bottlings of old Lagavulin are exceptionally rare.”

Just 1,868 individually numbered bottles have been produced at an RRP of £1,950.

Joining Lagavulin 37-year-old in Diageo’s Special Releases line-up this year is a Lagavulin 12 Year Old, which makes regular appearances in the range.

In addition to Lagavulin, Diageo has featured two limited bottlings from mothballed distilleries Brora – a 35-year-old – and Port Ellen – a 34-year-old – in the line-up.

“Stocks of Brora and Port Ellen are inexorably diminishing,” said Nick Morgan, Diageo’s head of whisky outreach. “Each year’s limited-edition bottling releases one more fragment of whisky history that is unique, and can’t ever be replaced. Indeed, many would accept that Port Ellen and Brora are among the world’s rarest single malt whiskies still being released.”

The Diageo Special Releases 2013 will be available from specialist retailers in Northern Europe, Asian markets and in the US from Autumn 2013.

The range includes:

Brora 35-year-old – 49.9% abv, RRP £750
Caol Ila – 59.6% abv, RRP £70
Cardhu 21-year-old – 54.2 abv, RRP £160
Convalmore 36-year-old – 58% abv, RRP £600
Lagavulin 12-year-old – 55.1% abv, RRP £80
Lagavulin 37-year-old – 51% abv, RRP £1,950
Oban 21-year-old, 58.5% abv, RRP £225
Port Ellen 34-year-old – 55% abv, RRP £1,500
The Singleton of Dufftown 28-year-old – 52.3% abv, RRP £235
Talisker 27-year-old – 56.1% abv, RRP £475