Port Ellen and Brora absent from 2018 Special Releases

Diageo has named nine of the 10 whiskies in the 2018 edition of its Special Releases collection, which will not include expressions from coveted distilleries Port Ellen and Brora.

Diageo has revealed nine of the 10 whiskies in its 2018 Special Releases

Ten Scotch whiskies are to be released in strictly limited quantities as part of Diageo’s ongoing Special Releases programme.

For the first time since the collection’s launch in 2001, single malts Port Ellen and Brora will not be included in the range. This follows Diageo’s announcement in October last year that it will restart production at the two closed distilleries by 2020.

This year’s selection features a 48-year-old from the silent Lowland grain distillery Carsebridge and a 28-year-old from the Pittyvaich distillery in Speyside, which closed in 1993.

Donald Colville, Diageo’s global malts ambassador, said: “The Special Releases launch is a highlight in our whisky calendar year. It’s a collection that allows both knowledgeable whisky fans and those new to Scotch to hunt out truly unique limited-editions.

“The range delivers memorable taste experiences unlike any other and the exceptional variety and quality of whiskies in this year’s collection will not disappoint.”

The final 10th bottling will be revealed later this year.

Each whisky will be available this autumn from specialist retailers in Europe, the US, Canada, Australia, South Africa and selected Asian markets.

Click through the following pages to preview Diageo’s Special Releases 2018.

The Caol Ila distillery on Islay

Carsebridge 48 Year Old

ABV: 43.2%

Region: Lowlands

Cask: Refill American oak hogsheads

Number of bottles: 1,000

 

Caol Ila Unpeated 15 Year Old

ABV: 59.1%

Region: Islay

Cask: Refill and rejuvenated American oak hogsheads and ex-bodega European Oak Butts

Limited quantities worldwide

 

Coal Ila 35 Year Old

ABV: 58.1%

Region: Islay

Cask: Refill American oak hogsheads and refill European oak butts

Number of bottles: 3,276

The Oban Distillery

Inchgower 27 Year Old

ABV: 55.3%

Region: Speyside

Cask: Refill American oak hogsheads

Number of bottles: 8,544

 

Lagavulin 12 Year Old

ABV: 57.8%

Region: Islay

Cask: Refill American oak hogsheads

Limited quantities available worldwide

 

Oban 21 Year Old

ABV: 57.9%

Region: Highlands

Cask: Refill European Oak Butts

Limited quantities available worldwide

Talisker Distillery on the Isle of Skye

Pittyvaich 28 Year Old

ABV: 52.1%

Region: Speyside

Cask: Refill American oak hogsheads

Number of bottles: 4,680

 

The Singleton of Glen Ord 14 Year Old

ABV: 57.6%

Region: Highlands

Cask: Refill American oak hogsheads and ex-bodega European oak butts followed by a unique maturation and marrying process

Limited quantities available worldwide

 

Talisker 8 Year Old

ABV: 59.4%

Region: Island

Cask: First fill ex-Bourbon American oak hogsheads

Limited availability worldwide