Diageo Reveals 2024 Special Releases Single Malt Collection

Diageo today unveiled their 2024 Special Releases Single Malt Scotch Whisky collection.

This year’s theme is “Spirited Xchange 2.0,” meant to showcase contemporary perspectives, techniques and unique flavors that define each expression found within the collection, the company says.

While this is the second installment of the Spirited Xchange theme, it builds on the more than two decades-long legacy of Special Releases, an annual series that’s much collected.

“Each year, our Special Releases collection showcases hand-selected, distillery- first expressions that push the boundaries of traditional whisky-making,” says Master Blender, Dr. Stuart Morrison. “This year’s collection is a continuation of the Spirited Xchange that delves deeper into flavor exploration, experimenting with various cask combinations that challenge expectations. This collection is about curiosity and what happens when you challenge yourself to think ‘what if’.”

“This has led us to explore a variety of exciting maturation techniques, from selecting a novel combination of casks for The Singleton, to taking both Ramandolo white wine and Sangiovese red wine casks to finish Mortlach and bringing a totally new dimension of flavor to its unmistakably umami identity. We are excited for whisky lovers to experience it,” Morrison adds.

The 2024 Special Releases Collection includes an array of one- of-a-kind whiskies aged in sourced barrels from around the world:

Lagavulin “Fireside Tales” matured in first-fill ex-bourbon and refill casks.

Oban “Coastal Orchard” finished in new fresh charred American Oak barrels that have been freshly seasoned with Oloroso sherry and blended with refill casks.

Mortlach “Midnight Dusk” finished in sweet Ramandolo white and Sangiovese red wine casks.

Talisker “Tidal Churn” utilized a stone-spun method. The process sees the rotations of stone against wood, wearing away the char with stones and water. After the stone spinning, the casks are re-toasted, before finishing the whisky.

The Singleton “Autumn Walk” brings together a combination of casks: ex-bourbon, rejuvenated ex-wine and refill casks.

Benrinnes “Grand Crescendo” is the oldest expression in the collection. This 21-year-old liquid emerges from a variety of maturations: American Oak wine casks, European Oak casks and rejuvenated casks with charred ends.

Roseisle “Origami Kite 2” is the second ever expression from the Roseisle distillery, matured in first-fill ex-Bourbon and refill casks.

Caol Ila “Ambrosial Feast” is an unpeated expression that matured in refill and rejuvenated ex-wine casks specifically chosen to enhance the distillate’s inherent fruity qualities.

The ‘Spirited Xchange 2.0’ collection is brought to life through Diageo’s partnership with photographers such as Ben Thouard and Till Janz, amongst others.

The 2024 Special Releases collection will be available in limited quantities from specialist Scotch whisky retailers and malts.com.

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