Diageo has kicked off the Australian launch of some of the rarest and oldest whiskies from classic, little-known, unknown or silent distilleries.
Ten limited-edition scotch whiskies comprise its annual Special Releases Collection, which are selected each year by Diageo’s master distillers, blenders and distillery managers.
The Special Releases series was born in 2001, and this year's 2017 collection includes COLLECTIVUM XXVIII, a cask strength blended malt scotch whisky containing whiskies from all 28 active Diageo malt distilleries.
The PORT ELLEN 37-year-old is the equal oldest Port Ellen ever released, The PORT DUNDAS 52-year-old is the oldest whisky ever released in the series, as well as the oldest bottle to ever be released by the Port Dundas distillery, and the second smallest release in the Special Releases since 2001, with only 752 bottles available globally.
In addition, the rare and unusual CONVALMORE 32-year-old and iconic and restrained BRORA 34-year-old originate from rare stock from closed, or ‘ghost’ distilleries.
“The 2017 Special Releases reflect the extraordinary range of stocks our blenders and distillery managers have available to them,” Diageo's Australian whisky ambassador Simon McGoram said.
“Always eagerly awaited, we see a continuing demand for unusual, distinctive, unrepeatable natural cask strength bottlings the world over.”
Limited quantities of the 2017 Special Releases Collection has been released in Australia, and pricing of the range retailing from $175 for the CAOL ILA 18-year-old, to $5,000 for the PORT ELLEN 37-year-old.
The 2017 Special Releases:
BLAIR ATHOL 24 year old
Distilled 1993 ABV 58.4% Region: Highlands Cask: Ex-
Bodega European Oak Butts Max. 5,514 available
worldwide; strictly limited quantities available in Australia
RRP: $680
GLEN ELGIN 18 year old
Distilled: 1998 ABV 54.8% Region: Speyside Cask: Ex-
Bodega European Oak Butts Max. 5,352 available
worldwide; strictly limited quantities available in Australia
RRP: $520
BRORA 34 year old
Distilled: 1982 ABV 51.9% Region: Coastal
Highlands Cask: Refill American Oak Hogsheads Max.
3,000 available worldwide; strictly limited quantities
available in Australia
RRP: $2,800
LAGAVULIN 12 year old
ABV 56.5% Region: Islay Cask: Refill American Oak
Hogsheads. Strictly limited quantities available in Australia
and worldwide
RRP: $180
CAOL ILA 18 year old
ABV 59.8% Region: Islay Cask: Refill American Oak
Hogsheads. Strictly limited quantities available in Australia
and worldwide
RRP: $175
PORT DUNDAS 52 year old
Distilled: 1964 ABV 44.6% Region: Lowlands Cask: Refill
American Oak Hogsheads Max. 752 available worldwide;
strictly limited quantities available in Australia
RRP: $1,310
COLLECTIVUM XXVIII
Distilled: NAS ABV: 57.3% Region: Speyside, Islay, Island,
Lowland, Highland Cask: Blend of Refill American Oak
Hogsheads, Refill European Oak Butts, Ex-Bodega
European Oak and First Fill Bourbon Casks. Strictly limited
quantities available in Australia and worldwide
RRP: $300
PORT ELLEN 37 year old
Distilled: 1979 ABV 51% Region: Islay Cask: Refill
American Oak Hogsheads & Refill American Oak
Butts Max. 2,988 available worldwide; strictly limited
quantities available in Australia
RRP: $5,000
CONVALMORE 32 year old
Distilled: 1984 ABV 48.2% Region: Speyside Cask: Refill
American Oak Hogsheads Max. 3,972 available
worldwide; strictly limited quantities available in Australia
RRP: $2,020
TEANINICH 17 year old
Distilled: 1999 ABV: 55.9% Region: Coastal
Highlands Cask: Refill American Oak Hogsheads & Refill
American Oak Barrels Strictly limited quantities available
in Australia and worldwide
RRP: $550
