THE 2012 COLLECTION OF LIMITED-EDITION SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKIES
Well it’s that time of the year again!
Diageo has announced its Single Malt Scotch Whiskies to be released in limited edition this autumn in the Special Releases series. All are at natural cask strength.
As usual, the series has some exceedingly rare (and therefore increasingly sought after) single malts from the dwindling stocks of long-silent distilleries alongside expressions from familiar and less familiar working distilleries, but at unusual ages.
The eight single malt releases this year are:-
| DISTILLERY | No. OF BOTTLES | UK RRP | COMMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auchroisk 30 year old | 2,976 | £230 | The oldest Auchroisk ever released by the distillers. From a mix of American & European Oak refill casks filled in 1982. |
| Brora 35 year old | 1,566 | £400 | Eleventh of a very limited series of annual releases. Vatted from whiskies at least 35 years old distilled in 1976 & 1977 and aged in refill American Oak casks (This distillery closed in 1983.) |
| Caol Ila 14 year old | limited numbers | £66 | From a batch made only once a year,: the 7th limited release of unpeated Caol Ila, the first at fourteen years old, also the first ‘sherried’ Caol Ila released in this series. From 1st fill ex-bodega European Oak casks filled in 1997. |
| Dalwhinnie 25 year old | 5,358 | £185 | Latest of four limited releases to be offered by the distillery, and the first of these to come from rejuvenated American Oak hogsheads. |
| Lagavulin 12 year old | limited numbers | £71 | Eleventh in a series of special 12 year old releases from the original distiller’s stocks. Vatted from refill American Oak casks, each at least 12 years old. |
| Lagavulin 21 year old | 2,772 | £350 | Only the second 21 year old ever bottled by the original distillers. Vatted from first fill ex-sherry European Oak casks each at least 21 years old, filled in 1991. |
| Port Ellen 32 year old | 2,964 | £600 | Twelfth of a very limited series of annual releases. From refill American Oak and refill European Oak casks filled in 1979. (This distillery closed in 1983.) |
| Talisker 35 year old | 3,090 | £525 | The oldest limited release ever offered by the distillery. Sixteenth in this series. From American & European Oak refill casks filled in 1977. |
Commenting on the new release, Nick Morgan, Diageo’s Head of Whisky Outreach said:
“Once again I hope we have released whiskies here to interest very many single malt drinkers and connoisseurs.”“The iconic 21 year old Lagavulin will, I’m sure, not disappoint those who have bought the previous highly-regarded bottling, and will be a delight for those who haven’t tried it before. An ‘unpeated’ Caol Ila from ex-bodega European Oak will be fascinating. We are particularly excited about the Talisker 35 year old – the oldest we have ever released from this celebrated distillery.
“And our ever-diminishing stocks of Brora and Port Ellen have once again been successfully explored for hidden treasures, which will no doubt further increase the huge over-demand for these rare products . It is amazing to think that those distilleries closed nearly 30 years ago.”
So, expect the usual rush for stocks and a word of warning.
Don’t get in the way of the stampede.
That is, unless you want a fine collection of size 9’s imprinted on your back!
