DIAGEO’S SPECIAL RELEASES FOR 2020

 Diageo ANNUAL Special Releases FOR 2020
Features Eight Whiskies

WHAT ARE THE DIAGEO SPECIAL RELEASES?

The Diageo Special Releases are a much anticipated range of annual whisky releases from Diageo, the world’s largest whisky company. They’ve been going since 2001, and took over from both the Rare Malts Selection and a few occasional special releases (no capital letters) from Diageo and its precursor companies, DCL and UDV.

These days, it’s an established part of the yearly whisky release line-up. The past few years have seen some shake-ups, with the annual releases of whisky from closed distilleries Port Ellen and Brora disappearing from the range in 2018, and the long-running Caol Ila release – pretty much the only way for the general public to get their hands on unpeated whisky from the Islay favourite – disappearing last year.

Despite rumours of the Special Releases’ potential demise, last year’s rejig of the range both down in price and into a new look has had a good response, and they’re back again for another year. The Diageo malts team have been working on next year’s releases for a couple of months already and the range looks to have a new lease of life.

The 2020 Diageo Special Release Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection features eight vibrant expressions, each selected to bring a taste of Scotland to every enthusiast's home. This collection, curated by Master Blender Dr. Craig Wilson, includes eight cask strength single malt Scotch whiskies drawn from some of Scotland’s most interesting distilleries. The annual collection explores unusual age points, experimental maturation techniques and this year, welcomes the first-ever release finished in pot-still Caribbean rum casks. The "Rare by Nature" theme highlights the extraordinary nature that surrounds each distillery, with each whisky visually brought to life through intricate illustrations that decorate the bottles. 

If you remember last year’s Diageo Special Releases, then the line-up for 2020 might look somewhat familiar. Not only do we have eight whiskies again, but seven of the eight distilleries are the same as those in 2019 – Singleton of Glen Ord has been replaced by Singleton of Dufftown – and even some of the ages and vintages match up.

“I’ve created this year’s Special Releases Collection, from some of my favourite distilleries across Scotland, with whisky enthusiasts in mind. For those who enjoy spicy flavours, my recommendation would be to try our Cardhu, and for those who favour rich, intense and smooth flavours my choice would be Mortlach 21 year old. If you are curious about discovering something very rare, the Pittyvaich - the single ghost distillery in our Special Releases Collection this year is an unforgettable dram.” Dr Craig Wilson

For those curious to discover the very last drops from unique casks or to explore a taste of history, the collection includes:

-Pittyvaich, from the Speyside ghost distillery, finished in first fill ex-bourbon casks.

-A rare Highland expression of Dalwhinnie matured in refill hogshead casks filled in 1989.

-The best of Isle of Skye, Talisker, its foremost finished in pot-still Caribbean rum casks.

    -The stalwart Lagavulin, a perfect expression of this Islay distillery’s character.

Whiskies Listed In Alphabetical Order:

Cardhu 11 Year Old - $115, 56% ABV 

Description: A combination of refill, ex-bourbon and new American oak casks.

Nose: Checks off a few interesting boxes. Apples, caramel, and raisins also leaves space for turmeric, malty notes, white ch ocolate, and a slight hint of play-doh.

Taste: The apples and malt are present on the palate, and that orchard vibe is complemented by sage, toffee and strawberries.

Overall: A summery whisky is given a little bit of an additional zing by the new oak. The Cardhu this year for the collection is delightful. The age statement has decreased for this encore, but it lives up to its promise and shines. It is a more delicate whisky, but it is a Speyside. Strongly  recommended if you can find it.

Cragganmore 20 Year Old - $175, 55.8% ABV

Description: This mix of refill and new charred oak casks has a lot to live up to following the smoky Cragganmore that was released last year.

Nose: Undertones of musty velvet and leather provide the foundation for lighter fare like lemons, mint, lavender, and pineapple.

Taste: Super smooth and springy. Fresh lemonade and meringue sits on top of a buttery texture, with Twizzlers candy and a touch of new sneaker rubber provide additional depth.

Overall: Not what you’d typically expect from a 20 year old whisky, but the fresh tangy flavors are delicious. This expression, a 20 Year Old, is an age never released from this distillery. It is quite a punched up, oak-driven expression of Cragganmore, with the new oak bringing not only a layer of charred flavours and spice, but also added sweetness. 

Dalwhinnie 30 Year Old - $745, 51.9% ABV 

Description: The only information officially given about this whisky is that it is matured in ‘refill hogsheads’. Dalwhinnie is known for distilling a fairly robust sweet Scotch whisky we all know and love. The robust style of the new make spirit is partially due to the spirit vapour being condensed using traditional worm tub condensers. However, in the mid 1980s these worm tubs were switched for the more modern shell and tube (column) condensers which tend to make a lighter style of spirit.                                  

At Dalwhinnie they did indeed create a lighter style of spirit which resulted in them eventually being switched back to the traditional worm tub condensers in the mid 1990s. It is extremely unusual to find a high-aged expression from this relatively small window of production in this distillery’s great history, and the Dalwhinnie 30 Year Old from this year’s Special Releases Collection is therefore a rare opportunity to taste a fascinating slice of distilling history.

Nose: An initial hit of roses descends into milk chocolate, crème brulee, and raspberries. There is a darker layer under this though, combining eucalyptus and oak.

Taste: This is wonderfully soft but also propped up nicely by the oak. Blueberries and cranberries provide fruity sweetness, the creamy indulgent texture is like white chocolate, while roasted pumpkins helps account for a weighty mouthfeel. 

Overall: It’s got a surprising heft given the production notes above, but that’s largely owing to those three decades in cask rather than the condenser shift.    There’s something alluring and romantic about this profile which would make it perfect for a date.

Lagavulin 12 Year Old - $170, 56.4% ABV

Description: This is officially the first whisky introduced (virtually) at a tasting by new Lagavulin distillery manager Pierrick Guillaume in his official capacity, a nice little treat. This younger Lagavulin has been matured in a combination of refill hogsheads and butts, which implies sherry influences.

Nose: It’s an extremely dirty nose. Petrichor and walnuts, with whiffs of hay and a maritime mineral tang.

Taste: This is a dirt bomb. It’s quite malty, and a combination of chocolate and nuts here reminds me of Nutella. Some fruit does barely sneak in, including strawberries and blueberries. However, the big tar smoke takes center stage.

Overall: Tar-like glory. The natural cask strength is perfect as it only warms the palate rather than burns and overwhelms it. Lagavulin is not messing around. You cannot go wrong with Lagavulin. It is a staple scotch for a reason. The 2020 edition just seems classic. 

Mortlach 21 Year Old - $775, 56.9% ABV

Description: Last year’s sherry monster has now been tamed and caged. The sherry influence from this year’s release is a finish in lightly seasoned sherry  casks.

Nose: While there is a hint of Spanish chorizo, clementines and orange marmalade are the star aromas of this particular show, with whispers of nutmeg and wax.

Taste: A waxy texture and leathery mouthfeel hosts rich flavors like grapes, grilled peppers, and cloves. There’s a lovely long dark chocolate bitter finish too.

Overall: This Mortlach was matured for rich distillery character in small batches then carefully finished in Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso-seasoned casks to build yet more levels of aroma and taste. The many-layered outcome mirrors the complexity of the mysterious Mortlach 2.81 distillation itself. Very gentle for a Mortlach. That’s not a bad thing, indeed far from it.

Pittyvaich 30 Year Old - $540, 50.8% ABV

Description: Pittyvaich closed its doors in 1993 and this single malt was distilled in 1989. This bottling is the only one in the collection to come from a ghost, or closed, distillery. Availability is limited to 7,056 bottles in the US, Europe, Canada, Australia, South Africa, select Asian markets and airport duty free. Diageo has been releasing 1989 Pittyvaichs in the Special Releases for a while now, and this bottle features ex-bourbon casks.

Nose: Wonderfully fragrant. Oranges, jasmine, and cinnamon notes lead into a deeper tones, a reminder of tomato sauce with a healthy sprinkling of oregano.

Taste: That complex fragrance faded away here for a malty, buttery profile. Caramel and peanut butter emerge, but those fun fragrant elements from before are missing.

Overall: The nose is let down by the palate a little here.

Singleton (Dufftown) 17 Year Old - $150, 55.1% ABV

Description: Singleton is a brand that features single malt released from three different distilleries, this one is from Dufftown, and is matured in refill American oak hogsheads.

Nose: A very fresh nose begins with pears and coconut before heading to more herbal ground, involving hay and a whiff of herbal air freshener.

Taste: Very tangy to start, though after the initial citric hit it rapidly takes a surprisingly robust turn towards roasted peanuts, blackberries, and basil. A little water also opens it up and smooths it out, turning it into a creamier affair.

Overall: This manages to hit a wide spectrum of flavours in a really fun way. This bottling is the first ever Singleton of Dufftown matured exclusively in refill American (ex-bourbon) hogsheads. This whisky is all about restraint, with malt, cotton balls, dried flowers, and a quinine note all smoldering on the nose. The palate is bittersweet and heavier with florals, with notes of camphor and a touch of walnut giving the whisky a significant austerity, the finish evoking hints of furniture polish. Quite wooly and largely savoury, it’s got a significantly more brooding character than the typical Speyside bottling.

Talisker 8 Year Old – $125, 57.9% ABV

Description: This is an exciting and exotic prospect, it’s the first ever Talisker finished in pot-still Caribbean rum casks. This Talisker is a very limited edition cask-strength (57.9% ABV) batch of the familiar Talisker 10 except at 8 years, which is a bit of a reference to earlier 1980s bottlings of Talisker that were released at that age (although not at that strength).

Nose: Vanilla, coconut, gorse, and almonds provides a soft pillow that is then soaked by the seaside; briny, mineral, and smoked fish aromas lurk nearby.

Taste: Marshmallows are being toasted on a smoky beach bonfire accompanied by papaya and liquorice elements. Talisker’s characteristic oily texture shines through as well.

Overall: This very unusual and tropical Talisker is excellent, and wouldn’t be out of place in a Pina Colada if you can stand the smoke. The aroma is so decked out in Caribbean funk it feels like it should have a little umbrella sticking out of the glass, but the palate is hurricane-force salt spray in your face. The finish is a little of both. An experience… it takes several tastings to just make sense of what was going on in the glass. And reach for the bottle again! 

 THE SPECIAL RELEASES OF 2019

 

AFFORDABLE TOP OF THE RANGE WHISKIES

 INDULGE YOURSELF WITH THESE EXPRESSIONS

The world of Scotch is evolving, with restless distillers nowadays playing around with various categories of the whisky, from heavily-peated smoke bombs to sherry-cask whiskies. There is a plenitude of diversity in Scotch, including single malts, which are made with malted barley, and blended Scotch, whose mash bills include other grains. From the Highlands to the isle of Islay, here are some of the best Scotch whiskies to get started. These are mainly priced between the $80-100 mark.

The GlenDronach Revival 15 YO

The GlenDronach Distillery nestled in the valley of Forgue, deep in the East Highland hills near Aberdeenshire, is named after the source of its water: the Dronac burn. Founded in 1826, The GlenDronach was one of the very first licensed distilleries and has a history of enterprising owners, from the flamboyant James Allardice to the ambitious Walter Scott. Allardice was a colourful character and stories abound as to how he promoted his whisky with entrepreneurial flair.

Although times have moved on, the processes used to create The GlenDronach have remained largely unchanged. The GlenDronach is of true Highland style: a heavy and robust spirit, perfect for a long maturation period in sherry casks. Their secrets have been guarded for nearly 200 years by a parliament of rooks who love The GlenDronach so much they try to nest in the warehouses. The distillery folk believe as long as the rooks remain at the distillery, it will be good for the whisky.

GlenDronach was bought in 1960 by William Teacher & Sons. In 1968, GlenDronach was released as a single malt brand for the first time and the brand’s reputation grew from strength to strength. In 2008, nothing less than a complete renaissance began. The BenRiach Distillery Company became GlenDronach’s proud new owner. While time can never stand still, the commitment of the team at GlenDronach will ensure that the distinctive practices that have always defined the distillery will live on – the most influential of these, its return to independent ownership.

After ceasing production in 2015, The GlenDronach Revival Aged 15 years has returned to the core range  of the distillery’s line-up. Aged in the Highlands, the expression embodies The GlenDronach’s signature style of Spanish Sherry  Cask maturation in fine Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks from Andalucía, quietly growing in stature for 15 years in the darkness of our dunnage warehouses.

Poured and sipped, it starts off with a brilliant spiced fruit nose. Drink it neat with milk chocolate or aged cheeses, or drop an ice cube in and let it sit for a few seconds and see what happens.

In flavour, the expression offers sumptuous notes of dark fruits, rich chocolate and manuka honey with  an enveloping, memorable finish worthy of this monumental malt’s history. This luxuriously sherried Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky is bottled at 46% ABV, non chill filtered and natural in colour.

LAGAVULIN DISTILLERS EDITION 2020 43% ABV

There have been distilleries at Lagavulin since the 18th century, though it wasn’t until 1816 that farmer John Johnston founded the first legal operation. A year later a second distillery appeared, this one run by Archibald Campbell. The two were united under a Glasgow trader, and in 1887, Peter Mackie arrived at the distillery, under whose guiding hand the distillery named Lagavulin was to become the last word in Islay malt. The name Lagavulin is an anglicisation of Lag a' Mhuilinn, the Scottish Gaelic for hollow of the mill.

Lagavulin is now owned by Diageo. The standard bottling is a 16-year-old, bottled at 43% ABV. They also bottle a Distiller's edition, finished in Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks. Miles and miles of peat bog in the west of the island provide the raw material which imbues the barley with that distinct smoky flavour; not to mention the rich peaty water that runs down the brown burn from the Solan Lochs and into the distillery. The smoky, peated Lagavulin is seen as the ultimate expression of this region.

Lagavulin's Distillers Edition scotch whisky has a distinctive, terroir-driven character: tarry rope, iodine, seaweed and peat. Smoked, phenolic earth and brine. But the distiller bowls a googly for the special edition, transferring the scotch near the end of its 16 years of aging into barrels that once held Pedro Ximénez, with a new balance created in the arcing nuance of the sherry. It’s a challenge for your palate—the peaty notes come across strongly in the nose, but once you sip it, you’re taken aback by the fruitiness.

Distilled in 2005 and bottled in 2020, this full-bodied Scotch is sweet and has an incredibly long, engaging finish of fruit, peat and oak. This special Lagavulin demands to be served in a traditional whisky glass, neat or with a little water.

Lagavulin Jazz 2020 52.6% ABV

Lagavulin Jazz 2020 celebrates the 22nd anniversary of the Islay Jazz Festival, which was held online on Lagavulin and Friends of the Classic Malts Facebook pages on the 3rd of October and hosted in partnership with Jazz Scotland. The Lagavulin Jazz Festival bottling has been much adored since its launch in 2011 and the annual release of the exclusive bottling for the festival has become a key moment in the whisky calendar. This is rather expensive.

The 2020 expression is a 22-year-old Whisky that has matured in refill American and European Oak casks, some of which were seasoned with wine. Exactly what is meant by this statement is not clear, but it is possible there are re-charred / re-seasoned casks in the combine. The mix of casks has given an extra twist of rich, smooth and sweet fruitiness to the palate and finish of the Whisky.

Lagavulin Jazz 2020 comes in at 52.6% ABV; only 2,004 bottles will be made available. The Lagavulin Jazz 2020 Whisky was available to purchase since October 3, exclusively from the Lagavulin Distillery on Islay, and cost £405 ($526 USD) per 700ml bottle.

ARDBEG BLAAACK LIMITED EDITION 46% ABV                                    

There have been many ups and downs on the long road to Ardbeg throughout the years. Ardbeg has been called “as close to perfection as makes no difference,” by whisky connoisseurs. Proof then, that Ardbeg truly deserves its incredible reputation. It’s a whisky that’s worshipped around the world. In the past ten years, six different Ardbeg expressions have won prestigious titles including World Whisky of the Year, Scotch Whisky of the Year and World’s Best Single Malt.

Ardbeg’s story is one of irrepressible spirit surviving against overwhelming odds, finally emerging as, unquestionably, one of the greatest distilleries on Earth. The most phenolic malt in the business, soft pure water from their own water source plus dedication and passion. Making Ardbeg needs a special kind of chemistry – some would say it's a combination of the process itself and the people who make it. In 1997, The Glenmorangie Company purchased the distillery and the Distillery reopened in 1997. Full-time production commenced, with the first bottlings comprising 17 YO, 1978 Vintage and Ardbeg Provenance. In 1998, Ardbeg was voted Distillery of the Year. In a remarkable turnaround in only 12 short months, the 17 Years Old plus Ardbeg 1975 20 Years Old launch proved Ardbeg’s mettle.

Ardbeg Blaaack is the feisty Limited Edition bottled in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Ardbeg Committee, founded in the year 2000.

To mark such a momentous occasion, the Distillery vowed that the casks used to honour their global flock would be right on the nose. For the first time in Ardbeg’s history, they rounded up Pinot Noir casks from the country that lies the furthest distance from Islay – New Zealand, that other remote island nation where sheep have often outnumbered the locals by 7:1.

Ardbeg Blaaack knits together velvety summer fruit pudding and bitter cherry, with a deeper edge of soot and Ardbeg’s hallmark smoke.

Deanston 12 Year Old Distillery Bottling 46.3% ABV

There are many distilleries in Scotland which started life as mills, but none of them had quite the scale of Deanston. This huge plant was constructed on the banks of the fast-flowing River Teith in 1785. It also had what was claimed to be the largest water wheel in Europe.

In 1964, the buildings were bought by Brodie Hepburn who changed it to a distillery to produce Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Production started in 1969, but its original owners only had it for three years before the company was bought by private label specialist Invergordon. It ran for a decade before the ‘80s whisky slump forced its owner to shut it down. Eight years later, it was bought for £2.1m by Burn Stewart.

Even though production started in 1969, Deanston has retained some old-style features in kit and distilling regime. Its mash tun is open-topped for example, while the way it is run – low gravity worts, long fermentation, slow distillation – helps to produce a new make style which is in the waxy quadrant. This represents a switch back to the original style. In the Invergordon era, Deanston had conformed to a modern style of production, making a light dry ‘nutty-spicy’ make.

Today organic barley is also run through the stills and, in common with all of Burn Stewart’s single malts, it is bottled without chill-filtering or caramel tinting. Although single malt bottlings started relatively early – in 1974 – it is only recently that Deanston has been elevated to a front-line single malt brand. Its more of a relaunch in fancy packaging for Deanston's single malt, previously famous as the whisky used in the much-missed Wallace whisky liqueur. Deanston is the only distillery in Scotland that is self-sustaining for electricity, being equipped with a dam and a turbine. It is the greenest distillery in Scotland. The turbine house processes 20 million litres of water an hour. The excess electricity is then sold to the National Grid.

With a smooth and creamy sweetness, sumptuous hints of fruit, malty honeyed spiciness and soft vanilla, this crisp 12 year old finishes with a satisfying tingle of cloves.

In 1997, The Glenmorangie Company purchased the distillery and the Distillery reopened in 1997. Full-time production commenced, with the first bottlings comprising 17 YO, 1978 Vintage and Ardbeg Provenance. In 1998, Ardbeg was voted Distillery of the Year. In a remarkable turnaround in only 12 short months, the 17 Years Old plus Ardbeg 1975 20 Years Old launch proved Ardbeg’s mettle. 

The Glenlivet 14 YO Cognac Cask Selection 40% ABV

The remote and isolated Livet valley made it ideal for illicit distillation. This is where Glenlivet’s founder George Smith learned his craft. Hidden away from the Customs Officers and soldiers amongst the hills and abundant springs, George had time to distil slowly making a whisky that would soon become world renowned. With the passing of George Smith, the job of continuing his life’s work fell to his youngest son, John Gordon Smith.

When John’s second great-nephew Captain Bill Smith Grant took over the distillery in 1921, he was met by two challenges: The Great Depression and Prohibition in the USA. Captain Bill rose to meet these challenges head on. Even though production dropped during these tough years, the distillery emerged in a great position in the US market after the repeal of Prohibition.

                                     

That was when Americans came forward, thirstier than ever for fine Single Malts. Glenlivet was in the perfect place to serve them a dram. One of their first major customers was the Pullman Train Company, who began serving miniature bottles on their routes, helping to spread this fine whisky across the continent.

Thanks to trains, planes, and automobiles, the middle of the century saw The Glenlivet account for half of the Scottish malt whisky sold in the US. Word soon spread to all corners of the world. To this day The Glenlivet continues George Smith's vision to break traditions, set new standards and move things forward; selecting exceptional unique casks, finishes and liquids and delivering unique serves and cocktails to open up the world of single malt to all.

The Glenlivet 14 Year Old is their newest whisky. Featuring raisin-rich cognac and signature citrus notes married with creamy smoothness, the luscious liquid has travelled from bourbon and sherry casks to a selective finish in cognac casks. Bursting with sweet and fruity aromas, The Glenlivet 14 Year Old shines as a proud celebration of Speyside craft. Wander from the misty glens of Scottish Speyside to the rolling vineyards of France’s Cognac region at every sip.

Its surprising that it took this long for someone to crack out a brandy finish. We’ve seen everything from Chenin Blanc finishes to Mezcal finishes, and yet it took this long for a major market participant to put whisky in a barrel that previously matured cognac. This particular example was aged in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks before being “selectively” aged in cognac casks for around 6 months. The 14 year-old single malt is bottled at 40% ABV, includes added colour and is chill filtered.

Nose: Rich, nutty, and with a distinct brandy note. Not at all shy, but also not particularly complex. Brandy, a hint of green apple, a swath of malt, and middling caramel sweetness is all I can pick up. Still, the whole is round and complete and pleasant.

Palate: Thin bodied. Moderate tongue burn, considering the minimum ABV. Generally a reprise of the aroma, with a distinct grape-y brandy note, mildly sweet malt, a haze of barrel char, and a slight hint of green apple / green grape.

Finish: Medium length. Very consistent, this one. The notes are mostly continuations of the flavors from the palate. The brandy comes to the fore here, with a honey-and-raisin note that fades quickly, leaving barely-bitter tannins. Again, wholesome if uncomplicated.

With Water: A few drops of water initially shut down the aroma, necessitating a rest in the glass. The aroma comes back slowly – first with increased nose tickle and a vague green bramble note, and then a bit of caramel. On the tongue the body is a little weightier and the tongue burn lessened. The finish is a bit sweeter. Water is optional here – experiment if you’re curious.

Overall: A very straightforward by-the-numbers dram with a successful if uneventful brandy finish. It tastes exactly like you expect it to – Glenlivet with an extra couple of years of maturation and a glazing of grape-forward brandy. For $40, that’s a slam dunk.

Benromach 15 YO 43% ABV

Benromach, a Forres-based distillery was another late 19th century build. The distillery didn’t start making whisky until 1900. Its production was intermittent after that, with the distillery passing through a number of hands: Macdonald Greenlees, Joseph Hobbs, National Distillers of America and, finally, DCL. The industry giant kept it running until 1983, when it was closed, one of a large number of distilleries which were shut as a result of an industry-wide stock surplus.

After 11 years of silence – during which its interior had been cannibalised for parts by Diageo – it was bought by Elgin’s Gordon & MacPhail. The firm then set about building what was effectively a new distillery in the shell of the old. It took the firm five years of trials before the first spirit was made.

Despite the stills being smaller, Gordon & MacPhail’s new make bore a striking resemblance to that made under DCL’s stewardship. Quite how this happened is one of the mysteries surrounding Scotch and goes some way to adding to the belief that there is something about a distillery’s own microclimate which influences the character of the spirit.

Since then, it has appeared in peated guise, as an organic release, a 100% Golden Promise release, and in a succession of finishes in fortified and wine casks. With more time under its belt extra weight is now being shown by the maturing spirit. 

Launched in 2015, Benromach 15 YO has been matured in a higher proportion of ex-sherry casks than its younger 10 year old sibling – but, like all whisky produced at Benromach since Gordon & MacPhail took the reins in 1993, it’s produced using only first fill barrels. Similarly to Highlander Old Pulteney, the neck of the bottle has been shaped like the distillery stills.

Benromach 15 YO has high complexity, solid balance and a particularly diverse range of flavours which all work together in harmony whilst maintaining the distillery’s traditional spirit character. The additional aging, allows more of the sherried elements to shine here, and likewise reduces the impact of peat smoke. Multifaceted and engaging, but comparisons to the excellent 10 year old are inevitable - this one is 50% older, but it’s also not far off 50% more expensive (around £53 currently). Whether it’s also 50% better is going to be entirely down to penchants of the imbiber.

Nose: Speyside meets Campbeltown – toffee apples, orange peels, honey and beeswax vs. gentle but unclean ashy smoke, surface cleaner and used oil. More overtly sherried than the 10 year old, this delivers stewed red berries, dusty wood cellars as well as some slightly tropicalness from pineapple. Oatmeal, tanned leather, lemon drop sweets and bitter chocolate all provide additional nuances.

Taste: A silky arrival that walks a slightly different path to the nose – toffee apples, orange peels, leather (and leather polish) and walnuts get us started, then things go quite greenhouse with pronounced vegetables – boiled carrots and cauliflower. Bitter spicing is introduced by both pepper and, particularly pronounced anise. In the back palate, things become increasingly herbal – reeds, flax and strong eucalyptus. The smoke here is less discernible than on the nose, and comes across more as a melange of petrol fumes and rusted metal dust. Somewhat surprisingly given this eclectic list everything works together rather well.

Finish: Medium to long, sherried with chocolate, herbal with fresh cut grass.

GAME OF THRONES SINGLE MALT WHISKIES

Winter has come, and with it, the dead… good Game of Thrones-themed single malt whisky range from Diageo. Whiskies from eight of Scotland's best-known and most-loved distilleries have been paired with the great Houses and factions of Westeros, from Clynelish with the verdant, agricultural riches of House Tyrell in the south to Dalwhinnie and the open honesty of House Stark in the northern stronghold of Winterfell, and Oban with The Night's Watch at The Wall, to name a few.

If Scotch whisky is Westeros, then these distilleries are its great Houses. From the sweet, zesty flavours of Royal Lochnagar to the rich smoke of Lagavulin and the coastal tang of Talisker, the ice of Dalwhinnie Winter's Frost to the fire of Cardhu Gold Reserve – here you'll find the character of that world, distilled.

THE WHISKIES

HOUSE TARGARYEN: CARDHU GOLD RESERVE 40% Nas

A Cardhu with the warmth and spice to conquer the Seven Kingdoms, and the delicacy to rule them: this Speyside single malt is a cornucopia of orchard fruit, freshly-baked crumble, a touch of caramel on the side and a drying finish.

HOUSE TYRELL: CLYNELISH RESERVE 51.2% nas

With a dryness comparable to the wit of the Queen of Thorns, a flavourful palate worthy of the The Reach's rich soil and a 51.6% ABV as punchy as the Tyrell armies, this Clynelish offers up an excellent balance of sweet and dry; wood, leather and zesty, tropical fruit.

HOUSE BARATHEON: ROYAL LOCHNAGAR 12 YEAR OLD 40% ABV

A tumultuous dram worthy of the Stormlands, and House Baratheon's internal conflict. At once zesty, citrus and floral, and earthy and lightly bitter, this whisky – like House Baratheon – has two sides to it: the light and the dark; the jovial and the brutish.

HOUSE TULLY: THE SINGLETON OF GLENDULLAN SELECT 40% nas

From Dufftown on the banks of the River Fiddich, The Singleton of Glendullan is, much like House Tully, a product of the Riverlands – just with a lower-case 'r'. A sweet and fruity dram, this single malt is heaving with vanilla, chocolate and cereal notes, all lifted by a lively spice.

HOUSE GREYJOY: TALISKER SELECT RESERVE 45.8% NAS

Talisker is 'made by the sea'; House Greyjoy and the people of the Iron Islands are seafaring folk who worship the Drowned God – the sea is intrinsic to both, and as evident in this whisky as you'd expect. Coastal, briny notes mingle with wafts of wood-smoke, savoury seaweed on stone and a rich, spicy sweetness.

HOUSE LANNISTER: LAGAVULIN 9 YEAR OLD 46% abv

A whisky as rich as the Lannisters, this is a fantastic Lagavulin full of all the thick peat smoke and sweet, chewy, citrus-fruit notes you'd expect from the distillery. Golden caramel and vanilla join the fray, alongside a flash of vibrant greenery.

HOUSE STARK: DALWHINNIE WINTER'S FROST 43% NAS

The Starks embody all the best of the North; full of warmth and honesty, what you see is, for the most part, what you get – and so it is with Dalwhinnie Winter's Frost. Despite its name, this single malt is a warming, summery dram full of bitter-sweet citrus and candied zest.

THE NIGHT'S WATCH: OBAN BAY RESERVE 43% abv

Despite its members' dark demeanours, The Night's Watch is the light of the Seven Kingdoms; the first defence against the encroaching Long Night. This waxy, complex Oban shares that nature: behind this bottle's dark exterior lies a substantial, yet light dram in which berry fruit and cocoa are lifted by an airy menthol note.

SIX KINGDOMS: MORTLACH 15 YO 46% abv

The oldest whisky in the Game of Thrones range, this 15-year-old from Mortlach distillery has been aged in both first-fill sherry casks and ex-bourbon barrels. A whisky with depth to match the roots of the oldest weirwood tree, it combines fresh fruit, vanilla and wood-spice flavours – a trio worthy of the Three-eyed Raven which adorns the bottle.

GLEN MORAY MADEIRA CASK PROJECT 13 yo 46.3% abv

Although now in the midst of housing, Glen Moray originally sat out with Elgin’s boundaries (it was where the burgh’s gallows once stood) and started life as a brewery, taking its water and power from the fast-flowing River Lossie alongside. The downside of this watery proximity is the act that the distillery regularly floods. Its function changed in 1897 as one of the many new distilleries built or converted at a time when the whisky boom seemed never-ending. Like many [Imperial, Benriach] it fell victim to the slump which took place at the start of the 20th century and closed in 1910, being snapped up in 1923 by Macdonald & Muir (then owners of Glenmorangie).

In the latter part of its ownership by Glenmorangie, Glen Moray became the firm’s ‘budget’ malt with a price often the same as standard blends. While sales rose, there was little profit made and the distillery’s image was badly damaged. In 2008, it was sold to French distilling firm La Martiniquaise, predominantly for fillings for its Label Five and Glen Turner brands. Capacity has since been increased by 40% with new washbacks and another pair of stills being installed.

It is believed that the closeness of the river and the high water table produces a slightly warmer and more humid microclimate which assists maturation. Since the La Martiniquaise takeover, a higher percentage of first-fill American oak is used, adding more buttery notes to the mix. It was one of the first whiskies to be ‘finished’ in wine casks – Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay specifically – as well as Port. After a few quiet years, new releases are beginning to appear. Some peated malt is now being run as well.

In June 2020, Glen Moray introduced a new expression to its Elgin Curiosity Range – the Glen Moray Medeira cask project. The whisky was fully matured in ex-sweet Madeira hogsheads for 13 years and 10 months, making the expression a rich combination of Glen Moray’s classic Speyside style mellowed with the sweet fruit and toffee influences of Madeira. Just seven of these casks were laid down in 2006, tucked away undisturbed in Warehouse 1 – home to the Elgin-based distillery’s maturation experiments over the years.

On the nose you’ll find toffee, dark chocolate, fig, and dates balanced with sweet pears, berries and subtle exotic spices.

The taste is sweet, syrupy, with deep notes of toffee, chocolate, black coffee, and figs, developing to sweet oak, poached pears, and soft fruit, and the finish is rich, lingering, and sweet with gentle exotic spices and dried fruit.

Glen Moray Madeira Cask Project is bottled at 46.3% ABV at its natural colour and is non-chill filtered. It is a UK exclusive, available in 70cl in specialist whisky shops, with a RRP of £65.

Glengoyne 18 YO 43%

A small farm-style distillery located under Dumgoyne, the most westerly extrusion of the Campsie Fells, Glengoyne has long punched well above its weight. It runs a combination of long (and very long) fermentations, while distillation in its three stills (one wash, two spirit) is extremely slow. All of the stills have boil bulbs, which increases the amount of copper availability, while the gentle heating of the wash and spirit also helps to maximise the amount of time the alcohol vapour can play with the copper. This maximising of reflux produces a gentle, sweet, and fruity new make.

There is however sufficient weight in the spirit to be able to balance with maturation in ex-Sherry butts – a signature of Edrington’s distilleries – which has been retained by Ian MacLeod.

Glengoyne distillery makes a point not to use any peat to dry the malted barley. As a result, its offerings tend to appeal to folks who like to avoid smoke, as well as peat. You’ll get none of that in here. What’s more, the whisky is quite dark for an 18-year-old, and there is no artificial coloring, whatsoever, indicative of the high quality sherry casks used. This said, this Glengoyne 18-Year-Old would be even better without chill filtration. Why? Because chill filtering tends to remove some of the more rough-and-tumble eccentricities in the wash that can actually be quite interesting, at least to whisky mavens.

Glengoyne distillery is a hop, skip and a jump north of Glasgow, and the destination is popular with tourists who are passing through Scotland and want to visit something close to the airport. Single malt bottlings began in the early 1990s, when Glengoyne was sold as 'the unpeated malt', while much was also made of the fact that, geographically, the distillery is in the Highlands while its warehouses, directly across the road, are in the Lowlands. Edrington considered it surplus to its requirements in 2003, selling it to Ian MacLeod for £7.2m. Its new owner has subsequently (and successfully) focused on developing the brand as a single malt.

Nose: Madagascar vanilla, honeycomb; butterscotch; cardamom; cocoa powder; orange gumdrops; Granny Smith apple skins; banana chips; white mustard seed. There’s also a bit of grassiness like in a Lowland whisky.

Palate: The mouth feel is better without adding any water. A big fudgey note right from the start – far more chocolate than is present in the nose. There’s a seamless integration of sherry and spirit, which combine to deliver a uniform malty sweetness that runs the gamut from toffee to marzipan to some pepper from the oak. This malt presence is far richer than one usually encounters in a whisky of the same class. A bit of potpourri comes through on the finish with a lovely spiciness, along with a milky Ceylon black tea tea note.

Finish: Medium in length, but would be longer at 46%. No matter. That Ceylon tea note lingers on the tongue (without milk), together with some white bread toast, and mild pepper. An herbal finish flirts with honey and toffee, and then goes green at the death, with thyme and nettle.

The cask presence waves in the direction of a Springbank’s dunnage warehouse dankness, before retreating back into dry, sunny, autumnal fields of a more rarefied spirit with an altogether cleaner composition. The combination of tastes and scents in the bottle is quite enchanting. The last wee bit of finish cannot help but reveal its Highland breeding. The rather solemn and circumspect finish is what boosts this dram up a little higher in overall estimation. There’s really nothing to dislike, and much to enjoy. 

VIRTUAL VISIT TO DIAGEO

 Diageo Archive Now Virtually Accessible

Stroll through Diageo's archive once - this wish can now be fulfilled without leaving your home. In cooperation with Matterport, the spirits company Diageo has had its archive captured in images and implemented virtually. On a 360° tour, you can now stroll from room to room and from shelf to shelf, just with a click of a mouse.

Diageo's real archive extends over 5,000 square metres. It contains papers, certificates, pictures, advertising material, furniture, bottles - the history of many Scottish distilleries and brands is preserved here.

There are more than 5,000 bottles in showcases in the Liquid Library. The development of whisky brands can be followed here from the 1880s to the present day. The Marketing Hall of Fame presents advertisements and marketing campaigns from 1779 to recent PR activities.

In the Founder's Room you can meet personalities who were and are behind the whisky brands. Many of the brands that are now part of Diageo began as an individual vision or a small family business. Would you like to sit virtually at the desk where Peter Mackie, owner of Lagavulin and father of the White Horse brand, once did his office work? It’s here in the Founder's Room.

Also impressive is the abundance of archival material collected and lined up in boxes and folders in The Vault. Books, lists, certificates, rolls of film - it's a shame that you can stroll past everything here and admire it, but unfortunately don't have the opportunity to lift the covers or leaf through the books…

If you want to take a look around the Diageo archive, you can find it here at The Matterport

Source: Diageo

GOOD NEWS: SOMETHING SPECIAL IS BACK ALBEIT NAS

ICONIC DECANTER SLIMMED DOWN

I first tasted Something Special in 1977 in Poona. It was an exquisite experience and I decided to carry out detailed research on this Blended Scotch. I found that it was an illegal and raw blend first bottled in 1793 from what was to become Bon Accord Distillery in 1855. The SOMETHING SPECIAL website claims that Hill & Thomson Wines and Liquor in Edinburgh started the production and sale of an excellent blended Scotch whisky in 1793 and that it was granted a Royal Warrant by King William IV in 1838. This is a hoax, as William IV died in 1837. The whisky and distillery are not named*. Moreover, blending of malt and grain whisky was permitted only in 1860 for distillers; other traders, like grocers, were permitted such blending in 1863. The term Scotch came from 'Scottish' and was first used in the mid-18th century (1855, Gavin Smith).

It came out as a 12 YO Premium Whisky thereafter, not an 8 YO. Bon Accord distillery, renamed to North of Scotland distillery in 1898, was taken over by the Longmorn Distillery Company in 1893, and the whisky was bottled soon thereafter as a Grant's Distilleries' product. The website also claims that it was granted a Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria, who died in 1901. This is most probably another hoax, as no distillery was given the prefix ‘Royal’ in that period. In 1877 Hill, Thompson & Co. offered the role of export salesman to William Shaw. In 1902 he established the Queen Anne blend, which soon became the company’s flagship whisky.

Grant's Distillery was destroyed by a fire in 1910, but was repaired and running in 1911. A new blended whisky, named Something Special, came out with great fanfare in 1912, quietly burying its dubious past. The website states that the business was still owned by Hill & Thomson and advertised as “A Scotch for a Special Occasion.” It quickly became popular in the United Kingdom and around the world. 

The iconic decanter was first produced in the distinctive diamond shape in 1959 and heralded around the world as a visible statement of quality and originality.

In 1972, the Glenlivet and Glen Grant Distilleries Ltd amalgamated with the blending concerns of Hill, Thomson and Co.Ltd and Longmorn Distilleries Ltd to become The Glenlivet Distillers Ltd. Something Special was then bottled by Hill, Thomson and Co.Ltd, Paisley, Scotland as a 12 YO at very good prices [$12 for a 75 proof 43% ABV 750 ml decanter(86 proof in the USA)]. The Glenlivet Distillers Ltd. was then purchased by Canadian drinks and media company Seagram in 1977. The website claims Something Special™ whisky was launched in new markets across Latin America and Asia in 1985, where discerning connoisseurs were demanding high quality Scotch whisky. This is a part lie, as Something Special™ was freely available across India, even in its Military Canteens in the 70s. I bought my first bottle in 1982 in Bhuj, a back-of-beyond city in Northwest Gujarat.

Seagram's was owned by a Canadian Jew, Samuel Bronfman, and his company was barred from using the Islamic middle-east gateway to the liquor demanding market of South-central Asia. He was unable to get his personal baby, Chivas Regal, going in a huge and lucrative market. He then routed his supplies via Singapore. But Something Special, strikingly similar to Chivas Regal 12 YO, didn't cede its market share to Chivas Regal. Phipson's Black Dog and Johnnie Walker Red and Black labels were making rapid inroads into this market. This is why Something Special was withdrawn from the Indian and Asian market, to make way for Chivas Regal. Once sale in India and most of Asia was stopped, its primary market became Latin America and Italy. A bottle or two is often found in odd locations.  Seagram's was taken over by Pernod Ricard in 2000 and a fresh market analysis led to the release of their 15 YO in 2006, focussed on in Latin America with a few bottles trickling over to Asia as rarities. All barriers to trade via the Middle East were lifted.

The archives paint a very different story. In 1709 Andrew Thomson inherited the business of his father–in–law, Mr Brown, a brewer and vintner in Grassmarket, Edinburgh. About 20 years later the business was moved to "The Vaults" in neighbouring Leith, which were bought by the company on 29 July 1782. The firm of J G Thomson & Co was founded by James Gibson Thomson in 1785 at the Vaults to supply goods like whisky, brandy and wines. James Gibson Thomson Jr, the son of the company’s founder, was associated with the company from 1820 to 1876.

In its early years the major part of the business was in the import and distribution of wines from the continent. Later it traded in wines and spirits of all descriptions, both imported and local. The company’s wholesale business was carried out under the name of J G Thomson & Co and all private trade under the name Thomson Lauder & Co.

Two rare Blended Scotch whiskies bore the name Lauder's. These were The Lauder's Finest and Lauder's Queen Mary Special Reserve Blended Scotch Whisky named after the schooner that docked regularly at Glasgow. In 1884 the firm acquired Glen Garioch Distillery in Old Meldrum, Aberdeenshire and owned it until 1908. In 1890 it took over the Leith firm, Scott & Allan, and its two clippers, which brought cargoes of wines and brandies into Leith. Scott & Allan were also cork cutters. In 1905, J G Thomson & Co became a limited liability company.

The company went into voluntary liquidation in 1921 and the buildings and stocks were taken over by J M Hogge on behalf of the new company, which was a private company without a stock exchange quotation. By the 1930s, J G Thomson & Co was supplying wines to most of the top hotels in Scotland and had become one of the country’s leading independent whisky blenders, with a prosperous overseas trade. By 1959 it owned three bonded warehouses and large duty paid warehouses. The company acted as agent, stockist and distributor in Scotland for many famous and internationally known brands of wines and spirits. It also functioned as a very large exporter of whisky to all parts of the world, especially to the USA, and was involved in the blending of whisky. The company maintained a large transport fleet with depots in Leith and Glasgow, and it maintained its own cooperage.

After the Second World War many private hotels amalgamated into larger chains or were acquired by breweries. This effectively removed J G Thomson’s principal outlets. In 1960 it was bought by Charrington United Breweries Ltd of London. Three years later Charrington acquired the Glasgow firm J & R Tennent Ltd and in 1966 J G Thomson became a subsidiary of Tennent Caledonian Breweries Ltd.

By 1972, Lauder's had been acquired by Macduff Distillery and its portfolio expanded by three additions. These were Lauder's Oloroso Cask Blended Scotch Whisky, Lauder's Ruby Cask Blended Scotch Whisky and Lauder's 15 Year Blended Scotch Whisky.

IN THE ITALIAN MARKET

ONE OF THE FINEST 15 YEAR OLDS

SOMETHING SPECIAL RETURNS TO INDIA IN 2020 BUT AS NAS EXPRESSION

Something Special is still a premium Blended Scotch whisky, the no. 1 Scotch whisky in the Dominican Republic, the no 2. in Colombia and overall no. 3 premium Scotch whisky brand in South America. It’s considered an outgoing and sociable whisky that celebrates life, an optimistic attitude and everyday success. As may be seen in the photos at the top, it is an NAS expression today and the decanter, while retaining its diamond cut, has been slimmed down a mite. The decanter of its newest release, the Something Special LEGACY, is unique and quite a collector's item.  

Surprisingly, Something Special made its debut in Latin America in 2004 as a 12 YO Blended Scotch whisky. The award-winning 12 YO blend contains fine Speyside malt whiskies and is sculptured around the outstanding Longmorn single malts, embellished by classy single malts from the Glenlivet, Glen Grant, Laphroaig and Allt A Bhainne distilleries, among others, which are melded together in Strathclyde Single Grain whisky to give it its unmistakably smoky sweetness. The hint of peaty character is imbued from a single malt produced at the Allt À Bhainne distillery in Keith, Speyside. The Islay contribution is made by an unpeated whisky from, surprisingly, Laphroaig, a distillery well-known for its unmistakable pungent, medicinal and smoky spirit. This expression is said to age in Bourbon and Sherry casks but the Sherry influence in this blend seems minimal. With Longmorn stock running low, Something Special turned both slim and NAS in 2010. It is now carried by Allt A Bhaine, Glen Grant, Strathisla, Aberlour and The Glenlivet.

It is deep gold in colour with E150A caramel additive, chill filtered and blended in Scotland. It is bottled in both Scotland and India. The Scottish version is at 40% ABV in a 70cl bottle; it is at 43% ABV in a 75cl bottle in India.

Nose: When you pour this blend in your glass you immediately get peat and light smoke that remind you of a light Islay whisky. However, on inhalation, the peat and smoke prove evanescent and are driven back quickly to the back of the glass and grain, wood, sundry dried fruit and malt come into play. After a while in the glass, earth and wood tones begin to dominate. There isn’t much sharp alcohol, which is good but this blend would benefit from some more fruity tones.

Taste: Sweet (Sugar, Honey) and Spicy Oak. The sweetness becomes syrupy if swigged after a chillied momo.

Finish: Not overly long and quickly getting dry. Some Cocoa powder, nuts and wood.

If you add four or five drops of water, the peat on the nose withdraws to the background. Floral and mineral tones appear. The palate however just gets watered down. So you can nose this blend with and without a few drops of water but it is best sipped neat.

Eagerly awaiting the release of the SOMETHING SPECIAL LEGACY.

                       


                       

                       

                       

* The whisky was probably The Cock O The North Malt whisky and the distillery The Union Glen.