DIAGEO ANNOUNCES THE FIRST NINE OF ITS TEN 2018 SPECIAL RELEASES

Diageo, has today announced the first nine of the ten bottles, which will make up its 2018 Special Releases collection.

This year’s Diageo Special Releases collection, comprised of limited-edition natural cask strength bottlings, will be released in limited quantities this autumn.

Diageo announces the first nine of its ten 2018 Special Releases

The Diageo Special Releases collection, encompasses some of the rarest and oldest whiskies from Diageo’s classic, lesser known and often closed distilleries. Each whisky within the range offers complex flavours, representing a fragment of Scotch Whisky history.

Minus the tenth bottling, which will be announced later this year, the Diageo Special Releases 2018, are comprised of:

Carsebridge 48 Year Old:
Refill American Oak Hogsheads
43.2% ABV – 1,000 Bottles

Caol Ila Unpeated 15 Year Old:
Refill & Rejuvenated American Oak Hogsheads and Ex-Bodega European Oak Butts
59.1% ABV - Limited Quantities Worldwide

Caol Ila 35 Year Old:
Refill American Oak Hogsheads & Refill European Oak Butts
58.1% ABV – 3,276 Bottles

Inchgower 27 Year Old:
Refill American Oak Hogsheads
55.3% ABV – 8,544 Bottles

Lagavulin 12 Year Old:
Refill American Oak Hogsheads
57.8% ABV - Limited Quantities Worldwide

Oban 21 Year Old:
Refill European Oak Butts
57.9% ABV – Limited Quantities Worldwide

Pittyvaich 28 Year Old:
Refill American Oak Hogsheads
52.1% - 4,680 Bottles

The Singleton Of Glen Ord 14 Year Old:
Refill American Oak Hogsheads and Ex-Bodega European Oak Butts
57.6% ABV - Limited Quantities Worldwide

Talisker 8 Year Old:
First Fill Ex-Bourbon American Oak
59.4% - Limited Quantities Worldwide

Commenting on the news, 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 RRP’s for this year’s Diageo Special Releases, will be announced in the autumn.

Posted by Steve Rush

THE FAMOUS GROUSE ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF NEW CASK SERIES

The Famous Grouse, has announced the launch of the first expression in a new series of blended Scotch whiskies, which have been described by the brand as ‘everyday premium’ whiskies.

The Famous Grouse Bourbon Cask (40% ABV) has been blended using a high proportion of whisky matured in American Oak and first fill bourbon casks.

The Famous Grouse Bourbon Cask

Developed by The Famous Grouse’s Master Blender, Kirsteen Campbell, the Cask Series is said to offer lovers of blended whisky an affordable way to enjoy new whisky styles, which incorporate flavours imparted from specially selected oak casks.

Commenting on the news, Kirsteen Campbell, Master Blender of The Famous Grouse, said: “The casks we use to mature the whisky are such an integral part of bringing the product to life.  Each cask is unique and each brings something different to the spirit. For The Famous Grouse, we place such a lot of importance on the quality of our wood that we wanted to develop a range to really highlight and celebrate all that this adds to the whisky.  The Cask Series is designed to showcase how different types of oak cask can influence flavour, delivering a range of wonderful flavours to appeal to a wide range of consumers.”

The Famous Grouse Bourbon Cask, which will be followed by a number of other releases aged in different cask types, will initially be available exclusively from Tesco in the UK, for a RRP of £19.00.

Posted by Steve Rush

BUSHMILLS LAUNCHES ITS 2018 SMALL BATCH 16 AND 21 YEAR OLD SINGLE MALT WHISKEYS

Bushmills Irish Whiskey, has today announced the launch of its 2018 Small Batch 16 and 21 Year Old Irish single malt whiskeys.

Bushmills 16 Year Old Single Malt – 2018 (40% ABV) has been matured for at least 16 years in a combination of bourbon casks and Oloroso sherry butts, before being married for nine months in old port pipes. Bushmills 21 Year Old Single Malt – 2018 (40% ABV) has been matured in bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks for at least 19 years, before being married for two years in Madeira wine casks.

Bushmills 2018 Small Batch 16 and 21 Year Old Single Malts

As part of the 2018 release, Bushmills has announced an increase in availability of the 16 Year Old Single Malt by 100 per cent, in a direct response to the 25% increase in demand of its premium malts over the last year.

Commenting on the launch, Colum Egan, Master Distiller at Bushmills Irish Whiskey, said: “As the largest malt Irish whiskey brand in the world and one of the first distilleries to create a single malt whiskey, we are delighted to release these rare expressions for the ultra-premium end of the Irish whiskey category. With almost 40 years crafting our Bushmills 16 & 21 Year Old Single Malts, we know that only a combination of patience, dedication and experience in our craft has allowed us to maintain the same great consistency of flavour and taste over the years.”

Bushmills 16 Year Old Single Malt - 2018 and Bushmills 21 Year Old Single Malt - 2018, will be later this month from specialist retailers, for the respective RRP’s of £75.00 and £145.00.

Posted by Steve Rush