Diageo Special Releases | 2021

Diageo has been releasing limited amounts of malt whisky from selected distilleries in its ‘Special Releases’ series since 2001. The bottles’ reputation for quality, combined with the care that goes into their selection from the vast number of casks at the company’s disposal and their relative rarity has pleased both consumers and collectors. Dr Craig Wilson, Master Blender and ‘Curator’ of the collection, writes:

“It’s an exciting time as we’re starting to push the boundaries of what we can really achieve with flavour, whether that be from the way the spirit was made, or from the unique cask finish used, and what we’ve achieved with this year’s collection is just the very beginning.”

This year the theme is ‘Legends Untold.’ The expressions each have curious names – The Lion’s Fire, The Rogue Seafury, The Moonlit Beast, etc. Diageo’s press release explains:

“Legendary tales speak of eight mysterious mythological beings that roam the land and rule the waters, hidden from sight in the lochs and rugged highlands, known only to a privileged few. This year the mythical creatures of the distilleries are set to collide and come to life, revealing their true characters… This autumn the stories will be revealed as the spirits leap to life in unusual ways, as we share these legends for the first time.”

Cardhu 14 Year Old The Scarlet Blossoms of the Black Rock

“A sweet, perfumed taste like Parma Violets.”

Bright polished brass with a roseate tinge, 9CT gold lights. American oak refill casks. A mild nose-feel. The overall impression is fresh, fruity and lightly acidic – white grapes, lychees, green apples, a trace of orange zest – with a suggestion of buttery pastry. A drop of water introduces a faint floral note. A creamy texture and a sweet, perfumed taste like Parma Violets. Lithe, light-bodied, and elegant – a Julie Andrews of malts!

Mortlach 13 Year Old The Moonlit Beast

“Savoury overall but with a sweet tartness (roasted pheasant with rowan jelly!).”

The hue of golden syrup. Refill and virgin oak casks. Very good beading. A mellow, rounded nose-feel, lightly dry. The aroma is savoury overall but with a sweet tartness (roasted pheasant with rowan jelly!). A fine moorland base-note, with heather pollen and freshly crushed herbs. Water sharpens the aroma with a hint of lime. A big, soft, texture and a sweet taste overall with a savoury finish and a pinch of chilli pepper.

Oban 12 Year Old The Tale of Two Foxes

“Crispy edible seaweed, crystal salt and coarse black pepper on a wooden trencher.”

Bright 18CT gold. American oak casks. Very good beading. A mellow nose-feel with considerable prickle. The top notes are maritime – crispy edible seaweed, crystal salt and coarse black pepper on a wooden trencher, maybe accompanied by lightly smoked fillets of white fish. A soft texture and a taste which starts lightly sweet, with a pinch of salt in mid-palate, and a shake of pepper in the finish. Full of picnic fun and sunlight!

Lagavulin 12 Year Old The Lion’s Fire Lagavulin

“Dry Lapsang souchong tea leaves, mineral bath salts and sphagnum moss.”

The colour of vinho verde; refill American oak casks. Exceptional beading. A dry nose-feel with light prickle. Fresh and maritime, with a top note of Himalayan salt, supported by dry Lapsang souchong tea leaves, mineral bath salts and sphagnum moss. Beneath these, dry cocoa powder, with a squeeze of lemon zest, all imbued with wood-smoke from a distant bonfire. An oily texture: the taste sweet to start soon followed by lemony acidity, with a sprinkling of Maldon salt, finishing with chilli pepper and bags of smoke.

Lagavulin 26 Year Old The Lion’s Jewel

“Light machine oil, with traces of linseed oil (an artist’s studio comes to mind).”

Deep amber, polished rosewood. A mix of PX and oloroso seasoned casks. A very mellow nose and wonderfully well-integrated aroma, of great complexity: light machine oil, with traces of linseed oil (an artist’s studio comes to mind), backed by warm hardwood and dry edible seaweed, with a hint of butterscotch. Fragrant smoke at base. A mouthfilling texture and a taste which starts briefly sweet, then lightly salty, finishing long, with smouldering beech leaves, leaving an aftertaste of chanterelle mushrooms. A truly exceptional whisky.

Royal Lochnagar 16 Year Old The Spring Stallion

“A suggestion of puff-pastry, all on a mossy, bosky, woodland base.”

Liquid sunlight. American oak refill casks. Very good beading. A mellow nose-feel with light prickle. The top notes are faintly fruity (orange zest, green apple) supported, after a while, by a suggestion of puff-pastry, all on a mossy, bosky, woodland base. A soft, creamy texture and a taste which starts sweet, with some acidity in mid-palate, dries gently in the finish and leaves a slightly woody aftertaste.

Talisker 8 Year Old The Rogue Seafury

“Cereallike (porridge oats)… becoming medicinal (antiseptic) and maritime (crystal salt, iodine).”

Pale gold with greenish lights. American oak refill casks. Moderate beading. A mild nose-feel with only light prickle, in spite of its strength. The initial top notes are cereallike (porridge oats), rapidly becoming medicinal (antiseptic) and maritime (crystal salt, iodine). An oily texture and a big taste – salty and lightly sweet, finishing smoky with the typical Talisker chilli pepper in the finish. Virile and vigorous; elemental and traditional. Full gold with khaki lights. Refill casks finished in Cognacseasoned casks. Very good beading. A mild nose-feel with some prickle. The top notes are dried fruits (crystalised angelica and orange peel, dried figs and apricots), backed by a scent of dry fruit cake, with marzipan. Buttery/ oily notes emerge with a drop of water. A soft texture and a sweet taste, finishing lightly savoury. Perfect with afternoon tea!

Singleton of Glendullan19 Year Old The Siren’s Song

“Crystalised angelica and orange peel, dried figs, and apricots… with marzipan.”

Full gold with khaki lights. Refill casks finished in Cognacseasoned casks. Very good beading. A mild nose-feel with some prickle. The top notes are dried fruits (crystalised angelica and orange peel, dried figs and apricots), backed by a scent of dry fruit cake, with marzipan. Buttery/ oily notes emerge with a drop of water. A soft texture and a sweet taste, finishing lightly savoury. Perfect with afternoon tea!