New year, new Diageo Special Releases!

2024's lineup seems to be out - we're counting the likes of Caol Ila, Talisker, Lagavulin, Mortlach, Roseile, Singleton (Glen Ord), Benrinnes. We're talking classics here. These are all labelled as being cask strength, and some of them sport some pretty intriguing casks - anyone heard of a "Stone-Spun" cask? We've also got an unpeated Caol Ila, and a Singleton Glen Ord that's matured "Life-Long" in ex-Bourbon casks.

Let's take a closer look at them.

1. Caol Ila Unpeated 11 Year Old Cask Strength, Diageo Special Release 2024, 57.3% ABV

First up, we've got the workhorse Caol Ila. This one's bottled at cask strength of 57.3% ABV, but more interestingly it's going to be an unpeated variant of what is traditionally a peat-forward Islay whisky. It's also made with short fermentations and cloudy worts, hmm?

Is Caol Ila Caol Ila if it's got no peat? We'll find out.

2. Benrinnes Double Matured 21 Year Old Cask Strength, Diageo Special Release 2024, 55.4% ABV

Next up, we've got a Speysider that we don't see all too often in the Diageo Special Release lineup - Benrinnes. This one's double matured in American and European Oak ex-Wine casks. We've got no mention of what sort of wine just yet, but it is again, cask strength at 55.4% ABV.

3. Roseile 12 Year Old Cask Strength, Diageo Special Release 2024, 55.6% ABV

Last year we got our first taste of Roseile (reviews here!) and we were pleasantly surprised with the creamy, fruity and confectionary flavours! Well, we're about to get a second taste of Diageo's newest distillery, this time it'll be a 12 Year Old cask strength expression bottled at 55.6% ABV, that's been matured in first-fill ex-Bourbon and Refill casks. Definitely keeping a lookout for this one.

4. Lagavulin 12 Year Old Cask Strength, Diageo Special Release 2024, 57.4% ABV

A perennial crowd favourite #dothelaga. We've got a benchmark 12 Year Old cask strength Lagavulin that's been matured in first-fill ex-Bourbon and Refill casks, bottled at 57.4% ABV.

5. Talisker 8 Year Old Cask Strength Finished In Stone-Spun And Lightly Re-Toasted Casks, Diageo Special Release 2024, 58.7% ABV

Yet another classic - did you know every Diageo Special Release has a Talisker? This time we've got a benchmark Talisker 8 Year Old, bottled at cask strength of 58.7% ABV, and perhaps most curiously, it's been finished in what Diageo calls Stone-Spun and Lightly Re-Toasted Casks. There ought to be a piece of that stone included in every release, yeah?

6. Mortlach Finished In Ex-Italian Ramandolo White And Sangiovese Red Wine Casks, Cask Strength, Diageo Special Release 2024, 57.5% ABV

Next up, the Beast of Dufftown! We've got a Mortlach that appears to be an NAS, bottled at cask strength again - that's 57.5% ABV, and it's finished in ex-Italian Ramandolo White and Sangiovese Red Wine casks.

7. Singleton Glen Ord 14 Year Old Cask Strength, Diageo Special Release 2024, 54.7% ABV

Finally, we're rounding up 2024's Special Releases with a Singleton from Glen Ord. This one's a 14 Year Old, cask strength too - 54.7% ABV, and matured "Life-Long in First-Fill Ex-Bourbon Casks, Part-Finished In Casks Of Pyrenean And Spanish Oak Ends".

8. Oban 10 Year Old Cask Strength, Diageo Special Release 2024, 58% ABV (*New Addition)

EDIT: Oban joins the Diageo Special Release 2024 party!

Last week, we reported that the Diageo Special Release 2024 labels have begun to show up - some very interesting cask finishes here... like a stone-spun barrel, and then some classics. 

But now we've got at least one more joining the fold - an Oban 10 Year Old finished in charred American Oak barrels, seasoned with Oloroso Sherry - seems like another classic we have on our hands! 

This one's bottled at 58% ABV.

Stay tuned for more!

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team