We present you the first look at the Diageo Special Releases 2024.
Familiar distilleries, uncommon casks
As you know the 2023 collection was named Spirited Xchange. This year the visual fireworks are familiar, with bright and almost flashy colours. So the name is simple: Spirited Xchange Second Edition. The series revolves around high strength and experimental casks.
8 Special Releases in 2024
Eight single malts are part of this collection, the same number as last year. Most of the expressions would have been easy guesses. Lagavulin, Talisker, Mortlach and The Singleton are part of this series almost every year.
New for 2024 are the Benrinnes 21 Year Old. Also the unpeated Caol Ila is not something we see often. There’s also a new version of Roseisle 12 Year Old which appeared in 2023 for the first time, and now gets a very similar follow-up.
All whiskies are middle-aged, between 8 years and 14 years old, with the Benrinnes being the only release that is quite a bit older.
Benrinnes 21 Year Old ‘Grand Crescendo’ (€ 515)
A 21 year-old and double matured, “including” American and European oak ex-wine casks. This indicates other (classic ex-bourbon) casks as well? No information about the type of wine, I’m afraid. Bottled at 55.4% ABV (natural cask strength, like all Special Releases). MoM / TWE
Caol Ila Unpeated 11 Years ‘Ambrosial Feast’ (€ 120)
The first Caol Ila in a while. Even though unpeated Caol Ila is not unique (it used to be fairly common between 2010-2016), it hasn’t appeared in the Special Releases for a number of years. The label claims it was crafted with short fermentations and cloudy worts. Intruiging. This comes at 57.3% ABV. MoM / TWE
Lagavulin 12 Year Old ‘Fireside Tales’ (€ 195)
A classic member of the Special Releases. This year Diageo uses a fairly classic cask recipe: first-fill ex-bourbon and refill casks. This should be good. Bottled at 57.4% ABV. MoM / TWE
Oban 10 Year Old ‘Coastal Orchard’ (€ 130)
Oban 10 Year Old review →
After the Oban 11 Years in 2023, there’s now an Oban 10 Year Old. It is finished in charred American oak barrels seasoned with Oloroso sherry. Heavy char and Oloroso often gives nice results. Bottled at a generous 58% ABV. MoM / TWE
Roseisle 12 Year Old ‘Origami Kite II’ (€ 165)
Like last year, Roseisle is bottled at 12 years of age, from a combination of first-fill ex-bourbon and refill casks. The strength is slightly lower (55.6% ABV) but other than that, it appears to be an identical release on paper. That’s not a bad thing. MoM
Talisker 8 Year Old ‘Tidal Churn’ (€ 115)
Talisker 8 Year Old review →
Yet another classic (see 2021 or 2020). The cask description is quite uncommon though: stone-spun and lightly re-toasted casks. We’re eager to find out what they mean exactly. Bottled at 58.7% ABV. MoM / TWE
Mortlach ‘Midnight Dusk’ (€ 325)
Mortlach rarely gets an age statement in the Special Releases, but almost always a funky cask finishing. This year we get ex-Italian Ramandolo white wine + Sangiovese red wine casks at 57.5%. Let’s hope it’s not another winesky. MoM / TWE
Singleton of Glen Ord 14 Year Old ‘Autumn Walk’ (€ 170)
From Glen Ord distillery comes this Singleton 14 Years. It is matured long-life in first-fill bourbon casks and then part-finished in casks with Pyrenean and Spanish oak ends. This arrives at 54.7% ABV. MoM / TWE
Diageo Special Releases 2024: prices
Prices for the Special Releases 2024 have been added.
It’s a fact that most of the 2023 releases are still readily available. Moreover I noticed that a lot of new Special Releases tastings and events have been organised lately – strange so long after the release, but probably trying to push the old stock? Still there seems to be a light increase over last year.
It seems some of the whiskies are available in 20 cl bottles as well.
Of course all of the expressions are available from Malts.com