Whisky Focus - Diageo Special Releases 2016

This year Diageo has announced the release of ten specially selected limited edition Scotch whiskies to make up their Diageo Special Releases 2016 and as we have come to expect, amongst them are some of the rarest and most sought after whiskies around.

The oldest whisky in this years release is Cambus 40 year old, a single grain whisky from the Cambus distillery which closed back in 1993, the Cambus 40 will set you back £750.

Port Ellen closed in 1983, it is a whisky which we have come to expect to see amongst the annual special releases and this years offering is a Port Ellen 1978 37 year old which I am sure will be highly sought after by whisky enthusiasts and collectors, it carries a price tag of £2,500.

Joining the Port Ellen at the top end of this years release is is another from a closed distillery, Brora 1977 38 year old which will have a price tag of £1,450 which actually seems good value when compared to Diageo's travel retail exclusive Brora 40 year old which sells for £7,500. Brora often top charts of most collectable whiskies I am sure this years Brora release will sell out quickly.

Other regular and popular releases in this annual outcrop from Diageo are of course the Lagavulin 12 year old and a bottling from Caol Ila which this year is a a Caol Ila 2000 15 year old which as usual is an unpeated expression.

Confirming that we are now well and truly in the era of the No Age Statement whisky there is a Cragganmore NAS, which is a release of 4932 bottles each priced at, wait for it, £400. A combination of refill American hogsheads, rejuvenated American hogsheads and refill European oak casks. It will certainly be interesting to see how the Cragganmore NAS sells, will whisky drinkers be happy to pay £400 for a NAS whisky or will it be left collecting dust on the shelves of whisky shops.

The complete Diageo Special Release 2016 line-up looks like this:

• Auchroisk 25 Year Old
  Distilled 1990 and bottled at 51.2% ABV.
  Limited to 3,954 bottles worldwide.
  Recommended Retail Price: £280
   
• Brora 38 Year Old
  Distilled 1977 and bottled at 48.6% ABV.
  Limited to 2,984 bottles worldwide.
  Recommended Retail Price: £1,450
   
• Cambus 40 Year Old
  Distilled 1975 and bottled at 52.7% ABV.
  Limited to 1,812 bottles worldwide.
  Recommended Retail Price: £750
   
• Caol Ila 15 Year Old
  Distilled 2000 and bottled at 61.5% ABV.
  Limited quantities worldwide.
  Recommended Retail Price: £90
   
• Cragganmore (NAS)
  Bottled at 55.7% ABV.
  Limited to 4,932 bottles worldwide.
  Recommended Retail Price: £400
   
• Glenkinchie 24 Year Old
  Distilled 1991 and bottled at 57.2% ABV.
  Limited to 5,928 bottles worldwide.
  Recommended Retail Price: £300
   
• Lagavulin 12 Year Old
  Bottled at 57.7% ABV.
  Limited quantities worldwide.
  Recommended Retail Price: £80
   
• Linkwood 37 Year Old
  Distilled 1978 and bottled at 50.3% ABV.
  Limited to 6,114 bottles worldwide.
  Recommended Retail Price: £600
   
• Mannochmore 25 Year Old
  Distilled 1990 and bottled at 53.4% ABV.
  Limited to 3,954 bottles worldwide.
  Recommended Retail Price: £250
   
• Port Ellen 37 Year Old
  Distilled 1978 and bottled at 55.2% ABV.
  Limited to 2,940 bottles worldwide.
  Recommended Retail Price: £2,500

• UK Shops
   
• USA Shops
   
• European Shops
  

Whisky Focus