The annual Diageo Special Releases range is always keenly anticipated around the world each year. Typically unveiled in the UK around October, many international markets don’t release them locally until the following calendar year. And so it is that, in April 2023, many markets are only just now launching the Diageo Special Releases 2022 range.
The Diageo Special Releases – first launched 21 years ago now in 2001 – is a fantastic opportunity to try some of your favourite distilleries in an expression quite unlike the regular version that you’re otherwise familiar with. The Special Releases expression might appear with a different or unique age statement, or might have undergone a different maturation regimen to the regular release. Also of note is that, unlike the regularly available expressions that are typically bottled at 40-43% and have been chillfiltered, the Special Releases are typically bottled at higher cask-strength and remain non-chillfiltered. The annual Diageo Special Releases also often include a distillery or two in the range that actually aren’t regularly bottled or commercially available – and so it’s an opportunity to try a distillery that you might not otherwise encounter.
The Diageo Special Releases 2022 range holds very true to that principle, offering up alternative single malt expressions from seven distilleries that are widely available. The eighth offering in this year’s line up is not just from a distillery that few will previously have encountered…it’s actually a grain whisky!
Packaged under the name “Elusive Expressions”, the label artwork follows almost as a sequel to the 2021 range, revolving once again around the theme of mythical beasts and stories. Illustrator, Ken Taylor, returns again and is joined this year by digital visualisation artist, Kevin Tong.
The packaging for the media kit is particularly impressive this year, with the eight sample bottles coming in an octagonal box that unveils itself layer by layer, until you finally reach the bottom and the full details of each whisky can be revealed.
So what’s in this year’s range? The Diageo Special Releases for 2022 offers up the following:
(All prices listed below are Australian dollars)
Cardhu 16yo, 58% ABV, matured in re-fill and re-charred American oak, then finished in Jamaican pot still rum-seasoned casks. RRP $299 (Speyside)
Oban 10yo, 57.1% ABV, matured first in refill and new American oak, then finished in Amontillado-seasoned casks. RRP $180 (Highlands)
Cameronbridge 26yo, 56.2% ABV, matured in refill American oak casks. RRP $599 (Grain whisky. The distillery is in Fife, north of the Firth of Forth; roughly halfway between Edinburgh and St Andrews, as the crow flies!)
Glen Ord 15yo (badged as “The Singleton”) 54.2% ABV, matured in refill American and European oak, then finished in ex-wine casks. RRP $205 (Highlands)
Mortlach NAS, 57.8% ABV, matured in refill American oak, then finished in virgin Tawny port and red muscat-seasoned casks. RRP $425 (Speyside)
Clynelish 12yo, 58.5% ABV, matured in refill American oak, then finished in Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso-seasoned casks. RRP $350 (Highlands)
Talisker 11yo, 55.1% ABV, matured in and blended from a mix of 1st-fill ex-bourbon casks, refill casks, and wine-seasoned casks. RRP $199 (Highlands)
Lagavulin 12yo, 57.3% ABV, matured in and blended from a mix of refill and virgin oak casks; both American oak. RRP $230 (Islay)
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It is an interesting line up this year. Most whisky drinkers will happily enjoy what’s in the bottle; some of the more forensically-minded whisky enthusiasts out there will find a few talking points… such as the decision not to give the Mortlach an age statement yet assign it the second-highest price tag, or that no bottling this year could boast 100% maturation in ex-sherry casks. That said, the choice of a grain whisky is inspired, and it adds a nice dimension to the line-up. It’s been done previously, of course, with Cambus featuring occasionally in previous Special Releases ranges. In some ways, it’s almost a case of turning back the clock: When Diageo launched its Johnnie Walker “Journey of Taste” campaigns at the turn of the millennium, Cameronbridge was one of the whiskies featured in the line up!
And so what of the whiskies themselves? Whisky & Wisdom sat down with a dram from each expression and put each through its paces. Our general thoughts, observations, and tasting notes were as follows:
Cameronbridge 26yo: The nose is light in body, but betrays its age with some nice oak influence. Loads of vanilla, cereal, and light spices on the palate. Not surprisingly, given the ex-bourbon casks and the wheat mashbill, the palate has some subtle hints of American whisky. The finish is delightfully soft, yet long.
Oban 10yo: The nose has an appealing and enticing malty base, accompanied with hints of heather, petrichor, and the slight brininess of Amontillado. The palate is (pleasantly) dry, slightly spicy, again a little salty, and satisfying. A great dram for the hip flask when out on the hills, or by the camp fire at night.
Cardhu 16yo: A richer, fuller nose that has the hallmark traits of rum-finished whisky, there are soft fruits and pastry notes on the nose. The palate is spicier, certainly drier, and has hints of ginger, stone fruits, and perhaps some mint or eucalyptus. Distinctly different from “regular” Cardhu 12yo.
Mortlach NAS: For the whisky that arguably has the most exotic cask make-up in this line-up, not to mention its famed meaty spirit, the nose on this is relatively quiet. It takes a bit of digging to find hints of red forest fruits (currants and raspberries) and perhaps some jelly confectionery notes. The palate seems youthful; it’s vibrant and a bit bombastic. Certainly a big hitter around the mouth, this is a loud and boisterous whisky that will party with you into the wee hours of the morning, but it lacks some of the poise and balance displayed by others in this line-up.
Glen Ord 15yo: The nose on this is soft, delicate, and complex. Given time and patience, it grows and expands into a kaleidoscope of aromas that are as diverse as they are many. Grassy, floral, fruity, malty, sweet, and even a touch of oak – it’s all here. And that’s just the nose! On the palate, the whisky has that classic highland Glen Ord austerity, with the wine cask influence introducing some drying tannins and fruitiness. Definitely a dram for a cold winter’s night.
Clynelish 12yo: The warm and welcome undertones of sherry set the base for the nose, which dovetails seamlessly with the signature Clynelish waxiness and apple skins. Caramel and vanilla custard round out the nose. The palate is sweet, surprisingly malty, and has a finish that is warming and lingers for an eternity. Wonderfully complex and complete.
Talisker 11yo: The nose instantly transports you across to Skye, with the smell of bitumen on the road infusing into your nostrils, together with Talisker’s signature iodine and medicinal notes. Briny maritime notes abound; there’s sea spray in the air. The nose is complex, there are also hints of tobacco leaf and saddle leather. The palate is a bit softer, rounded, and grounded in the earthy peat. It possibly lacks for sweetness – the wine casks have made it a bit drier and more savoury than the sweet and punchy 8yo Taliskers that featured in the 2020 and 2021 Special Releases.
Lagavulin 12yo: The nose is delightfully clean and unadulterated…a classic Islay nose that exudes peat and smoke. (Although perhaps more peat than smoke!) It’s very earthy, yet complemented with hints of citrus, orange rind and vanilla. The palate cranks things up a gear, with the heavily peated malt bringing a smoky dryness to proceedings, yet maintaining superb balance and sweetness. You can taste the medicinal iodine and the campfire on the beach.
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So what was our pick? If we were handing out medals on the dais, the Clynelish would take the gold; the Lagavulin would claim silver; and the Oban and Glen Ord are tied in a dead heat for the bronze.
The Diageo Special Releases 2022 are out now in limited quantities from all good liquor outlets. Get ’em while you can!
Cheers,
AD
With thanks to Example
PS: You might also like our feature pieces on the Special Releases range from previous years:
The only thing keenly anticipated about Diageo releases is how comical their latest pricing will be.