Diageo reveals its 2024 Special Releases

British spirits giant Diageo has launched the 2024 Special Releases single malt Scotch whisky collection.

This year's theme, Spirited Xchange Second Edition, is described as a testament to the exploration of flavour in Scotch malt production, and continues to challenge expectations in craft and whisky experiences by asking 'what if?’. It is the second instalment of the theme that debuted last year, and continues to build on the two-decades-long legacy of Diageo’s Special Releases, which have continuously celebrated exceptional and rare whiskies. Spirited Xchange Second Edition is said to be an exploration of the uncharted territories of taste, with each of the eight expressions crafted under the guidance of master blender Dr Stuart Morrison. “Each year, our Special Releases collection showcases hand-selected, distillery-first expressions that push the boundaries of traditional whisky-making,” explained Morrison. “This year's collection is a continuation of the Spirited Xchange that delves deeper into flavour exploration, experimenting with various cask combinations that challenge expectations. “This collection is about curiosity and what happens when you challenge yourself to think ‘what if’. This has led us to explore a variety of exciting maturation techniques, from selecting a novel combination of casks for The Singleton, to taking both Ramandolo white wine and Sangiovese red wine casks to finish Mortlach and bringing a totally new dimension of flavour to its unmistakably umami identity. We are excited for whisky lovers to experience it." One-of-a-kind expressions Spirited Xchange Second Edition presents an array of rare and collectable one-of-a-kind unique expressions, each of which explores a range of ages and spirit characters, and subsequently presents new depths of complexity and layers of flavour. In addition to the Mortlach expression called Midnight Dusk, and The Singleton’s Autumn Walk, the collection includes a bottle from Talisker called Tidal Churn, which aims to capture the distillery's deep-rooted maritime heritage by channelling the ocean's dynamic forces by utilising a stone-spun method. The process, inspired by the ocean's swirling churn, sees the powerful rotations of stone against wood, wearing away the char with stones and water. After the stone spinning, the casks are gently re-toasted, before finishing the whisky. This method reveals new depths of flavour, unveiling a surprising duo of sweet flavours – pear and apple – beneath Talisker's signature maritime smoke. Meanwhile, unexpected depths of sweetness can be found in the Lagavulin expression, Fireside Tales, which was matured in first-fill ex-Bourbon and refill casks, while in the collection’s oldest expression, the 21-year-old Grand Crescendo from Benrinnes, a ‘symphony of maturations’ has been used, including American oak wine casks, European oak casks, and rejuvenated casks with charred ends. Origami Kite 2 is the second expression ever to be released from Roseisle Distillery, matured in first-fill ex-Bourbon and refill casks, while the Ambrosial Feast from Caol Ila is an unusually unpeated expression from the Islay-based distillery, having been matured in refill and rejuvenated ex-wine casks specifically chosen to enhance the distillate's inherent fruity qualities. Finally, Oban’s Coastal Orchard is a vibrant expression finished in new fresh charred American oak barrels that have been freshly seasoned with oloroso Sherry and harmoniously blended with refill casks, creating a flavour profile of coastal air and rich orchard fruits.

The 2024 Special Releases collection will be available in limited quantities from specialist Scotch whisky retailers and malts.com.