Review of Diageo Special Releases 2024 - Blogpost by Luka Gottschalk

The whisky is presented in a large box with a kind of "neon noir" aesthetic in its design. We get an exciting, dark glimpse into nightlife, reminiscent of a scene from Blade Runner.

The soft tannins from the cask make their presence known immediately as the nose meets the glass. Additionally, I find notes of blackberries, marzipan, walnuts, and a perfumed sweetness. The taste is immensely powerful and full-bodied! The two types of red wine casks stand out clearly here, bringing notes of elderflower, plums, toasted oak, and freshly roasted coffee beans. Furthermore, I detect a BBQ-like note that complements the other impressions beautifully. This whisky is truly unique…
The finish is classic "meaty" Mortlach, with an intense burst of spicy nuances—black pepper, aged wood, and umami from the wine casks. After a while, delicate hints of mint, licorice, and tobacco emerge. A truly delightful ending!

I cannot pinpoint an average age for this whisky. It combines the explosive, youthful intensity of younger whisky with deep, warming notes that linger long after each sip, reminiscent of an older dram. All in all, this is a truly delightful and complex whisky that takes the no-age-statement category to the next level. That being said, at this price point, consumers should rightfully expect nothing less!

Roseisle 12YO– The Origami Kite 2 – 55,6%

This year, we have received a sequel: The Origami Kite 2. As far as I understand, there is no significant difference in the cask maturation process compared to last year’s release—unless my memory is mistaken!

On the nose, I get notes of fresh bread, green apples, pineapple, vanilla sugar, whipped cream, and hazelnut cream. I distinctly remember the hazelnut cream note being a highlight of last year’s release, so it’s wonderful to see it return! The taste is sweet and fruity but also sharp and peppery in its impression. The hazelnuts are present here as well, accompanied by a delightful flavor of caramel fudge. The finish brings hints of coconut flakes and malt sweetness, lingering for a moderate duration.

I strongly recommend giving the Roseisle 12 some time in the glass before drinking. Many of the more subtle notes only appeared after 10–15 minutes. That being said, Roseisle 12 is a lovely acquaintance, but I doubt I would be able to distinguish this year’s version from last year’s in a blind tasting! This is by no means a negative statement, as last year’s release was also an excellent dram. However, there may not be a compelling reason to rush out and buy this year’s Roseisle 12 if last year’s bottle is still sitting in your collection—unless, of course, you’re buying to collect rather than to drink!

Singleton of Glen Ord 14YO – Autumn Walk – 54,7%

The nose is wonderfully fresh and very dessert-like, with notes of vanilla ice cream, honeydew melon, pear, banana, and a distinct aroma of salted caramel fudge. If you have a sweet tooth, your mouth is already watering! The taste fully delivers on the promise of a dessert whisky, with notes of pastry cream, green grapes, fresh bread, and a pleasant yeasty sweetness—similar to what you find in a light, high-quality beer. The finish is long and adds a lightly spiced dimension to this incredibly sweet and approachable dram. I pick up hints of cinnamon, heather honey, icing, and milk chocolate.

Although this whisky is meant to represent autumn, I find it just as fitting as a refreshing summer dram to enjoy on a warm evening in the garden. I would recommend this whisky to those who appreciate a classic Scottish single malt where the distillate takes center stage. The beauty of bourbon casks is that, in addition to the flavors they impart, they also allow the house style of the distillery to shine through. With the solid distillate that Glen Ord produces, this is a perfect match!

Caol Ila 11YO – Ambrosial Feast – 57,3%

This year’s biggest surprise has to be the inclusion of a Caol Ila in Diageo’s Special Releases lineup! I’ve become so accustomed to Caol Ila primarily appearing in independent bottlings, as I personally prefer my Islay whisky with full-blown cask strength intensity. So, it’s exciting to see an official release at full cask strength.

What’s even more surprising is that this release is a rarity—a non-peated Caol Ila. Some might call it blasphemous, but I’m keeping an open mind! The title Ambrosial Feast translates directly to an exceptionally delicious and aromatic banquet. That certainly sounds grand, so let’s see if it lives up to the name…

Even though the peat smoke is absent, I can still clearly sense that this is an Islay dram. It has a raw, almost ashy impression, with notes of licorice, tobacco leaves, rye bread, and a fruity hint of peach.

On the palate, the maritime strength that is synonymous with Caol Ila is still very much present. I pick up notes of freshly ground black pepper, more stone fruit, and a touch of seawater.

This release actually reminds me a bit of Bruichladdich’s Classic Laddie, which is another Islay dram without peat smoke. The Islay character is absolutely still there, and in a blind tasting, I might even suspect a slight presence of peat. It’s undoubtedly a fun and successful experiment—it’s a flavorful and intriguing dram. But I have to be honest: I prefer my Caol Ila with a proper hit of peat smoke!

Each year, when Diageo releases its Special Releases, one can almost always count on finding a bottling from the stormy Isle of Skye. Naturally, we’re talking about the classic Talisker distillery!

Talisker has long marketed its whiskies alongside the imagery of the North Atlantic Ocean, and this year’s release is no exception. As the name Tidal Churn suggests, the theme revolves around the turbulent tidal waters. It’s a relatively young whisky, aged for just eight years, so I expect a powerful dram with plenty of character!

The cask maturation process, however, must be one of the most peculiar I’ve ever come across. Some of the casks have been scraped on the inside using rotating stone wheels, while the remaining casks have been lightly toasted. This explains the phrase "stone-spun and lightly re-toasted casks", as stated on the label.

On the nose, it’s classic Talisker—intense notes of bonfire smoke, milk chocolate, pear, lemon, and toasted oak. It’s fresh, maritime, and slightly sharp!

The palate is bold and powerful, and I can definitely tell that we’re dealing with a relatively young whisky. Fortunately, I think this level of intensity suits Talisker well. Behind the smoky veil, there’s an underlying sweetness. Additionally, I pick up the familiar spicy pepper and chili notes that Talisker is known for.

Even though it hasn’t been aged for long, this Talisker still manages to linger respectably after the sip. Bonfire smoke is undoubtedly the dominant note that remains.

This year’s Special Release from Talisker doesn’t venture into uncharted waters but instead offers a well-executed reunion with the qualities I associate with Talisker. Perhaps more experienced whisky connoisseurs than myself can discern exactly what this peculiar cask maturation process contributes. If nothing else, the concept of "stone-spun casks" certainly sounds interesting and sparks some debate.

This year's release from Oban is titled Coastal Orchard, which can be translated as something like "Fruits of the Coast" in Danish. As many whisky lovers know, Oban is located in the Scottish Highlands, right on the west coast. Whiskies from this region are typically influenced by a maritime character, and Oban is usually no exception!

It has been aged in a combination of seasoned American oak casks and Oloroso sherry casks. However, this is not a heavy, sherry-drenched Oloroso influence, but rather a more subtle and delicate touch of sherry.

On the nose, I find it a bit sharp and somewhat closed off, though I do pick up hints of grapefruit, blood orange, and ground licorice powder.

The palate also comes across as a bit sharp, with a distinctly bitter character. The maritime influence is noticeable, accompanied by tart fruits, white pepper, sea salt, and a slight touch of honeyed sweetness.

The finish is on the shorter side, with lingering notes of sweet grapes and vanilla syrup.

I can’t rule out the possibility that I tasted this Oban on a night when my palate was slightly muted. I don’t perceive it to be on the same quality level as the rest of the lineup, and it gives me the impression that the casks used might have been a bit exhausted. That said, I must emphasize that even a slightly underwhelming Oban is still a dram I’d happily enjoy on a quiet evening. However, if I had to pick just one whisky from this year's Special Releases, I would go with something else.

The next bottling I have encountered is one from the Islay giants; Lagavulin. The title of the year is "Fireside Tales," and a beautiful bonfire is featured on the bottle. In the best Ron Swanson style, I have lit the stove and placed myself with what I hope will be a lovely Lagavulin in my glass.
It is cask-aged in a combination of first-fill ex-bourbon casks and refill casks. Everything suggests that this is a very traditional Lagavulin.

The first encounter of the nose with the glass is, as expected, a great experience! The Islay character stands strong, and Lagavulin’s characteristic herbal notes bloom forth. I get notes of heavy peat smoke, smoked bacon, salmiak, and fresh peppermint.

The taste offers an intensified version of everything the aroma brought along! A strong maritime and salted expression stands out with notes of salty licorice (like a "Piratos" from Haribo), pepper candy, toasted oak, peat, menthol, and subtle hints of freshly picked thyme.

The peat smoke and peppermint linger long after ingestion, and I am left with a truly delightful experience.

In my opinion, this Lagavulin delivers exactly what it promises. We get a strong and classic Islay bomb without any surprises. I have heard rumors that it contains a lower amount of peat than Lagavulin traditionally does, but I must be honest and admit that I cannot taste that.

The oldest and most expensive release in this year’s lineup is a 21-year-old delight from Speyside, more specifically; the Benrinnes distillery. The long 21 years have been spent in a combination of American wine casks and European wine casks. The title "Grand Crescendo" promises a magnificent climax, so it is fitting that I taste and describe this dram as the very last one! And Review of Diageo Special Releases 2024 - Blog post by Luka Gottschalk.

The aroma offers dark notes of freshly baked chocolate brownies, burnt almonds, raisins, and orange. A lovely, festive scent that is perfect for this season! As you probably know, Christmas lasts all the way to Easter...

It’s clear that this is a mature dram when it hits the tongue. It has quite a gentle mouthfeel despite the high alcohol content. I again get very cakey notes along with browned butter, roasted nuts, apricot, kiwi, and a delightful umami element from the wine casks.

The finish is, as expected, long and pleasant. The cakey element is the dominant feature of the finish, though with a small touch of tobacco.

When a whisky is described in popular terms as "smooth," I would venture to say that it is a whisky like this. The alcohol is gently integrated, and the nuances are complex and profound. There is no doubt that it is a delightful experience to enjoy this year’s release from Benrinnes. But if you don’t have the deepest pockets, it is priced quite high. You can get 2-3 of the other Special Releases for the same price as this one.

Now that it’s off my chest, I can just conclude by saying that the grand climax definitely did not disappoint!