After the Classic Malts of Scotland range was released in 1988 to represent six distilleries from six different Scottish areas, the success was followed by the Rare Malts Selection in 1995 where more exclusive bottlings, mostly from closed distilleries and aged for at least 18 years, were presented to the public. Annually new bottlings were added to this range, until Diageo discontinued the range in 2005. In 2001, the company had introduced the Special Releases range, where extraordinary casks were selected and bottled in limited numbers, at cask strength, uncoloured and not chill-filtered

The 2016 Special Releases consists of exclusively selected Auchroisk 25, Brora 38, Cambus 40, Caol Ila 15, Cragganmore, Glenkinchie 24, Lagavulin 12, Linkwood 37, Mannochmore 25 and Port Ellen 37 – incidentally, the oldest (official) Port Ellen ever to have been bottled. An impressive line up once again, which we were lucky enough to receive a sample box of last week at the WhiskySpeller HQ, to taste and share at WhiskyWorship and LovingWhisky. Sometimes, the life of a whisky writer is gorgeous.

Most of the bottles in this release are priced out of our comfort zone, but in spite of the limited availability and pricing, the bottles will most likely fly off the shelves real quick. Many thanks to Diageo Netherlands for sharing this 2016 Special Releases sample box with us, our notes will follow soon.

Auchroisk 25 Year Old

• Mix of refill American Oak hogsheads & refill European Oak butts filled in 1990
• Release 3.954 bottles worldwide
• Recommended retail price £280,-
• 51.2% ABV

Brora 38 Year Old

• From refill American Oak hogsheads & refill European Oak butts filled in 1977
• Release 2.984 bottles worldwide
• Recommended retail price £1.450,-
• 48.6% ABV

Cambus 40 Year Old

• Distilled in 1975 and matured in refill American Oak hogsheads
• Release 1.812 bottles worldwide
• Recommended retail price £750,-
• 52.7% ABV

Caol Ila 15 Year Old

• From a batch made once a year, from unpeated malt, distilled in 2000
• Matured in refill American Oak hogsheads & refill European Oak butts
• Recommended retail price £90,-
• 61.5% ABV

Cragganmore

• Matured in refill & rejuvenated American Oak hogsheads & refill ex-bodega European Oak butts
• Release 4.932 bottles
• Recommended retail price £400,-
• 55.7% ABV

Glenkinchie 24 Year Old

• Matured in refill European Oak butts filled in 1991
• Release 5.928 bottles
• Recommended retail price £300,-
• 57.2% ABV

Lagavulin 12 Year Old

• Matured in refill American Oak hogsheads, each at least 12 years old
• Commemorative 200th Anniversary 1816-2016 label
• Recommended retail price £80,-
• 57.7% ABV

Linkwood 37 Year Old

• Matured in Refill American Oak hogsheads & refill European Oak butts
• Release 6.114 bottles
• Recommended retail price £600,-
• 50.3% ABV

Mannochmore 25 Year Old

• Matured in a mix of first-fill ex-bourbon American Oak barrels, new American Oak barrels and new & ex-bodega European Oak butts
• Release 3.954 bottles
• Recommended retail price £250,-
• 53.4% ABV

Port Ellen 37 Year Old

• The oldest Port Ellen expression ever released
• Matured in refill American Oak hogsheads & refill European Oak butts filled in 1978
• Release 2.940 bottles
• Recommended retail price £2.500,-
• 55.2% ABV