As a whisky fanatic, there are particular dates within the yr that I eagerly sit up for. World Whisky Day is one, the festive season is one other, and naturally, there’s Diageo Particular Releases Day, which is one in every of my all-time favourites.
Diageo, as you might be little question conscious, are world drinks giants. They’re a reputation synonymous with the drinks enterprise, significantly in the case of whisky. Every year, they bring about out a number of distinctive expressions that provide one thing a bit of extra distinctive from their customary inventory. This custom first started in 2001 and proved to be an immediate success. It has since turn into an eagerly anticipated annual occasion within the whisky calendar.
Every year, the whiskies launched have a particular theme and assist to showcase distinctive drams in a unique mild. This yr’s assortment, which solely just lately dropped, known as Horizons Unbound and was chosen by Grasp Blender Dr Stuart Morrison. It places ‘daring new takes’ on a few of the model’s most iconic single malts and is designed to push boundaries and showcase what can occur when whisky producers assume exterior the field and take a look at one thing totally different.
Consisting of 8 single malt Scotch whiskies, right here’s the GreatDrams assessment of Horizons Unbound, Diageo’s Particular Releases 2025.
Clynelish 18 Yr Outdated ‘Waxen Solar’ was matured in refill casks and consists of spirit from Clynelish’s ‘pineapple minimize’ which has helped give the dram a tropical, fruity, sharp really feel.
Bottled at 51.3% ABV, on the nostril it gives up aromas of pineapple sweets, early morning dew, burnt caramel, and lemon drizzle cake.
On the palate, there’s orange zest, orange blossom honey, pink peppercorns, peaches and cream, and a contact of pineapple the other way up cake. I additionally picked up a touch of candied ginger.
The end is medium in size and waxy, simply because the identify implies. There’s pumpkin spiced latte, white grapes, and a sprinkling of oak thrown in for good measure.
Up subsequent, we’ve the Dailuaine 21 Years ‘Marbled Treasures’ which was one in every of my private favs. This dram, which is the oldest of this yr’s releases, has been matured in Spanish ex-sherry casks and was bottled at a toasty 54.3% ABV.
On the nostril, that is very a lot what you’d count on from a sherry bomb. There’s iced Christmas pudding, dried sherry-soaked fruits, winter baking spices, and toasted almonds. An additional sniff ought to reveal aromas of consuming chocolate, malt drink, and darkish chocolate coated espresso beans. I might nostril this all day!
On the palate, these sherry notes blast you within the face. There’re flavours of blended berries, dates, honey-roasted figs, and calmly toasted oak. These tastes then disperse and make means for one thing sweeter. I obtained golden syrup sponge drenched in tinned custard, coupled with toffee apple and cinnamon.
The end is prolonged with an incredible cloying mouthfeel. There are zingy citrus notes, together with leather-based, pipe tobacco, and baked plums. A touch of charred oak? Possibly, or that could possibly be the pipe tobacco once more.
The Singleton of Glen Ord 17 Yr Outdated
We’re going ‘Into the Blue’ subsequent, with this incredible 17-year-old expression from The Singleton.
The Singleton of Glen Ord 17 Years ‘Into the Blue’ might be essentially the most distinctive launch on this yr’s lineup. I believe it’s a kind of drams which is able to show very divisive. That’s as a result of it was matured in a mix of sherry and mezcal casks.
Bottled at a fiery 55.5% ABV, and with an incredible copper shimmer to it, on the nostril you get sturdy scents of lemon zest, cinnamon buns frosted with vanilla cream cheese, darkish chocolate, bonfire cinder toffee, and summer time meadow.
On the palate, you get greater than a touch of smoke from the mezcal, which works nice with flavours of mango and guava sorbet, heather honey, toasted coconut chips, and madeira cake. There’s additionally a definite oakiness to this dram.
The end is medium in size and surprisingly spicy. There’s cardamon and nutmeg, chocolate lime sweets, and Jamaican ginger cake.
Often known as ‘Grain & Embers’ this 12-year-old expression from Lagavulin is one other sherry-matured dram that was matured in a mix of Oloroso sherry and PX (Pedro Ximenez) oak butts.
On the nostril, you get the ‘embers’ immediately. There’s a definite salinity to this dram, with aromas of seaweed, brine, and smoked seafood. These are joined by scents of roasted pumpkin, baked apples, and oak-smoked pork shoulder.
On the palate, it’s very fiery, which isn’t stunning contemplating it’s bottled at 56.5% ABV. You get baked apples, toasted oatmeal, burnt caramel, lemon meringue pie, and nori seaweed. The smoky coastal components then shine by and provide a definite peaty, earthiness to this dram.
The end is prolonged and actually hits you with that smoke. In case you love smoky Islay expressions, you’ll love this. Consider bonfire smoke, espresso and walnut cake, and sherry-soaked raisins and also you’re positively in the best ballpark.
We’re sticking with a maritime theme for now, as we’re now heading into the ‘Coronary heart of the Harbour’ with this distinctive 12-year-old launch from Oban.
This dram was matured in American oak ex-bourbon casks and was bottled at 54.7% ABV.
On the nostril, you get the scent of recent seaweed and sea salt. These are then joined by smoked lemon and thyme butter, honey, golden syrup flapjack and pecan and maple syrup cereal drenched in complete milk.
On the palate, a robust style of aniseed and lemon pepper, alongside freshly baked banana bread, sea-salted caramel, star anise, nutmeg, fruit salad, evaporated milk, and roasted salted peanuts.
The end is medium-short in size and gives up loads of notes of baked fruit crumble, black pepper, smoked sea salt, and preserved lemons. Very refreshing this dram.
‘Harmonic Grace’ is the title of this 55.9% ABV 14 Years expression from Roseisle.
This dram is likely one of the extra advanced on the listing at present, because it was produced utilizing a mix of various rejuvenated and refill casks. This yr’s launch promised to push boundaries, and it most actually has due to this expression.
On the nostril, you’re first rewarded with aromas of freshly baked bread and butter pudding, nutmeg, clove, and vanilla custard. As these aromas disperse, get your nostril in once more and also you’ll get one thing utterly totally different. I obtained orange and ginger cake, stewed plum compote, calmly toasted oak, and apricot jam.
On the palate, loads of sweetness comes by, within the type of clotted cream fudge, Victoria sponge cake, darkish chocolate, stem ginger, and liquorice. There’s nearly a grassiness to this drop, which works surprisingly nicely with the opposite flavour profiles.
The end is pretty transient and refreshing. It nearly has a rye whiskey end right here because it’s fairly spicy. There’s pink grapefruit, Szechuan peppercorns, and blue cheese, honey, and walnut tart.
Talisker ‘Molten Seas’ was one other dram from this launch that I used to be intrigued to attempt. It has been completed in American oak barrels which had been toasted utilizing the warmth of volcanic rocks from the Isle of Skye.
On the nostril, this 53.9% ABV whisky is one other dram that’s heavy on the maritime notes. I obtained sea spray, freshly washed up seaweed, brine, and eucalyptus to start with. These aromas are then met with bonfire embers, burnt caramel, charred oak chips, and angel fruit cake.
On the palate, there’s a distinctly natural, earthy, mineral flavour to it. First you decide up recent backyard mint, lemon balm, and thyme. These flavours work in concord with vanilla sugar, candy oak, BBQ smoke, candied walnuts, and freshly grated orange zest.
The end lingers and could be very spicy. In case you get pleasure from a rye whiskey, I believe you’ll love this. First comes the light heat of rainbow peppercorns and winter baking spices, mixed with buttered toasted teacake coated liberally with chilli marmalade. There’s additionally a whisper of peat smoke right here.
Teaninich 8 Yr Outdated Single Grain
Lastly, finishing this lineup we’ve this 8-year-old ‘Daring Rye’ from Teaninich.
Matured in ex-bourbon casks, it’s most actually daring. At 60.3% ABV, for those who’re on the lookout for a winter hotter, that is the drop for you.
On the nostril, there’s rather a lot happening right here. I picked up damp hay and freshly mowed grass, alongside pressed apples, scorched oak, toffee pennies, and pear drop sweets.
On the palate, digestive biscuits, apple, pear, and walnut chutney, blue cheese, and honey are instantly current. As time progresses, these make means for newer tastes and flavours. I picked up stem ginger, toasted fruitcake, coconut and lime cheesecake topped with meringue, and a suggestion of glacier cherries for extra of a retro vibe.
The end was surprisingly quick given the ABV, however don’t let that idiot you, it’s nonetheless incredible. I obtained hints of spiced chai latte, baked apples and poached pears, alongside freshly made malted consuming chocolate.
In case you’d wish to be taught extra about your favorite whiskies, or just deal with your self to a dram or two within the course of, head on over to GreatDrams.com and check out the various number of distinctive whiskies we at the moment have in inventory.
With a powerful number of limited-edition, uncommon, and award-winning whisky, in addition to heaps of whisky data on our weblog, it’s the proper spot for any whisky lovers on the market.
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