Whisky fans and collectors, rejoice—the Special Releases 2023 collection from of eight single malt whiskies from Diageo is now available. This year’s collection, dubbed Spirited Xchange, has been hand-selected by master blender Dr. Stuart Morrison, and feature unique illustrations on each whisky’s label and packaging. Diageo tasked eight different artists to capture the tasting notes of each whisky as well as the experiential, cultural and sensorial journeys one embarks on when imbibing each whisky.
“As you look at each of the bottle’s labels, you’ll see that they’re very vivid and colourful. They’re tributes to the many countries where the collaborations have taken place. When scotch whisky travels beyond Scotland and ends up in so many new places, the whiskies also take on those cultures and palates to evolve. The artworks are a nod to these influences,” said Madhan Ramasubramanian, marketing director of Diageo Malaysia, during a launch event for the Special Releases 2023 collection. “From the familiar notes of The Singleton to the big flavours of Mortlach, there’s something for everyone in this collection. Anyone who enjoys a fine glass of whisky will find something they’ll like here.”
For instance, the Glenkinchie 27-Year-Old is a world of sensation in a glass, yet it is bright, delicate and floral. So, its artwork depicts an intricately patterned vase with a garden of flora in bloom and a butterfly in flight. And with a drop of water, the whisky—one of Glenkinchie’s oldest releases—transforms into a springtime in liquid form.
Other highlights from the Special Releases 2023 collection include The Singleton of Glendullan 14-Year-Old (showcasing notes of toffee and fruit, smoothly enveloping your palate, like a haute couture dress), Mortlach (with no age statement but plenty of umami and savoury goodness, like a katana’s flash) and the Roseile 12-Year-Old (a first-ever release, featuring lush notes of stewed fruits and creamy vanilla, which will have you soaring).
The rest of the whiskies are, in no particular order, the Clynelish 10-Year-Old, Lagavulin 12-Year-Old, Oban 11-Year-Old, and Talisker (no age description). In addition, a miniature set of these releases will also be available this year, comprising the Singleton, Lagavulin, Roseile and Talisker.
“Spirited Xchange is about identifying and celebrating the ideas, flavours and tastes that surround us each day and inspire our curiosity to create,” Morrison said in a statement. “This collection has given us the opportunity to roam freely through our vast portfolio and experiment with old and new cask types, including various wine and local spirits casks to create eight one-of-a-kind expressions that we’ve never imagined before.”
The Special Releases 2023 collection is now available in Malaysia in limited quantities for RM7,794.70. The miniature set is also available in very limited quantities for RM863.90.
