The launch of Diageo's annual Special Releases is one of the most eagerly-awaited dates in the whisky calender, with enthusiasts and collectors around the world working themselves into a right old froth over their yearly fix of official Port Ellens, Broras and whatever other treasures have been excavated from the company's mind-boggling stock of maturing casks.
This year we have some very special treats, with Lagavulin 21 year old getting a second release five years after its acclaimed first appearance in 2007, and a 32 year old Port Ellen - both of which we don't expect to be around for very long. There's also two very special 35 year olds from Talisker and Brora - the oldest official expressions ever released by these distilleries. All this plus the latest versions of cask strength Lagavulin 12yo and unpeated Caol Ila, plus gems from Dalwhinnie and Auchroisk - this years Special Releases from Diageo are likely, once again, to be the most talked-about whiskies of the year.