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Review: Diageo Scotch Whisky Special Releases 2021

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Diageo’s Particular Releases Single Malt Scotch Whisky Assortment for 2021 has arrived. Tagged with the moniker “Legends Untold,” this 12 months’s assortment spans 8 whiskies, all single malt (no grain whisky this 12 months), designed to “attain into the realms of augmented actuality to share the untold tales of iconic Scotch distilleries in new and distinctive methods.” In different phrases, bottles have QR codes that take you to a easy AR expertise should you scan them.

For the primary time since Drinkhacker’s launch, I’m bundling all these critiques up right into a single publish, a observe I’ll possible proceed going ahead. It merely takes too lengthy to place these out separately, notably when there are such a lot of new releases to handle this time of 12 months. Anyway, I figured if I can do the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection in a single publish, I can do the identical for the equally uncommon Diageo Particular Releases.

Beneath discover ideas on the complete line of America-released whiskies; all extra fairly priced this 12 months, save for a single bottling which you’ll discover on the finish. Word that complete bottle manufacturing was not indicated this 12 months for any of those, aside from that final whisky.

Talisker 8 Years Outdated Restricted Version 2021 – Closely peated whisky aged in refill casks. Mockingly, regardless of the promise of heavy peat, it doesn’t come throughout as notably smoky, with a nostril extra aligned with the barrel than the earth: barely nutty with an fringe of saline. The palate is sort of a bit bolder, pumping up the peat however folding in some nuance within the type of lemon peel and a contact of grapefruit. Maritime notes dominate on the end, with a daring iodine character providing an applicable foil to a lingering cereal notice. Stable, although not transformative. 119.4 proof. B+ / $115 [BUY IT NOW FROM DRIZLY]

Singleton of Glendullan 19 Years Outdated Restricted Version 2021 – Glendullan aged in refill American oak casks, then completed in Cognac casks. Tons of fruit right here. The nostril is a bit scorching, with a candy cereal character that masks some notes of heather and a touch of incense. The palate shifts gears fully, although, pouring on candy notes of cinnamon-dusted raisins, golden syrup, and a flippantly bitter cantaloupe notice that’s each uncommon and enjoyable. The physique is wealthy and creamy, however issues flip toasty on the end, with touches of barrel char and a lightweight sesame notice lingering. It’s fairly easygoing and delicate on the entire, however a strong, overproof expertise. 109.2 proof. A- / $175

Mortlach 13 Years Outdated Restricted Version 2021 – An uncommon Mortlach aged in each virgin and refill American oak casks. The affect of contemporary oak is straight away evident on the nostril, wealthy with notes of roasted meat — the well-known beast of Dufftown coming into clear focus. Silky and unctuous on the palate, that intense savoriness provides option to notes of roasted pumpkin, contemporary rosemary and thyme, and black pepper. So… extra savoriness. Someway there’s a candy ingredient on this, however it’s elusive and arduous to put, notes of nougat and a few lemon curd giving the end the slightest of lifts. Mortlach is a perennial favourite right here, however the virgin oak affect feels, maybe, taking issues a bit too far. 111.8 proof. B+ / $125 [BUY IT NOW FROM DRIZLY]

Cardhu 14 Years Outdated Restricted Version 2021 – Aged in refill American oak casks, then completed in purple wine casks, one other uncommon selection. A surprisingly candy expression of Cardhu, the expertise kicks off with a nostril of brilliant combined fruits, touched with contemporary herbs — thyme and a little bit of sage — coming throughout as an accent as a substitute of dominating the expertise. A giant burst of honey awaits on the tongue, balanced once more by hints of thyme and a few mint that slowly comes into focus. The wine affect is noticeable right here — in lots of different wine-finished whiskies, it’s not practically as clear — flippantly tannic and effusive with notes of dried flowers, chocolate, and a few nutmeg. Heaps occurring, most of it fairly pleasurable. 111 proof. A- / $150 [BUY IT NOW FROM DRIZLY]

Oban 12 Years Outdated Restricted Version 2021 – From ex-bourbon and refill bourbon casks. A rougher, extra rustic expression of Oban, with contemporary wooden heavy on the nostril, although right here it’s touched with sea spray and an oddly perfumed floral character. Toasty oak dominates the palate, washing out a number of the contemporary maritime components that Oban is thought for. It’s arduous to push previous the wooden right here; I usually love the stability of forces that Oban presents, however with this bottling issues are merely off course, ending on notes of gunpowder, cloves, and pepper. The usual Obans (any of them) are higher bets. 112.4 proof. B / $115 [BUY IT NOW FROM DRIZLY]

Royal Lochnagar 16 Years Outdated Restricted Version 2021 – Aged completely in bourbon and sherry refill casks. It is a simple expression of Highland Scotch, and a pleasant one at that. A woody, flippantly sweetened nostril performs issues near the vest initially, earlier than the palate fires away, full bore. Notes of contemporary apple and pear give option to components of flamed citrus peel, spice field, and trace of tobacco, the end brilliant and lemony with components of well-aged wooden within the combine. Barely austere round its edges with its hints of incense however in any other case effusive and sunny, it’s arguably the perfect whisky within the assortment this 12 months. 115 proof. A / $250 [BUY IT NOW FROM DRIZLY]

Lagavulin 12 Years Outdated Restricted Version 2021 – Aged in refill bourbon casks. No large surprises right here: Loads of inexperienced wooden smoke and coal mud on the nostril, with a decidedly salty, maritime bent. Overripe fruit notes dominate on the palate, notes of orange and peach giving option to some lemon because it reaches for the end. Hints of black tea work their magic on the end alongside a sprig of iodine and that lingering, omnipresent smoke. 113 proof. B+ / $150 [BUY IT NOW FROM DRIZLY]

Lagavulin 26 Years Outdated Restricted Version 2021 – The massive kahuna for the 12 months, carried out up in first-fill Pedro Ximenez and oloroso sherry casks, giving it a beautiful amber hue. Nutty, woody, and smoky on the nostril — in that order — with the essence of oily, well-polished wooden dominating. Fairly mild on the tongue — after 26 years, the alcohol stage has declined considerably — a layer of peat provides option to an enormous slug of black tea, layers of dried figs, and a contact of salted caramel. There’s darkish chocolate on the end, extra outdated wooden, and a contact of PX-driven, oxidized wine, and a pinch of spice field. Peat retreats properly into the background, poking its head out solely barely. 88.4 proof. 7542 bottles produced. A / $2400 [BUY IT NOW FROM DRIZLY]

diageo.com

Royal Lochnagar 16 Years Outdated Restricted Version 2021

$250

Ranking


9.5/10

Review: Diageo Scotch Whisky Special Releases 2021

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