So many new products were announced this week that our heads are still spinning from trying to keep track. First, Diageo finally shared all of the details about the 2019 Special Release Collection. There are eight bottles this year, and three will be available in the United States. Next, Woodford Reserve announced its latest Master’s Collection whiskey, titled Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Chocolate Malted Rye Bourbon.
Nick Offerman fans will no doubt know that he’s getting his very own Lagavulin whisky, and all of the details about the release are down below. The seventh Bruichladdich Black Art whisky is here, and Chivas Regal is debuting a 13 year blended whisky celebrating Manchester United. Aberfeldy and Craigellachie are introducing five whiskies in the Exceptional Cask Series to the United States. Finally, Gran Centenario and El Tesoro both have new extra añejo tequilas for you. There’s a lot to catch you up on, no time to waste!
Diageo Unveils 2019 Special Release Collection Details
Back in July we shared early news about the 2019 Diageo Special Release Collection. At the time we didn’t have all of the details yet. We knew which bottles would be included in the lineup, but the ABV, cask information and prices were not public. We now have all of the information about the bottles in this year’s Collection.
As we previously shared, this year’s Collection will be made up of eight different whiskies. Unlike in years past, all of this year’s whiskies are single malts. Three of the whiskies will be available at retailers in the United States starting in November 2019, while the other five will be available online and in retailers across Europe, Canada, Australia, South Africa and select markets in Asia.
Diageo Special Releases 2019 / Photo Credit: Diageo
Available in the United States
– Pittyvaich 29 Year
– Mortlach 26 Year
– The Singleton of Glen Ord 18 Year
Available Elsewhere
– Cardhu 14 Year
– Cragganmore 12 Year
– Dalwhinnie 30 Year
– Lagavulin 12 Year
– Talisker 15 Year
For more information about the bottles, head to our post that covers all of the finer details.
Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Chocolate Malted Rye Bourbon
For the past 13 years, Woodford Reserve has released limited-edition whiskeys under the Master’s Collection umbrella. The first release comes in the spring, and the second comes in the fall. With every release, Master Distiller Chris Morris changes one source of Woodford Reserve’s flavor to see how it affects the final product. In fall of 2018, he produced two different Master’s Collection whiskeys with Select American Oak Bourbon and Oat Grain Kentucky Bourbon.
Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Chocolate Malted Rye Bourbon / Photo Credit: Brown-Forman
Now in 2019, Morris and Woodford are releasing Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Chocolate Malted Rye. The concept behind this whiskey was born when Morris discovered that toasting rye grain for an extended period of time makes it taste like chocolate. Morris worked with Assistant Master Distiller, Elizabeth McCall, to produce this expression.
The mash bill is 70% corn, 15% chocolate malted rye and 15% distillers malt. It is bottled at 45.2% ABV and has a suggested retail price of $129.99. Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Chocolate Malted Rye Bourbon hits shelves in October 2019 in the United States.
Lagavulin Offerman Edition 11 Year Is Here
News leaked out several months ago that beloved actor and whisky enthusiast, Nick Offerman, was getting his own Lagavulin expression. Offerman has long associated with the Lagavulin brand. His character from Parks and Recreation, Ron Swanson, always kept a bottle of Lagavulin 16 Year on hand. He has also produced content with the brand, including the now-famous Lagavulin Yule Log video in which he sits in front of a fire and quietly drinks a glass of Lagavulin 16 Year for 45 minutes.
Lagavulin Offerman Edition 11 Year / Photo Credit: Diageo
Now, Lagavulin is releasing Lagavulin Offerman Edition 11 Year, a limited edition single malt Scotch whisky. Offerman collaborated with Distillery Manager Colin Gordon to select the liquid to be used in this expression. It is aged for 11 years, bottled at 46% ABV, and has a suggested retail price of $74.99 per 750ml bottle. This limited-edition whisky is exclusive to the United States and hits shelves in October 2019.
Introducing Bruichladdich Black Art 1994 Edition 7.1 25 Year
The seventh whisky in the limited-edition Bruichladdich Black Art Series is Bruichladdich Black Art 1994 Edition 7.1 25 Year. This whisky, a 1994 vintage, commemorates the last time that the Bruichladdich distillery closed. It was purchased and re-opened in 2000.
This 25-year-old Scotch single malt whisky is Master Distiller Adam Hannett’s third Black Art release for Bruichladdich. As with all of the Black Art releases, the recipe remains a secret. While the types of casks used are not disclosed, we do know that it aged entirely on Islay. This un-peated whisky is bottled at 48.4% ABV, is non-chill filtered and has no artificial coloring. Only 12,000 individually numbered bottles were produced. It is available now for £275.00 (~$352 USD).
Bruichladdich Black Art 1994 Edition 7.1 25 Year
Chivas Regal 13 Year Manchester United Special Edition
In its role as the official spirits partner of English Premier League soccer team Manchester United, Chivas Regal has unveiled a new US exclusive blended whisky. Chivas Regal 13 Year Manchester United Special Edition celebrates Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s record 13 Premier League title wins between the years of 1986 and 2013.
A portion of this 13 year old blended Scotch whisky was finished in American rye casks and the release is exclusive to the United States. It is bottled at 40% ABV and has a suggested price of $35 per 750ml bottle.
Chivas Regal 13 Year Manchester United Special Edition
Bacardí Limited Introduces Aberfeldy & Craigellachie Exceptional Cask Series to the U.S.
Bacardí Limited plans to release five limited-edition single malt whiskies to the United States in November 2019. The whiskies, from Scottish distilleries Aberfeldy and Craigellachie, are part of the annual Exceptional Cask Series. Plus, for the first time ever, the brand is bringing the series to the United States. Malt Master Stephanie Macleod hand selects each of these rare single cask and double cask bottlings.
Aberfeldy Exceptional Cask Series 18 Year Double Cask
Age: 18 year
Matured In: sherry casks
ABV: 53.8% ABV
Suggested Price: $199.99
Aberfeldy Exceptional Cask Series 19 Year Single Cask
Age: 19 year
Matured In: first fill sherry butt cask
ABV: 56.6% ABV
Suggested Price: $199.99
Aberfeldy Exceptional Cask Series 24 Year Single Cask
Age: 24 year
Matured In: first fill sherry butt cask
ABV: 53.9% ABV
Suggested Price: $299.99
Aberfeldy Exceptional Cask Whiskies / Photo Credit: Bacardí Limited
Craigellachie Exceptional Cask Series 19 Year Single Cask
Age: 19 year
Matured In: second fill sherry butt cask
ABV: 55.2% ABV
Suggested Price: $199.99
Craigellachie Exceptional Cask Series 23 Year Single Cask
Age: 23 year
Matured In: first fill Oloroso sherry cask
ABV: 57.5% ABV
Suggested Price: $299.99
Gran Centenario Tequila Debuts New Leyenda Extra Ańejo
This week La Hacienda Los Camichines announced the launch of Gran Centenario Leyenda Extra Añejo. This tequila begins with 100% blue weber agave from the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. It ages for four years in new American oak barrels before blending with older tequila reserves to create the final product. It is bottled at 40% ABV and has a suggested price of $150 per 750ml bottle.
Fans of the brand will likely remember a product with the same name but in a different rounded bottle. That product, which matured in French Limousin oak, has been discontinued and replaced by this one.
Gran Centenario Leyenda Extra Añejo / Photo Credit: Gran Centenario
El Tesoro Announces Permanent Addition To Lineup With Extra Añejo Tequila
El Tesoro de Don Felipe Tequila and its Master Distiller Carlos Camarena are adding a permanent addition to the El Tesoro lineup. El Tesoro Extra Añejo Tequila aged in ex-bourbon barrels for between four to five years. The first batch of this tequila was actually barreled by Camarena’s late father, Don Felipe J. Camarena Orozco.
“I always say that we have two faces at El Tesoro–one that looks to the past and respects the tequila-making traditions of my family, and one that looks toward tomorrow for ways to push the category forward,” said Camarena.
The tequila uses 100% estate-grown blue agave, which grows up to eight years in the Jalisco highlands. Once harvested, the agaves cook for three days in hornos, then are crushed using El Tesoro’s two-ton volcanic rock tahona. The juice is double distilled, bottled at 40% ABV and has a suggested price of $99.99.
El Tesoro Extra Añejo Tequila/ Photo Credit: Beam Suntory
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