Diageo Global Travel & Middle East (GTME) today unveiled three single malt whiskies, describing them as “some of the rarest, most complex and valuable Scotch whiskies in the world”.
Port Ellen 33yo and Cragganmore 43yo are travel retail exclusives, while a small allocation of Royal Lochnagar 36yo (RRSP US$5,550) will also be sold domestically. Each is a single cask release.
Just 210 bottles of Port Ellen 33yo (RRSP US$7,020) exist. The distillery closed in 1983 and its whiskies have gone on to become some of the world’s most exclusive and sought-after single malts, Diageo claimed.
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Above and below: Just 210 bottles of Port Ellen 33yo (RRSP US$7,020) exist. The distillery closed in 1983. (Hover over the images with our unique Moodie Magnifier to view in greater detail) |
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“Intensely smooth and sweet-centred with gentle salt and spice notes, this well-structured, once-in-a-lifetime island malt is both complex and robust beyond its years, crafted to be savoured and enjoyed,” said the company in its tasting notes.
Cragganmore 43yo (RRSP US$3,800) is the oldest Cragganmore ever released by the original distiller, and Diageo believes it to be the oldest ever bottled as a single malt. Just 474 bottles were produced from a hand-selected single cask release, all available exclusively in Dubai Duty Free.
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Above and below: You’ll have to visit Dubai Duty Free to get your hands on this beauty, a Cragganmore 43yo (RRSP US$3,800) which ranks as the oldest Cragganmore ever released by the original distiller. Just 474 bottles were produced from a hand-selected single cask release. (Hover over the images with our unique Moodie Magnifier to view in greater detail) |
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“It is a very complex, dry and bittersweet single malt. Unusually spicy, it has great depth of character and a long, dry finish with a pleasingly charred warmth.”
Only 174 bottles of Royal Lochnagar 36yo old have been produced. Diageo noted: “In 1848 Queen Victoria and Consort Prince Albert visited the distillery and subsequently granted it a Royal Warrant. At that time Highland malt whiskies were somewhat more robust and vibrant than they are today and this 1978 single malt pays homage to this with its distinctive Highland profile, deep and rich character and abundance of fruit and spice.”
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Only 174 bottles of Royal Lochnagar 36yo (RRSP US$5,550) are available (Hover over the image with our unique Moodie Magnifier to view in greater detail) |
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(Hover over the image with our unique Moodie Magnifier to view in greater detail) |
Diageo Global Travel and Middle East Global Marketing Director Peter Fairbrother said: “We are investing in our amazing range of single malts to drive growth in the Scotch category in travel retail.
“These single malts are some of the rarest, most distinctive and most valuable whiskies in the world. The exclusivity of these whiskies cannot be overstated as only a few hundred bottles of each exist.
“Each of these exclusive single malts has a distinguished heritage and a compelling story and presents a unique opportunity for collectors and whisky lovers to own a piece of Scotch whisky history.”
