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With trade season well underway, early October 2024 was expectedly extremely busy with new whisky releases. Yet again, marked by some of the oldest whisky releases from brands, this time with Crown Royal, Mortlach, and Hibiki, whisky enthusiasts and collectors were left licking their fingers over premium expressions that only the few can afford to ever taste.
But to be disheartened, many interesting affordable whiskies were also announced and released, including a sauna-matured rye whisky from Finnish Kyrö distillery and Johnnie Walker Black Label Squid Game for those looking forward to the series' second season.
Here are 13 whisky releases that caught our attention in early October 2024.
Crown Royal 31-year-old Extra Rare
Following the release of 18-year-old in 2021, 29-year-old in 2022, and 30-year-old Crown Royal in 2023, the 2024 edition in the brand's Extra Rare collection was aged 31 years - yet again marking the oldest expression from the Canadian whisky brand.
Offered at 46% ABV, the release retails for US$599 (£458) for a 750ml bottle and, at the time of the launch in October 2024, is made available on selected markets in the US.
Image by Blackwell's Wines
Glenlivet 55-year-old 200th Anniversary Edition
Following the launch of Glenlivet 55-year-old in late September 2024 as the first edition in the distillery's Eternal Collection, owner Chivas Brothers announced a partnership with auction house Sotheby's to offer one-of-one editions. The first expression under the partnership, revealed in early October 2024, is also a 55-year-old one-off edition celebrating Glenlivet's bicentenary.
The bottle is paired with a one-of-a-kind sculpture created by computational architect Michael Hansmeyer and crafted using emerald quartzite and 24-carat gold. Offered 0.6% ABV than the other 55-year-old edition (42.2% ABV), the single bottle is estimated to reach a hammer price of £35,000-£70,000 (US$45,826-US$91,653). The lot will go on sale from 22 October to 5 November.
Images by Sotheby's
Kavalan 45th Anniversary of King Car
Taiwanese Kavalan single malt whisky released a special edition in early October 2024 to celebrate its parent company, King Car's 45th anniversary. The single malt has been aged in Palo Cortado sherry casks and is offered at 54% ABV.
Limited to 10,000 sets, each including a 27cm wide Swarovski crystal topper and a branded tumbler, the release is available worldwide with a suggested retail price of NT$25,000 (US$777/€710).
Image by Kavalan
Dalmore Cask Curation Series Port Edition
The second edition in the Dalmore Cask Curation series was revealed in early October 2024. Following the first sherry-cask matured edition in 2023, the Port Edition is aged in barrels from Symington Family Estate in Douro Valley. The family is known for its Graham's Port.
The trio set includes three expressions. The youngest is a 27-year-old single malt, Cask No.3, finished in Graham’s 1997 Single Harvest Tawny Port casks and offered at 49.3% ABV.
The 30-year-old Cask No.2 whisky was finished in Graham’s 1994 Single Harvest Tawny Port casks and is bottled at 43.9% ABV. The oldest single malt in the trio, 43-year-old Cask No.1, is offered at 41.8% ABV. The expression was finished in Graham’s 1952 Single Harvest Tawny Port casks.
Limited to only 150 sets, the Port Edition has a suggested retail price of £35,000 (US$46,600).
Image by Dalmore
The Gleneagles x Glenfiddich Centenary Reserve
To celebrate the Gleneagles Hotel's 100th anniversary, Glenfiddich released a commemorative edition of the Centenary Reserve, limited to only 15 bottles available from the hotel. The expression is presented in an Art Deco-inspired display cabinet, hand-crafted by Glasgow-based artist John Galvin.
The whisky was aged 49 years in a single refill sherry butt and bottled at 51.4% ABV. The release will be available to purchase on request from The Still Room at Gleneagles from the 4 October 2024, limited to three bottles for sale per year. At the time of the reveal, the price for the whisky was set to £35,000 (US$45,700).
Original Images by Glenfiddich
Kyrö Sauna Stories
As a world first, the Finnish Kyrö distillery launched a new series, Sauna Stories, in early October 2024. The series features rye whiskies finished in a sauna. The distillery built a sauna for the process, and the series' first edition was finished in Planteray rum casks. The barrels were gently heated with excess heat from the distillation process, reaching internal temperatures of up to 50°C.
The inaugural release is offered at 50.8% ABV and is limited to 1,908 bottles. It has a suggested retail price of €149.90 (US$165).
Original Image by Kyrö
Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ice Chalet
A collaboration between Johnnie Walker Blue Label and skiwear company Perfect Moment, the limited edition Ice Chalet is designed for after-ski sessions by the slopes and is the second edition in the brand's Cobalt series. The campaign for the release is fronted by Priyanka Chopra Jones, a shareholder at Perfect Moment.
The whisky includes whiskies from Cameronbridge, Dalwhinnie and Clynelish, as well as old stock from Brora distillery and a small amount of single malt from Roseisle. Available globally from mid-October, the bottle has a suggested retail price of US$350 (€319/£267) and comes in a reversible bag.
Original Image by Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker Black Label Squid Game
Another collaborative release from Johnnie Walker was introduced in early October 2024 to celebrate the second season of the TV series Squid Game, which will premiere on 26 December.
The bottles of Johnnie Walker Black Label 12-year-old are dressed in green and feature a striding man in a matching tracksuit for the release. The bottles are also designated with the numbers 001 to 456, which indicate the number of characters competing in the new series. Consumers can 'pick their player’ by purchasing a specific bottle, all retailing for around £34 (US$44).
The limited edition was launched in a Times Square takeover in New York on 1 October. The release will initially be available in the US, with Europe and Asia to follow.
Images by Johnnie Walker/ Netflix
Mortlach 50-year-old Singing Stills
Released in early October 2024 as the last expression in the distillery's Singing Stills series,the 50-year-old is Mortlach's oldest single malt expression to date. The release is limited to only 60 bottles worldwide and has a suggested retail price of US$30,000 without taxes and duty (€27,450/£23,000).
Image by Diageo
Bunnahabhain 21-year-old PX Cask Finish
Bunnahabhain, 21-year-old finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks, marks a new annual series of the same age, offered at cask strength, for the CVH Spirits-owned Islay distillery. The 2024 edition was initially aged in Oloroso casks, after which the whisky spent 21 months in PX sherry casks.
A total of 21 casks were used for the release, resulting in 2,682 bottles. The inaugural expression is offered at 53.6% ABV and has a suggested retail price of £275 (US$359).
Image by Bunnahabhain
Teeling 21-year-old Rising Reserve Ruby Port Finish
Released in early October 2024, the third edition of Teeling's Rising Reserve collection matured in ex-Bourbon barrels for 18 years and finished three years in Ruby Port casks. The 21-year-old Irish single malt is offered at the distillery's signature strength of 46% ABV, retails for €225 (US$247/£188) and is limited to 6,000 bottles worldwide.
Original Image by Teeling
Macallan The Harmony Collection Cirque du Soleil
The fourth pair in Macallan's The Harmony Collection celebrates the distillery's 200th anniversary in 2024 and its collaboration with Cirque du Soleil this year. The IV comprises two releases: Harmony Vibrant Oak and Harmony Guardian Oak.
The Harmony Vibrant Oak expression has been matured in a combination of first-fill American and second-fill sherry-seasoned oak casks. Guardian Oak has been matured predominantly in a combination of first-fill European oak and second-fill sherry-seasoned oak casks.
Both expressions are offered at 42.2% ABV. Vibrant Oak is available on the high street and Macallan's website for £160 (US$209), while Guardian Oak will be released only for global travel retail from January 2025.
Image by The Macallan
Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey
Expanding on the core line, Uncle Nearest—named after Nathan 'Nearest' Green, who taught Jack Daniel's how to make whiskey—has introduced a lower-ABV Tennessee whiskey, Nearest Green. The new expression is offered at 42% ABV, created for mixing, and retails for US$30 (£23).
Original Images by Uncle Nearest / Whiskey University
Extra: Chivas Regal Takumi Reserve
Legally called a spirit drink, Chivas Regal has released Takumi Reserve, a blended whisky and sake blend made in collaboration with sake brewery Masuizumi, based in Toyama, Japan. The 12-year-old spirit is offered at 40% ABV.
Chivas Regal Takumi Reserve is available to purchase in Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, and Cambodia, with a suggested retail price of JPY¥7,260 (US$50/£38).
Image by Chivas Brothers
Extra No. 2: Beckett's Single Malt
The inaugural whisky release from English Kingston Distillers is the world's first single malt finished in sloe gin casks, which, to be noted, would not be allowed by The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA). The association does not approve of using gin casks to mature whisky since ageing gin is not a traditional practice.
Nevertheless, Beckett’s Single Malt is offered at 46.8% ABV and is limited to 324 bottles. The London-based distillery will release one cask at a time once a year, with only around 300 bottles per release. The inaugural release is now available on the brand’s website in the UK for £79.80 (US$106).
Image by Kingston Distillers
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