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Late November 2024 brought interesting new releases to the world whisky stage, from Ballantine's first grain expression to a new Guinness World Record-holding Johnson Reserve Ascension. Two whisky brands, Johnnie Walker and Glenallachie, also revealed their Lunar Year celebratory bottles with the Asian market in mind.
Keep reading to find out about other new whisky releases in late November that caught our attention.
Did you miss the new whisky releases in early November? No worries, you can find them here.
Glenfiddich 1959 65-year-old
William Grant & Son's Glenfiddich distillery announced its multi-year partnership with Aston Martin Aramco Formula One team in mid-November 2024. To celebrate the announcement, Glenfiddich will launch a 65-year-old single malt, distilled in 1959 - the same year Aston Martin first took part in Formula One.
The limited edition whisky was aged in a sherry butt, but so far, other details have not been revealed, including the number of bottles, exact release date and ABV.
Aston Martin has previously partnered up with Bowmore, but the partnership hit a stump with its latest ad in October, which was banned by ASA after being accused of linking drinking and driving. It is unclear if Bowmore and Aston Martin will continue their partnership, especially with the new Glenfiddich deal.
Images by Glenfiddich
Johnson Reserve Ascension
As an unsuspected move, Guinness World Records awarded the title of 'The Greatest Variety of Flavours' to a new whisky release by independent bottler and blender Johnson Reserve, Ascension. The single barrel whisky went through 33 distinctive casks during the maturation, each serving host to the whisky for at least three months. The casks were sourced worldwide from Mexico, France, Japan, Australia, Napa Valley, and other parts of America.
The whisky is offered at 46% ABV and is limited to 40 bottles. The bottles will be sold through a ballot, with the price available on the application.
Image by Johnson Reserve
Rosebank 1990 33-year-old
Ian Macleod reopened the once-mothballed Rosebank distillery on 7 June 2024. In anticipation of the opening and thereafter, the company has released limited edition bottlings. The latest, a 1990 vintage 33-year-old single malt, was released in mid-November exclusively for global travel retail.
Drawn from a single cask no.3469, the whisky is offered at 46.6% ABV and limited to only 107 bottles. The bottle retails for £5,500 (US$6,947).
Image by Rosebank
Johnnie Walker Blue Label The Year of the Snake
Johnnie Walker Blue Label revealed its Lunar New Year bottling for 2025 in mid-November 2024. Like the last bottling, the label for the release was designed by Asian-American visual artist James Jean. The limited edition bottling celebrates the Zodiac year of the snake, bottled at 40% ABV and retails for around £225 (US$280).
Original Images by Johnnie Walker
Glenallachie 11-year-old PX Year of the Snake
Another Scottish brand to dip into the Lunar Year market in November, Glenallachie, revealed its Year of the Snake bottling in mid-November. The 11-year-old single malt was finished in three types of casks: Pedro Ximenez, Oloroso and virgin American oak.
Offered at 48% ABV, the release is limited to 9,000 bottles and retails for £77 (US$). The bottling is now available in specialist shops in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam, with worldwide delivery online commencing from January 2025.
Image by Glenallachie
Michter's 20-year-old Bourbon 2024
After a one-year hiatus, Michter's is bringing back its 20-year-old Bourbon. The 2024 release is offered at 57.1% ABV and retails for US$1,200 (£) with only 557 bottles produced.
Image by Michter's
Pendleton 1910 10-year-old Bourbon
The Oregon-based Pendleton distillery released its 10-year-old Bourbon in November 2024. Aged in American white oak for a decade, the release is offered at 45% ABV and retails for US$49.99 (£). The new addition to the Pendleton range is now available in the US in selected states, and nationwide distribution will commence in January of next year.
Image by Pendleton
Ballantine's Single Distillery Edition
As a new addition to Ballantine's permanent range, the Single Distillery edition is the first single grain whisky bottled under the brand. The whisky originates from the Strathclyde distillery in Glasgow, owned by Chivas Brothers, and has been the source of grain whiskies for the company's brands for decades.
According to the brand, the expression will join Ballantine's range in November, and its price will depend on the market.
Image by Chivas Brothers
Chivas Regal Extra 'Smooth & Smoky'
The fifth expression in the Chivas Regal's non-age statement Extra range, Smoky Cask Selection, was released in late November 2024. The whisky made its debut in the Turkish market before being rolled out globally.
Joining the Extra range, which has seen whisky aged in Irish whiskey, Tequila, rum and Oloroso sherry casks, the latest expression was finished in casks previously housing peated whisky.
Also in November, Chivas Brothers, the brand's owner, officially filed its proposal for an Islay distillery with the Argyll and Bute Council.
Image by Chivas Brothers
Lochlea Overtone Stout Finish
Revealed in November, the Lochlea single malt finished in stout beer casks from Glasgow-based Overtone brewery will officially launch on 3 December.
The partnership began with the distillery supplying six casks—comprised of bourbon barrels, STR barriques, and an Oloroso sherry butt—to Overtone for ageing double-mash stout. The barrels were subsequently returned to the distillery to mature Lochlea single malt whisky.
The limited release is 52% ABV and will be available exclusively for the UK market, with a suggested retail price of £59.99 (US$76).
Image by Lochlea
Bushmills 26-year-old Crystal Malt
Irish Bushmills distillery revealed its fourth edition in its Prestige Collection in November. The 26-year-old single malt is made using crystal malt barley, which sees the barley undergo a malting process in which the sugars within the grain are crystallised.
Matured in first-fill Bourbon barrels, the limited release is offered at 46% ABV and retails for £850 (US$1,075). Bushmills 26-year-old Crystal Malt will be available at the end of 2024 from the distillery and its website, as well as from retailers across Ireland and other key global markets from the first quarter of 2025.
Image by Bushmills
Thank you for reading The Whisky Ardvark. Please make sure to check out some of our other whisky news below.
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