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September 2024 was extremely busy with new whisky releases, some of which set new milestones for distilleries. From Macallan's oldest single malt, which took home the crown of 'the oldest whisky ever bottled' in early September, to the launch of the first Indonesian single malt and the oldest official bottling from Glenlivet, the month kept whisky enthusiasts on their toes.
The annual Special Releases were made available for Diageo fans, including the second-ever bottling of Roseisle single malt. Japanese whisky lovers in the UK were also delighted by the news of the launch of Chichibu 2024 London Edition.
In addition to new releases, Edrington Group exited the blended whisky category by agreeing to sell The Famous Grouse to its long-time business partner, William Grant & Sons. Campari Group also shook the Scottish whisky industry by acquiring a minority stake in CVH Spirits, owner of Bunnahabhain, Tobermory, and Deanston distilleries.
For more late September whisky releases that caught our attention, keep reading.
Glenlivet 55-year-old Eternal Collection
Is this the Death Star, or do my eyes deceive me? No, it is, in fact, the oldest official single malt release from The Glenlivet distillery - encased in an art piece by computational architect Michael Hansmeyer.
As the first edition in the distillery's new Eternal Collection, the 55-year-old is only a snippet of what's to come. The collection is a new range of old and rare whiskies that will be released annually. All future releases, each taken from a single cask, will be aged for one additional year and accompanied by original artwork crafted by a new artist.
The inaugural expression—released in celebration of The Glenlivet distillery's 200th anniversary—was aged in seasoned sherry casks for more than five decades. Offered at 42.2% ABV, the release is limited to 100 decanters. It is mainly available from The Whisky Exchange and has a hefty price tag of €50,000 (US$55,900/£41,800).
Image by The Glenlivet
Mortlach L’Evolution Collection
First announced in December 2024, the Mortlach L'Evolution Collection is made in collaboration with the distillery's first creative director, French designer Philippe Starck. Available since late September, the collection features three spirits: a 200ml bottle of new make 'Begin', which is offered alongside 700ml 'Beyond', a marriage of casks from five decades, and 'Become', offered as a standalone 700ml bottling aged in virgin oak, red wine and refill casks. All three spirits are bottled at 55.4% ABV.
Each spirit is encased in 3D-printed cases made of different materials: Begin in aluminium, Beyond in pink copper, and Become in organic design with a soft-to-touch finish.
The two-bottle set containing Begin and Beyond retails for £10,000 (US$13,370), while the Become is more widely available at £310 (US$415).
Image by Diageo
Chichibu 2024 London Edition
The popular annual release of Chichibu London Edition for 2024 was revealed at the end of September. First introduced at The Whisky Show in 2018, this year's release is the seventh incarnation of the UK-exclusive Japanese single malt and is limited to around 1,920 bottles.
The 2024 London edition consists of 10 casks, mostly aged in ex-bourbon barrels, with an additional red wine cask to give the whisky an extra layer. The expression is offered at 50.5% ABV and retails for £210 (US$281).
The label has been designed by Raj Chavda, creative director of Elixir Distillers, who has been designing the distillery's labels in the UK market for years. The label was inspired by Musha-e: The Warriors of Ukiyo-e and features a glow-in-the-dark element, which Chavda has experimented with in his past creations.
Images by Speciality Brands
Diageo 2024 Special Releases
On 26 September, Diageo revealed its new (not-so)Special Releases. First introduced in 2001, the annual series was once a rare opportunity to taste some of the rarest and most regarded whiskies from the company's vaults, including Port Ellen and Brora single malts.
Since 2018, the series focus has shifted to an eight-bottling annual collection. This year's line-up is the second incarnation of Spirited Xchange, a name given to the collection last year. Spirited Xchange Second Edition—as it is called—features single malts from a non-age statement Mortlach to 21-year-old Benrinnes.
Mortlach Midnight Dusk NAS - 57.5% ABV - €300 (£251 / US$335)
Aged in ex-Italian Ramandolo white wine and Sangiovese red wine casks
Talisker Tidal Churn 8-year-old - 58.7% ABV - €110 (£92 / US$123)
Matured in 'stone-spun and lightly re-toasted casks'
Oban Coastal Orchard 10-year-old - 58% ABV - €160 (£134 / US$179)
Finished in charred American oak barrels seasoned with Oloroso sherry
Caol Ila Ambrosial Feast Unpeated 11-year-old - 57.3% ABV - €135 (£113 / US$151)
Casks not specified
Roseisle Origami Kite 2 12-year-old - 55.6% ABV - €165 (£138 / US$184)
Matured in first-fill ex-Bourbon and refill casks
Lagavulin Fireside Tales 12-year-old - 57.4% ABV - €190 (£159 / US$212)
First-fill ex-Bourbon and refill casks
Singleton of Glen Ord Autumn Walk 14-year-old - 54.7% ABV - €160 (£134 / US$179)
Initially aged in first-fill Bourbon, part-finished in casks with Pyrenean and Spanish oak ends
Please note the bottle states Singleton of Glendullan, which is an error by the producer
Benrinnes Grand Crescendo 21-year-old - 55.4% ABV - €410 (£343 / US$458)
American and European oak ex-wine casks
Images by Diageo
Laphroaig Strong Characters - 33-year-old Donald Johnston
The new Laphroaig Strong Characters series celebrates the distillery's pioneering figures. For the inaugural release, Laphroaig commemorates the co-founder Donald Johnston, who established the distillery in Islay with his brother Alexander in 1815.
The 33-year-old single malt has been aged in American oak barrels and European oak Sherry hogsheads. Adorned by artwork by British artist Bill Bragg, the expression is offered at 43.8% ABV and retails for £960 (US$1,283).
Image by Laphroaig
Glenmorangie A Tale of Ice Cream
The fifth edition in Glenmorangie's 'A Tale of' series, A Tale of Ice Cream, was matured in new oak casks, especially toasted 'high-vanillin' casks, to bring out more vanilla flavours to the front. The latest creation by Dr Bill Lumsden and master blender Gillian Macdonald is offered at 46% ABV and is available from selected retailers worldwide with a suggested retail price of £76 (US$101).
Original Images by Glenmorangie
Big Peat 15th Anniversary
Independent whisky bottler Douglas Laing, owner of Strathearn distillery, released its Big Peat 15th anniversary edition in late September 2024. The Islay blended malt was first introduced as part of the regional malts in 2009.
For the latest limited release, the peated whisky has been predominantly aged in red wine casks and is bottled at 50% ABV. The 15th-anniversary edition retails for £65 (US$87).
Original Image by Douglas Laing
Bulleit 10-year-old Rye
In American news from Diageo, Bulleit added a 10-year-old rye whiskey to its core range. Made from a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley, the new expression is offered at 45.6% ABV and has a suggested retail price of US$50 (£37). It is not a bad price for a 10-year-old rye, considering that the non-age statement version, made with the same mash bill, retails for £34 (US$46).
Image by Diageo
Kavalan Lán
In September 2024, Taiwanese Kavalan single malt released an expression especially meant for the export market: Kavalan Lán. The floral whisky is the distillery's first tribute to its birth county, Yilan. In Mandarin Chinese, it translates to 'orchid', which can also be found in the single malt's name.
Kavalan Lán is aged in Port and STR Vinho wine casks and offered at 43% ABV. The expression made its EU debut at Whisky Live Paris. The first phase of the launch will include markets across the EU, Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Canada. The second phase will see the whisky land in all other Kavalan export markets.
Image by King Car
Keris Single Malt
Making its first appearance on the market in September 2024, Indonesia's first single malt, Keris, was awarded with recognition from the Indonesian Museum of Records (MURI). Keris was inspired by the heirloom asymmetrical dagger of the same name and pays tribute to the cultural heritage of Bali.
Although little is known about the whisky's production, it is made at the owner Orang Tua Group's Pt Asti Dama Adhimukti Distillery in Tabanan using 100% malted barley. The single malt's inaugural release, Silver, is aged in American oak barrels and finished in Oloroso Sherry casks. Keris is offered at 43% ABV but does not have an age statement. No information has been released about the product's distribution.
Original Image by Orang Tua Group
The Hearach Oloroso Cask
The Isle of Harris distillery released its second core range expression in late September, The Hearach Oloroso Cask, aged in first-fill sherry casks from producer Jose y Miguel Martin.
Created in small batches, batches one to four are already available on the distillery's website—all offered at 46% ABV and retailing for £75 (US$100). According to the distillery, each batch has natural variation due to individual choice of casks and differing 'marrying' periods.
Original Image by Isle of Harris Distillery
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