The annual Distillers Edition Single Malts are now available and I couldn’t be more excited. Our friends at Diageo sent over one of the six bottles from the collection for us to review, which will be coming sometime in the new year.
Each year, Diageo has the distillery use their core offering as the base before they receive a second maturation period in specially hand-crafted fortified wine casks.
You will find the six brands featured in Diageo’s 2020 Distillers Edition below, as well as information on each limited edition bottle. I currently have the Oban Distillers Edition, but plan on picking up the entire collection as soon as I can find them.
Oban Distillers Edition
THE WEST HIGHLANDS – full body with a peaty punch
2006 Oban double-matured in ex-bodega Montilla Fino cask wood for a rich fruitiness and maritime flavors that bond with the fresh, sweet aromas and tastes of the adored Oban 14 Year Old in an explosive, rich and deep expression of Oban.
ABV: 43%.
Talisker Distillers Edition
THE ISLANDS – full-bodied peatiness smothered in smoke
2010 Talisker double-matured in ex-bodega Amoroso cask wood for rich and fruity sweetness that rounds out the peaty, peppery punch of the popular, malty Talisker 10 Year Old, to create a richly rewarding and deeper style of malt.
ABV: 45.8%
Lagavulin Distillers Edition
ISLAY – pungent with peat, smoke and salinity, revealing complexities layer after layer
16 year old Lagavulin double-matured in ex-bodega Pedra Ximenez cask wood for an intense, raisiny sweetness that marries beautifully with the smoky power of the regular release to create a massive, rich tasting power-house of a malt.
ABV: 43%
Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition
THE HIGHLANDS – especially bold flavors, including heather and dried fruit
2005 Dalwhinnie double-matured in ex-bodega Oloroso cask wood for a rich sweetness and spicy complexity to enhance the heathery, honeyed aromas and tastes of the fan favorite Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old.
ABV: 43%
Glenkinchie Distillers Edition
THE LOWLANDS – floral tones like grass and honeysuckle pair with sweeter notes like toffee and cinnamon
2008 Glenkinchie double-matured in ex-bodega Amontillado cask wood for a nuttiness that rounds and deepens the sweet, grassy and dry aromas and tastes of the iconic Glenkinchie 12 Year Old.
ABV: 43%
Cragganmore Distillers Edition
SPEYSIDE – smoky and deeply complex with hints of apple, nutmeg and vanilla
2008 Cragganmore double-matured in ex-bodega Port cask wood for succulence and rounded depth of flavor to enhance the complex smoky aromas and tastes of the beloved Cragganmore 12 Year Old.
ABV: 43%
