Diageo North America has announced the launch of the 2023 Distillers Edition collection in the U.S.

The Distillers Edition collection is an annual release of limited edition Single Malt Scotch Whiskies that are double matured in different types of casks. This year’s Distillers Edition collection consists of six expressions from distilleries across Scotland: Cragganmore, Dalwhinnie, Glenkinchie, Lagavulin, Oban, and Talisker.

Cragganmore Distillers Edition (40% ABV)
“The juicy Cragganmore, port-seasoned casks build sweet wine and fruity complexity, balanced with oaky vanilla spices and a hint of cocoa.”
SRP: $85.00

Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition (43% ABV)
“The exotic Dalwhinnie, in which satisfying hints of tropical fruits and peppery spices, blend seamlessly with warm nuts and honey using Oloroso-seasoned casks.”
SRP: $90.00

Glenkinchie Distillers Edition (43% ABV)
“The sophisticated Glenkinchie is finished in Amontillado-seasoned casks. Striking a balance between light grape sweetness and warming wood-spice with hints of rich dried fruits.”
SRP: $85.00

Lagavulin Distillers Edition (43% ABV)
“The mighty Lagavulin, in which the rich sweetness from Pedro Ximenez-seasoned casks is beautifully integrated with the crescendo of dark smokiness, salt and oak-spice.”
SRP: $125.00

Oban Distillers Edition (43% ABV)
“The smooth Oban, delicately paired with Montilla Fino-seasoned casks for a sweet creamy-smooth enhancement to the fruity and salty Oban style.”
SRP: $95.00

Talisker Distillers Edition (45.8% ABV)
“The enriched Talisker, Amoroso- seasoned casks impart a wonderfully rounded and luscious, fruity sweetness, complementing the familiar crisp, dry peat-smoke and pepperiness.”
SRP: $85.00

The 2023 Distillers Editions are now available at brick and mortar and online retailers across the U.S.

Photo credit: Diageo.
Source: prnewswire.com.

Johnnie Walker has announced the launch of Masters of Flavor, the third and final whisky in the Johnnie Walker Masters series. Prior expressions in the series include Johnnie Walker Master’s Ruby Reserve and John Walker Masters’ Edition.

In one of his final releases before he retires at the end of the year, Johnnie Walker Master Blender Jim Beveridge brought together Malt Master Donna Anderson, Cask Master James Carson, and Distillation Master Douglas Murray to create a blend that pays tribute to each of the four main steps in whisky making – malting, distilling, cask maturation, and blending.

Johnnie Walker Masters of Flavour is crafted from whiskies that have been aged for at least 48 years and includes whiskies from the ghost distilleries of Glyn Albyn, Port Dundas, Brora, and Glenury Royal, blended with whisky from the active distilleries of Cameronbridge, Blair Athol, and Dalwhinnie.

Bottled at 41.8% ABV, Johnnie Walker Masters of Flavour is described as having aromas of “soft and gentle smoke, reminiscent of seaweed and salty air, giving way to rich dried fruits, molasses, and leather-bound books.” The palate introduces “rich fruit flavors bursting with currants, a gentle spice, cinnamon-infused apples combined with star anise, crushed peppercorn, and warming oak embers, enveloped in waves of baked caramel and rich butterscotch.” It concludes with “a gentle and warming smoke” on the finish.

Johnnie Walker Masters of Flavour is limited to 288 bottles and has a suggested retail price of £20,000 (~$26,756).

Photo credit: Diageo.
Source: prnewswire.com.

The third expression under review from the Game of Thrones Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection is Game of Thrones House Stark – Dalwhinnie Winter’s Frost, an NAS (No Age Statement) single malt Scotch whisky from the Dalwhinnie distillery, located in the Highland region of Scotland.

Game of Thrones House Stark – Dalwhinnie Winter’s Frost Specifications:

• Spirit: Scotch.
• Classification: Single Malt.
• Region: Highland.
• Age: NAS (No Age Statement).
• ABV: 43% (86 Proof).
• Cask Type: Matured in rejuvenated ex-bourbon casks.
• NCF (Non-Chill Filtered)? No.
• Natural Color? No.
• Price Paid: $39.99 for 750 mL.

Tasting Notes:

• Color: Amber.
• Nose: Light and sweet. Fruity (apples, plums). Floral. Baking spices. Slightly malty.
• Palate: Slightly thin mouthfeel. Sweet and fruity. Concentrated apple juice, pineapple. Vanilla. Floral (lavender, heather) and herbal (menthol) notes. Honey. Artificial candy from my childhood – think candy cigarettes and chalky pink bubble gum. Baking spices.
• Finish: Short to medium length. Sweet and malty. More fruit, floral, herbal, and honeyed notes. Milk chocolate, cinnamon, bitter oak.

Game of Thrones House Stark – Dalwhinnie Winter’s Frost leans toward the light and sweet side of the flavor spectrum, much like Game of Thrones House Targaryen – Cardhu Gold Reserve. The Dalwhinnie’s complexity gives it a slight edge over the Cardhu, but it prominently features the same concentrated apple juice note across the palate and finish, one that I could do without. When it comes to fruit notes, I prefer the fresh orchard fruits exhibited in whiskies such as Glenlivet and Glenfiddich over the sweet, concentrated fruit juice notes that I detect here and in blends by Crown Royal and Hibiki.

Rating: C (73–76%).

Diageo has officially unveiled the Game of Thrones Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection. First teased over the summer, the collection is a set of eight whiskies intended to “honor the great houses and the Night’s Watch” with single malts from Cardhu, Clynelish, Dalwhinnie, Glendullan, Lagavulin, Oban, Royal Lochnagar, and Talisker.

The Game of Thrones Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection will be comprised of the following releases:

• House Baratheon – Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old, 40% ABV, SRP: $64.99
• House Greyjoy – Talisker Select Reserve, 45.8% ABV, SRP: $44.99
• House Lannister – Lagavulin 9 Year Old 46% ABV, SRP: $64.99
• House Stark – Dalwhinnie Winter’s Frost, 43% ABV, SRP: $39.99
• House Targaryen – Cardhu Gold Reserve, 40% ABV, SRP: $39.99
• House Tully – The Singleton of Glendullan Select, 40% ABV, SRP: $29.99
• House Tyrell – Clynelish Reserve, 51.2% ABV, SRP: $59.99
• The Night’s Watch – Oban Bay Reserve, 43% ABV, SRP: $62.99

When the collection was first teased, it appeared to consist of both repackaged and original whiskies. We asked a Diageo representative for clarification and were told “White Walker by Johnnie Walker and all of the Single Malt Scotch whiskies in the Game of Thrones Collection are new to the U.S. However, Game of Thrones House Targaryen – Cardhu Gold Reserve and Game of Thrones House Baratheon – Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old are currently sold in select global markets.”

The Game of Thrones Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection will be available nationwide starting November 2018, alongside White Walker by Johnnie Walker, a Game of Thrones inspired blended Scotch whisky.

Photo credit: Diageo.
Source: Diageo.

Update: The Game of Thrones Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection Releases November 2018!

This morning we reported on the Game of Thrones Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection, a set of eight whiskies being released to “honor the great houses and the Night’s Watch” with single malts from Cardhu, Clynelish, Dalwhinnie, Glendullan, Lagavulin, Oban, Royal Lochnagar, and Talisker.

Labels for all eight bottles have since popped up in the TTB database, revealing new information about the whiskies that will make up the collection:

• House Baratheon – Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old (40% ABV)
• House Greyjoy – Talisker Select Reserve (45.8% ABV)
• House Lannister – Lagavulin 9 Year Old (46% ABV)
• House Stark – Dalwhinnie Winter’s Frost (43%)
• House Targaryen – Cardhu Gold Reserve (40% ABV)
• House Tully – The Singleton of Glendullan Select (40% ABV)
• House Tyrell – Clynelish Reserve (51.2% ABV)
• The Night’s Watch – Oban Bay Reserve (43% ABV)

It appears the Cardhu, Dalwhinnie, and Royal Lochnagar releases will be of existing whiskies in new Game of Thrones inspired packaging, while the Clynelish, Lagavulin, Oban, Singleton, and Talisker will be new releases crafted specifically for the Game of Thrones collection.

Taking into consideration the retail price of the existing Cardhu, Dalwhinnie, and Royal Lochnagar whiskies, along with the young age statements and lack of age statements across the entire line-up, we predict all whiskies in the collection will land on retail shelves in the $35-$75 range.

The Game of Thrones Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection releases this fall alongside White Walker by Johnnie Walker, a Game of Thrones inspired blended Scotch whisky.

Source: ttbonline.gov (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8).

Earlier this year, we reported on Diageo’s plan to release a Game of Thrones inspired blended Scotch whisky, White Walker by Johnnie Walker. Diageo’s partnership with HBO won’t end there, as a teaser posted to Twitter has revealed plans to release a collection of eight Game of Thrones inspired single malt Scotch whiskies this fall.

The Game of Thrones Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection will “honor the great houses and the Night’s Watch” with whiskies from Cardhu, Clynelish, Dalwhinnie, Glendullan, Lagavulin, Oban, Royal Lochnagar, and Talisker.

Expect another announcement with more information, including pricing and availability, prior to launch.

Source: twitter.com.