Diageo unveils 2021 Scotch Whisky Special Releases Collection “Legends Untold”

Diageo unveils 2021 Scotch Whisky Special Releases Collection “Legends Untold”

30 Sept 2021

The 2021 collection, drawn from some of Scotland’s most interesting, legendary distilleries and curated by Master Blender Dr Craig Wilson, portrays the otherworldly beings which have fiercely protected the heartlands of remote Scottish distilleries for an eternity, according to our ancient fables, and the mythical creatures come to life revealing their true characters. Drawn from renowned distilleries, the collection nods to the hidden gems that can be found in each corner of the Scottish terrain amongst the lochs and rugged highlands.

The annual, carefully selected line-up highlights the diversity of our most treasured whisky reserves maturing in Scotland. Each whisky will be visually brought to life with heavily detailed illustrations and design work from renowned digital illustrator Ken Taylor. His striking signature style and interpretation of the mythical creatures takes cues from his portfolio of pop culture artwork.

Activated through an on-pack QR code, a multi-sensory experience begins with a narration of the cask-strength Single Malts’ tale. Enthusiasts are then guided through a mixed reality tasting experience, designed to captivate their senses and bring a taste of Scotland to their homes.

 For those curious to find out more, the collection includes:

  • The darkly robust and rich Mortlach 13-Year-Old from the Speyside Dufftown distillery
  • A briny, bold fire-breathing sea-monster of a malt with smoky undertones in the Talisker 8-Year-Old
  • A rare Highland expression of the Royal Lochnagar with a nimble springtime freshness
  • Two unique and enchanting expressions of the Lagavulin, ‘The King of Islay’: A fiercely intense, yet perfectly balanced sweet and salty 12-Year-Old and, the jewel in the crown, a 26-Year-Old, finished in first-fill Pedro Ximenez/Oloroso casks

“We have delved into the core characteristics of several classic distilleries, for the Legends Untold collection. Taking inspiration from the mythical creatures of this year’s collection, we have revealed new depths of flavour and embraced the essence of each whisky’s unique profile revealing the legend it brings to life. This year’s collection is just the very beginning of the story.”

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Dr Craig Wilson

Master Blender

2021 Special Releases Whisky Collection

The 2021 Special Releases Collection will be available in limited quantities from specialist Scotch whisky retailers and malts.com this Autumn.

  • Mortlach 13-Year-Old
  • The Singleton of Glendullan 19-Year-Old
  • Talisker 8-Year-Old
  • Lagavulin 26-Year-Old
  • Lagavulin 12-Year-Old
  • Cardhu 14-Year-Old
  • Oban 12-Year-Old
  • Royal Lochnagar 16-Year-Old

About Diageo’s Special Releases

During the late 1980s, the benchmark expressions of single malt whiskies from six single malt distilleries became well known under the CLASSIC MALTS name. Interest in older and rarer malt whiskies in general also grew during this period. One product of this was the RARE MALTS, a series of rarer releases begun in 1995, and which ended in 2005. There remained a demand for unusual, distinctive, often older, unrepeatable cask strength bottlings, usually of the CLASSIC MALTS. Such bottlings allowed collectors, connoisseurs and enthusiasts to enjoy and experience remaining older stocks, and/or unusual expressions of a distillery’s character - a treasure trove of priceless malts. To satisfy this demand, the SPECIAL RELEASES series was born in 2001, and the annual collection - with familiar names and some surprises - has been eagerly awaited by enthusiasts ever since.

 

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