La Diageo ha annunciato le otto edizioni limitate della serie “Special Releases” che usciranno a breve, autunno 2012. Qui sotto riportiamo (in inglese, ma siamo tutti internazionali, no?) parte del comunicato con cui il sito Loch Fyne Whiskies ne ha dato notizia stamattina, dopo che da qualche tempo rumors si rincorrevano su vari forum nel magico mondo dell’internet. Due rapide considerazioni:

1. il parterre è eccellente. Lagavulin 21, Talisker 35, Brora 35 e Port Ellen 32 da soli bastano a mandare in sollucchero ogni appassionato; quest’anno mi risulta affascinante persino il Caol Ila unpeated, invecchiato tutto in botti di sherry.

2. i soli 4 malti succitati, se sommati, fanno 1875 pounds: non faccio la conversione in euro solo per pudore, ma il calcolo è facile facile: insomma, tanti, tanti soldi… Troppi? Secondo noi (secondo le nostre tasche) decisamente sì, ma non si può negare che i prezzi in qualche modo siano in linea con il mercato. E pensate cosa succederà quando tutte le bottiglie acquistate per restare sempre chiuse finiranno all’asta…

3. quando comprerete una bottiglia, fatecelo sapere: faremo vero stalking per farvela aprire in nostra presenza…

DIAGEO ANNOUNCE 2012 COLLECTION OF LIMITED-EDITION SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKIES IN THE ‘SPECIAL RELEASES’ SERIES

Diageo has announced its Single Malt Scotch Whiskies to be released in limited edition this autumn in the Special Releases series. All are at natural cask strength. As usual, the series embraces some exceedingly rare and therefore increasingly sought after single malts from the dwindling stocks of long-silent distilleries alongside expressions from familiar and less familiar working distilleries, but at unusual ages.

Auchroisk™ 30 year old 2,976 £230 – The oldest Auchroisk ever released by the distillers. From a mix of American & European Oak refill casks filled in 1982.

Brora™ 35 year old 1,566 £400 – Eleventh of a very limited series of annual releases. Vatted from whiskies at least 35 years old distilled in 1976 & 1977 and aged in refill American Oak casks

Caol Ila™ 14 year old limited numbers £66 – From a batch made only once a year,: the 7th limited release of unpeated Caol Ila, the first at fourteen years old, also the first ‘sherried’ Caol Ila released in this series. From 1st fill ex-bodega European Oak casks filled in 1997.

Dalwhinnie™ 25 year old 5,358 £185 – Latest of four limited releases to be offered by the distillery, and the first of these to come from rejuvenated American Oak hogsheads.

Lagavulin™ 12 year old limited numbers £71 – Eleventh in a series of special 12 year old releases from the original distiller’s stocks. Vatted from refill American Oak casks, each at least 12 years old.

Lagavulin™ 21 year old 2,772 £350 – Only the second 21 year old ever bottled by the original distillers. Vatted from first fill ex-sherry European Oak casks each at least 21 years old, filled in 1991.

Port Ellen™ 32 year old 2,964 £600 – Twelfth of a very limited series of annual releases. From refill American Oak and refill European Oak casks filled in 1979.

Talisker™ 35 year old 3,090 £525 – The oldest limited release ever offered by the distillery. Sixteenth in this series. From American & European Oak refill casks filled in 1977.