Diageo Special Releases 2017

More details have come out recently about Diageo's 2017 Special release line-up and the excitement in me is high. Below are some info about the 10 different bottles that make up this years edition. 

I could not find any clear information yet as to when they will be available in Canada but expectation is sometime November. For now we just have to be content at dreaming about them. 

Port Ellen 17th Release 1979 - 37 year old. The Port Ellen is usually the most awaited in every year's release especially because most people keep thinking each year would be the last year they will see a Port Ellen released. There will be about 3,000 bottles available worldwide with a suggested retail price of Cad $4,370. 

Coal Ila 18 year old. This unpeated Coal Ila comes from refill American-oak hogsheads and is the one I am most excited to buy and keep. This is the oldest Special release Coal Ila in a while. This Coal Ila is bottled at 59.8% ABV with no estimate on the number of bottles to be released. The suggested retail price for this 18 year old Coal Ila is Cad $165.

Lagavulin 12 year old. This bottle is also in my sights from this years Special releases. It is the most popular in the line-up and is the most affordable. For the character and flavour that comes from every Lagavulin bottle, this 12 year old is decently priced. This Lagavulin is bottled at 56.5% ABV with a suggested retail price of Cad $150. 

Collectivum XVIII blended malt. This is the most interesting bottle in the lineup. XVIII does not mean it is 28 years old but that it is a blend of the 28 single malts from Diageo's portfolio. I am also very excited about this bottle in the line-up. It is bottled at 57.3% ABV and only a limited amount of bottles will be available worldwide. Surprisingly the suggested retail price is a decent Cad $250.

Blair Athol 1993 - 23 year old. This 23 year old Blair Athol is matured in European oak butts seasoned with sherry or sherry-like fortified wine. It is bottled at 58.4% ABV and only a little over 5,500 bottles will be released worldwide. Suggested retail price for this 23 year old Blair Athol is Cad $650.

Brora 1982 - 34 year old. This is the oldest in this years release and people are worried that this might be the final year we see Brora in the Diageo Special release next year. This Scotch is matured in American-oak hogsheads and bottled at 51.9% ABV. There will be 5,000 bottles available worldwide with a suggested retails price per bottle of Cad $2,400.

Convalmore 1984 - 32 year old. The distillery closed in 1985 so this is a rare bottling that has been matured in refill American-oak hogsheads. Considering its age and the fact that the distillery has been closed for a long time, this might be the last year Convalmore is part of the Special release. It is bottled at 48.2% ABV and only 3,900 bottles will be available worldwide with a suggested retail price of Cad $2,000. 

Glen Elgin 1998 - 18 year old. This is an experimental whisky from a combination of European-oak bodega butts, hogsheads and refill butts. The production of the spirit is also unique because it was distilled from a wash fermented using pombe, which is commonly used to make millet beer. This Glen Elgin is bottled at 54.8% ABV with only 5,300 bottles available worldwide with a suggested retail price of Cad $490. 

Port Dundas 1964 - 52 year old. This is the most unique whisky in the line-up. It is the oldest ever released from the yearly Diageo line-up and it is a grain-whisky. The distillery is no longer in operation which makes it a rare bottle. It is bottled at 44.6% ABV with only 752 bottles available worldwide with a suggested retail price of Cad $1,290.

Teaninich 1999 - 17 year old. This year is Teaninich's 200th anniversary and this bottling celebrates that milestone. Teaninich recently made a lot of expansion and modernization in their distillery making this whisky a sort of throwback. It is bottled at 55.9% ABV with a suggested retail price of Cad $450.