DIAGEO SPECIAL RELEASES 2020 - REVIEWS

The 8 Special Releases for 2020 © Diageo Press Kit

Very recently an invitation to join a virtual tasting of the Diageo Special Releases 2020 found its way into my mailbox - an invite hard to ignore and meaning a very nicely packaged tasting kit was received and an online link was provided.

How did I approach this tasting?

The tasting kit contained 8 x 3cl of each whisky.
The first 1-1½cl were tasted and preliminary notes were taken during the online event itself - mainly nosing notes were taken along with a few tasting notes.
Then 2 hours after the tasting and a thorough palate-cleansing, more serious work was put into the notes, on both smell and taste and I'll let you know right away - this changed my first perception quite a bit on more than a couple of the whiskies.

Before you scroll down and try to find scores on each of the bottles, then I have to disappoint you this time. I have not scored these, but reading my notes and finishing comments should still give you an idea of what I think of each whisky.

Cardhu 2008 11yo 56% Refill and new ex-bourbon hogsheads

Nose:

A good sweet malty edge with some white garden fruit and juice from mixed tinned fruits

Palate:
The palate shows quite some active wood, very much citrussy notes, honey and
malt

Water brings out more vanilla on the nose but increases the spiciness on the palate. A very refreshing and nice Cardhu but lacking a bit compared to the Special Release from 2019

Singleton of Dufftown 2002 17yo 55,1% Refill American Oak Hogsheads

Nose:

Lovely fresh and grassy, some vanilla and citrus ripe honey melon. also a dusty note in there...

Taste:
Quite sweet and honeyed, still... some garden fruit and fresh ginger coming through

Almost too sweet in the long run but a nice surprise in this otherwise impressive lineup. 

Dalwhinnie 1989 30yo 51,9% Refill ex-bourbon hogsheads

Nose:
Lovely old bourbon cask style nose, Lots of honey, boiled fruits and oak spice. Also in there a slight mineral and olive oil note along with a slight hint of wet newspaper

Taste:
I may be a bit sentimental here as Dalwhinnie 15 was one of my first single malts 20 years ago, but I was instantly taken back to that time. Honeyed, a slight mineral note, good spirit feel - citrus and pears

Do I even detect a slight hint of smoke on the very long finish of this?

A lovely, lovely dram! Yes, I'm a bit sentimental about Dalwhinnie since it was one of my first malts but this is indeed a very nice dram. I'd rush out and buy a bottle if it wasn't for its very high price tag.

Pittyvaich 1989 30yo 50,8% Refill casks finished in 1st fill ex-bourbon casks

Very different to begin with - will probably need time

Nose:
Initially some mint, herb garden, very malty
Returning to pour the rest this after a good 4 hours the nose has now shed all its distinctiveness and returned to more classic old whisky notes
Mellow and wet oak, lightly scented candle wax, tinned peaches and malt

Taste:
The palate carries a huge malty profile, along with overripe banana wet hops turning into a very ale-like on the finish

This is one of those drams that are really hard to decode but I do know I've really enjoyed this. And it's certainly better than the old 2009 Special Release...

Mortlach 1999 21yo 56,9% finished in toasted PX and Oloroso sherry casks

Nose:
Nice and characterful nose not drowned entirely in sherry.
Also, no sulfur from the sherry cask finishing - a big plus!

Quite a heavy nose, in fact, as one would expect from a Mortlach but the sherry is pretty much kept in the background. Instead, it's promoting a lovely array of fruity notes.

Taste:
Lovely heavy arrival, thick and rich - and quite waxy - is this a Clynelish? (Just Joking)

The sherry is more pronounced on the palate but in no way invasive - only a slight drying and bitter note on the finish reveals its presence.

As pleasant as this is, I can't help feel that this is also a bit one-dimensional as it never strays from a very fine line of fruity notes and some oak spice.
This is also a dram I think many people would take a liking to but sadly this also carries quite a hefty price tag.

Cragganmore 1999 20yo 55,8% Refill and new freshly charred ex-bourbon hogsheads

Nose:
A heavier than normal style for Cragganmore if you ask me - Are the re-charred casks speaking quite loud here?

Getting a hint of red berries but with burnt orange notes taking over and delivering something resembling sherry cask influence even though the official cask make-up says otherwise. (those re-charred casks again?) 

Think dark honey, slightly burnt caramel - think creme brulee. Also getting very sweet dessert wine notes. Very expressive!

Taste:
Quite a traditional Speyside whisky arrival turning towards darker notes straight away. I feel that this is very much cask driven and not so much letting the Cragganmore spirit shine. This is like going half-way with caramel Macchiato maybe? Also licorice root and added walnut for extra bitterness.

I was initially impressed with this, especially with its nose but the palate lets this one down a bit after a re-taste. Just too bitter and out of balance for me. Is it bad? no - just not my kinda preferred profile.

Talisker 2011 8yo 57,9% Refill casks finished in Caribbean Rum Casks

Nose:
Drying smoke, seaside salt, bbq flavored crisps with a hint of vanilla and cracked white peppers. Also a hint of white wine downwind from a garden bonfire.

Taste:
Very drying on arrival - is this distillate driven? If yes, I would like some more cask influence, please... sweet peat, notes of white rum indeed along with some vanilla influence. Salty green olives and rocket salad bitterness.

A bit disappointed to be honest having tried a few young Taliskers over the years.
I so much more prefer the excellent Special Release 2018 8yo over this any day!

Lagavulin 2007 12 56,4% Refill hogsheads and butts

Nose:
A more delicate Laga12 than some of the previous years' releases? Certainly less smoky/peaty and 'in your face'. Notes on bbq'ed burnt lemon slices, smoked mustard glazed ham, peat bog after the rain and wet gravel

Taste:
Great arrival on peat, olives in seawater, some mineral note (chalk?) More lemony notes coming through as well - all finishing on a smoked paprika note

A Laga12 a bit out of the ordinary style - quite refreshing, IMO

Conclusion:
There are no bad whiskies here. All range from good to excellent.
Sadly, some of these whiskies carry a price tag higher than your average whisky drinker is willing to spend- but maybe that's why they're bottled in the Special Release series. All are bottled in limited numbers - but still in the several 1000s.

I hope you've enjoyed my review of the DSRs for 2020

Official samples were provided by Diageo Denmark. All pictures from the official Diageo Press Kit