Diageo Special Releases: 10 Past Editions Collectors Still Chase

Ten past editions of the Diageo Special Releases still draw collectors: Port Ellen 22 (2001), Brora 30 (2002), Caol Ila 8 Unpeated Style (2006), Clynelish Select Reserve (2014), Talisker 8 and Cardhu 14 (2021), and Lagavulin 12, Cardhu 16, Oban 10 and Mortlach (2022). The series began in 2001 and draws on Diageo's single malt distilleries and closed stocks, so each edition has its own strength, casks and story.

Key Takeaways

• Diageo launched the Special Releases in 2001, and the series has been released each autumn since.

• Closed distillery names such as Port Ellen and Brora keep their collector following because the old stock is finite.

• First editions, such as the first Port Ellen in 2001 or unpeated Caol Ila in 2006, give a clear starting point for a run.

• Each edition has its own ABV and casks, so always check the year on the label.

• This article names no prices. Compare listings on Spiritory and look at fill level, label and closure before you bid.

Tip: Pick one distillery and collect it across several years rather than buying one bottle from every name. A run of Lagavulin 12 or Cardhu editions shows more about the series than a single famous label.

Port Ellen 22 Years Old, the First Port Ellen in the Series (2001)

Port Ellen is the name most collectors think of first. The Islay distillery closed in 1983, so its old stock cannot be replaced. The 22 years old distilled in 1979 was released in 2001, the first year of the series, and retailers list it at 56.2% ABV. By 2016 the series had reached its 16th Port Ellen release, according to Difford's Guide.

Why does it still draw interest? It is where the whole run of numbered Port Ellen releases starts, and complete runs are built from the first bottle. It suits collectors who like a clear starting point and care about history more than daily drinking. You can see the edition on Spiritory as the Port Ellen 22 Years Old 1st Release. Check fill level, label and capsule closely, as with any bottle of this age.

Brora 30 Years Old, Natural Cask Strength at 52.4% (2002)

Brora is a Highland distillery on the east coast that closed in 1983, like Port Ellen. Its 30 years old was released in 2002, described by The Whisky Exchange as the first Brora in the series. The Whisky Exchange and auction listings give the strength as 52.4% ABV, bottled at natural cask strength.

Collectors follow Brora because the stock is finite and the style is distinctive. The distillery is known for a waxy, sometimes smoky character, although those tasting notes vary by release and reviewer, so read several before you buy. The first release suits anyone who wants to compare the early 30 year releases with later, older ones. The Spiritory edition is the Brora 30 Years Old 1st Release. Because the bottle is more than twenty years old, ask about storage and fill level before you bid.

Caol Ila 8 Years Old Unpeated Style, Bottled in 2006 at 59.8%

Most people know Caol Ila as a smoky Islay malt. This bottling shows another side. Master of Malt describes the 2006 release as the first unpeated bottling from the distillery, following experiments with unpeated spirit. The Whisky Exchange lists it at 59.8% ABV.

It matters to collectors because it started a small series. Unpeated Caol Ila returned in later Special Releases, including a 15 years old in 2014, so the 2006 edition is where that chain begins. It suits drinkers who want an Islay name without the heavy smoke, and collectors who like tracing a style from its first appearance. Some tasters still report a trace of smoke even in the unpeated version, so expect a lighter, not a smoke free, dram. Spiritory lists the Caol Ila 8 Years Old Unpeated Style 2006.

Clynelish Select Reserve 2014 at 54.9%, Without an Age Statement

The Clynelish Select Reserve of 2014 carried no age statement. Whisky Advocate lists the strength at 54.9% ABV, with a mix of refill and bodega European oak and first fill, refill and rejuvenated American oak casks. A later edition followed in 2015, listed by The Whisky Exchange at 56.1%, so be careful not to mix the two up.

Collectors like it because it is the start of a short, clear line of Select Reserve releases. Clynelish has a loyal following for a waxy style, and the 2014 edition is an easy place to start. It suits a buyer who wants a Highland malt with a clear place in the series history, rather than a very old or very rare bottle. Check the year on the label. Spiritory lists the Clynelish Select Reserve 2014.

Talisker 8 Years Old, the 2021 Release at 59.7%

Talisker 8 Years Old was part of the 2021 collection, which Diageo called Legends Untold. Whisky Advocate and retail sources list the bottling at 59.7% ABV, taken from heavily peated refill casks. Talisker has released an eight year old at cask strength in several years, including 2018 and 2020, so the editions are close cousins.

Why do collectors still ask for it? The Skye distillery has a strong following, and a young, powerful, peppery malt is easy to enjoy as well as to collect. It suits someone who wants a Special Release to drink rather than to store. If you collect by year, note that each edition has its own strength, so compare the label before you buy. Spiritory lists the Talisker 8 Years Old Special Releases 2021, and you can also compare the 2018 and 2020 editions on the site.

Cardhu 14 Years Old, Finished in Red Wine Casks (2021)

Cardhu is a Speyside distillery better known for its core range, which makes a Special Release stand out. The 2021 edition is a 14 years old that matured in refill American oak and was then finished in red wine casks. Whisky Advocate lists the strength at 55.5% ABV.

Collectors chase it because Cardhu is not a name usually linked with cask strength bottlings, and the wine finish gives a style that is different from the usual sherry or bourbon story. It suits drinkers who enjoy a fruitier malt and collectors who like to fill gaps in a Speyside shelf. Because the series draws on 28 single malt distilleries, a Cardhu is a useful reminder that the range reaches well beyond the famous names. The bottle on Spiritory is the Cardhu 14 Years Old 2006 Special Releases 2021.

Lagavulin 12 Years Old, 57.3% in the 2022 Edition

Lagavulin 12 is a regular in the series, and the 2022 edition is listed at 57.3% ABV. According to WhiskyNotes, it combines virgin oak casks with some of Diageo's smokiest reserves. Earlier editions differ: the 2021 release, for instance, was bottled at 56.5% and matured entirely in refill American oak.

That year to year change is the reason collectors keep every edition. Each has its own strength and cask story, so a shelf of Lagavulin 12 reads like a short history of the series. It suits Islay fans who want a cask strength Lagavulin and enjoy comparing years. For the story of another Islay release, read our piece on the Lagavulin 11 Sweet Peat. You can find the Lagavulin 12 Years Old Special Releases 2022 on Spiritory.

Cardhu 16 Years Old, Finished in Jamaican Rum Casks (2022)

Cardhu returned in 2022 with a 16 years old finished in Jamaican pot still rum casks, bottled at 58% ABV according to WhiskyNotes. It sat in the 2022 collection alongside Lagavulin 12, Oban 10, Mortlach, Clynelish 12, Talisker 11, The Singleton of Glen Ord 15 and a Cameronbridge 26 year old single grain.

Collectors look at it for two reasons. Rum cask finishes are unusual in Scotch, and Cardhu is a quiet distillery in the Special Releases line up. It suits buyers who want a talking point rather than a famous label, and who enjoy sweeter, spiced styles. Tasting notes are best taken from the brand or from established reviewers, so check Decanter or Whisky Advocate before you decide. Spiritory lists the Cardhu 16 Years Old Special Releases 2022.

Oban 10 Years Old, Sherry and Amontillado Casks at 57.1% (2022)

Oban is a small West Highland distillery, and its 2022 Special Release was a 10 years old matured in ex sherry and Amontillado seasoned casks. WhiskyNotes lists the strength at 57.1% ABV. Oban appeared in several years of the series, with a 12 years old in 2021 and an 11 years old in 2023.

That regular presence is what attracts collectors who like to build a single distillery run. The 2022 edition is a younger, lively cask strength style that suits a buyer who wants an Oban different from the standard 14 years old. If you collect one distillery across years, note the age statement changes from edition to edition, and check each label. Spiritory lists the Oban 10 Years Old Special Release 2022.

Mortlach 2022, Tawny Port and Red Muscat Casks at 57.8%

Mortlach is a Speyside distillery with a firm following, and its 2022 Special Release carried no age statement. WhiskyNotes lists the strength at 57.8% ABV, with a finish in red Muscat and tawny Port casks, plus some whisky finished in virgin oak.

Collectors chase it because Mortlach has a reputation for a rich, meaty style, and a cask strength edition with wine casks gives a different angle on it. It suits drinkers who like fuller bodied malts and buyers who want one modern Special Release alongside the older Port Ellen and Brora editions. Recent years also saw Mortlach in the 2023 and 2024 collections, which gives a short run to follow. Spiritory lists the Mortlach Special Releases 2022.

Tip: For bottles from the early 2000s, ask for clear photos of the label, fill level and closure. Spiritory's experts check private seller bottles from photos before the buyer pays, which helps with older editions.

FAQ

When did the Diageo Special Releases begin?

According to Difford's Guide, Diageo launched the series in 2001, and new releases arrive each October. The first Port Ellen appeared in that year.

Which past editions started a run of releases?

Port Ellen 22 in 2001, Brora 30 in 2002 and unpeated Caol Ila 8 in 2006 each opened a line of later editions.

Why do the same names keep returning?

Collectors like to follow one distillery across years. Lagavulin 12, for example, appears in many editions, each with its own strength such as 56.5% in 2021 and 57.3% in 2022.

Where can I read about the current series?

Our guide to the Diageo Special Releases 2026 covers what to expect from this year's edition.