First Look: Diageo's 2025 Special Releases Collection: Horizons Unbound

Each fall, single malt scotch savants are served a new collection of Special Releases from Diageo. These whiskies are collectible in nature as they are one-and-done releases, selected for some innovative or unusual quality that may not be recreated again. This year’s collection, Horizons Unbound, presents experimental takes on some of Diageo’s most iconic single malt and single grain whiskies; this includes a mezcal cask-finished whisky from The Singleton, a Talisker malt matured in volcanic rock-toasted American oak, and a single grain from Teaninich, as well as four others. The collection was curated by master blender Dr. Stuart Morrison.

Bottles of the 2025 Special Releases are available now on malts.com and at select retailers.

Diageo 2025 Special Releases: Horizons Unbound

Talisker Molten Seas

ABV: 53.7%
SRP: $185

This 14 year old was matured in bourbon barrels before finishing in new American oak that was toasted by the heat of volcanic rocks from the Isle of Skye (where the distillery is located). This is the first time Talisker has experimented with volcanic rocks for an element of maturation.

Lagavulin Grain & Embers

ABV: 56.4%
SRP: $180

This 12 year old Islay single malt was aged in a combination of refill casks and pedro ximénez and oloroso sherry butts. The use of both sherry and refill casks brings a sweetness to the typically smoky, savory Lagavulin.

Oban Heart of the Harbour

ABV: 55.3%
SRP: $150

Highlands distillery Oban matured this 12 year old single malt in bourbon barrels. Diageo is billing it as an especially warming iteration of the coastal dram.

Dailuaine Marbled Treasures

ABV: 54.8%
SRP: $500

The oldest and most expensive whisky of the bunch this year, this 21 year old Speyside single malt aged entirely in sherry casks. Dailuaine is not a recurring Special Releases character; it last appeared in the 2015 lineup.

Roseisle Harmonic Grace

ABV: 54%
SRP: $175

At 14 years old, this is the oldest Roseisle ever released. This year’s bottling aged in a combination of refill and rejuvenated (referring to barrels that have been shaved, toasted, and re-charred) casks.

Clynelish Waxen Sun

ABV: 51.3%
SRP: $250

This 18 year old Highland single malt matured in refill casks. In a unique twist, it features liquid from what Clynelish is calling “pineapple cut” experiments, wherein cuts were made unusually early during distillation, resulting in pronounced tropical notes.

The Singleton of Glen Ord Into the Blue

ABV: 56.2%
SRP: $200

This is a combination of two 17 year old whiskies: one matured in refill casks for 12 years and finished for 5 years in second-fill sherry butts, while the other aged in refill casks for 14 years before being moved to mezcal casks for 3 years.

Teaninich Daring Rye

ABV: 59.3%
SRP: $100

It’s not often a whisky other than single malt appears in a Special Releases collection, but Teaninich has delivered one this year. The 8 year old single grain whisky marks a distillery-first experiment, in which Teaninich mashed both malted rye and barley, then aged the distillate in bourbon barrels.