Diageo Launches Its Rare Series, Which Includes Its Oldest-Ever Single Malt

Diageo has announced the launch of Rare Series, a collection of distinctive aged single malts drawn from its inventory of 10 million casks from 30 different distilleries. The standout release in the series is a cask strength Glenury Royal 1970 55 year old, the oldest whisky ever released by Diageo. This initial collection includes five single malts selected by master blender Dr. Craig Wilson. Diageo’s global private client network will get first access to the prestige series, which includes expressions from Clynelish, Talisker, Caol Ila, and Blair Athol Distilleries. The series launched on April 30^th, with collectors invited to register their interest here.

Diageo Luxury Group was formed in 2024, with the purpose of shaping the future of luxury through innovation, craftsmanship, and encouraging connoisseurs to engage with scotch whisky through invitation-only events, world-class experiences, luxury travel, and the Johnnie Walker Vault platform. The launch of Rare Series carries the lineage of Diageo’s similar collections of curated high-end releases over the past 30 years, starting with the Rare Malts Series (initially launched in 1995 by Diageo forerunner company United Distillers), followed by Diageo Special Releases (launched 2001), Managers’ Choice (2009), Prima & Ultima (2020), and The Twelve by Casks of Distinction (2023). While past releases have often championed experimental whisky taking techniques, Rare Series is a more straightforward proposition. There will be further Rare Series releases over time, though no timetables have been specified. Compared to Prima & Ultima, the Rare Series debut collection is more restrained, with only five bottles, sold individually rather than as a set. That means the whole collection is less expensive to own, costing just over a quarter of the price of the last Prima & Ultima release. Whisky Advocate has full details on each bottling, with additional context on each expression within Diageo’s portfolio of past prestige releases.

Blair Athol 1991 34 year old Rare Series

Style: Highland single malt
ABV: 50.8%
SRP: $900
Global availability: 347 bottles
Maturation: Initially matured in refill European oak casks, and finished in Pedro Ximénez-seasoned new American oak hogsheads
Note: This distillery in Pitlochry appeared in the 2017 Diageo Special Releases with a 90-point Blair Athol 1993 23 year old.

Talisker 1992 33 year old Rare Series

Style: Island single malt
ABV: 60.1%
SRP: $1,300
Global availability: 331 bottles
Maturation: initially matured in refill American and European Oak casks, and then finished for over 20 years in Amoroso-seasoned American oak hogsheads

Note: This island distillery at Carbost on the Isle of Skye made regular appearances in the Diageo Special Releases from the beginning, which helped to establish the annual 30 year old release, and included a 92-point Talisker 1977 35 year old in the 2012 Diageo Special Releases and a 92-point Talisker 1985 27 year old in the 2013 Diageo Special Releases. Talisker appeared in all four Prima and Ultima collections, showcasing a 92-point Talisker 1988 31 year old, Talisker 1979 41 year old, a 93-point Talisker 1984 37 year old also selected by Dr Craig Wilson, and a 93-point Talisker 1976 46 year old. Talisker Casks of Distinction 1985 38 year old and Talisker Casks of Distinction 1990 28 year old single cask expressions have been released. Expressions over 40 years old were released in the Bodega series and the Xpedition Oak series, including the 92-point Talisker 43 year old Xpedition Oak and the 96-point Talisker 45 year old Glacial Edge. Diageo recently released a Talisker Magma 47 year old, its oldest release ever.

Caol Ila 1983 42 year old Rare Series

Style: Islay single malt
ABV: 56.4%
SRP: $3,000
Global availability: 318 bottles
Maturation: Initially matured in refill American oak hogsheads, then married in European oak puncheons
Note: The Rare Series’ only Islay whisky comes from Caol Ila in Port Askaig—and it’s the oldest expression Diageo has ever released from this distillery. Previously, they released a 93-point Caol Ila 1982 35 year old in the 2018 Diageo Special Releases, a 90-point Caol Ila 1984 35 year old in the Prima & Ultima first releases, and there is a Caol Ila 1983 33 year old Casks of Distinction release.

Clynelish 1983 42 year old Rare Series

Style: Highland single malt
ABV: 49.5%
SRP: $4,000
Global availability: 160 bottles
Maturation: Fully matured in American oak hogsheads
Note: This is the rarest expression in the Diageo Rare Series to date. Clynelish featured twice in the first and last Prima and Ultima collections, including a 90-point Clynelish 1993 26 year old and a 90 point Clynelish 1996 26 year old. There is an older Clynelish Casks of Distinction 1990 30 year old. Clynelish Select Reserve was a non-age statement release in the 2014 and 2015 Diageo Special Releases, and both expressions scored 88 points.

Glenury Royal 1970 55 year old Rare Series

Style: Highland single malt
ABV: 62.4%
SRP: $6,350
Global availability: 232 bottles
Maturation: Initially matured in American oak hogsheads, then married in European oak puncheons
Note: This is Diageo’s oldest ever whisky release, and it is the only ghost distillery release in the Rare Series. Glenury Royal Distillery in Stonehaven closed in 1985 and was subsequently demolished. The previous oldest release from this distillery was the Glenury Royal 1953 50 year old released in the 2003 Diageo Special Releases. Further expressions were released in the 2005 and 2007 Diageo Special Releases, but this is the first Diageo bottling from this distillery since the 89-point Glenury Royal 1970 40 year old in the 2011 Diageo Special Releases.