07 Mar 2024
Diageo’s highly anticipated 2023 Special Releases Single Malt Scotch Collection, ‘Spirited Xchange 2023’, has launched in Australia. Inviting whisky enthusiasts on a trip around the world, this extraordinary collection celebrates cultural collaboration, with a diverse range of single malt expressions inspired by eight countries across the globe.
Former Diageo Master Blender Stuart Morrison hand selected eight rare and collectable whiskies across a variety of ages and spirit characters. Collection highlights include Talisker Non Age Declared, The Wild Explorador, The Singleton 14 Year Old, The Silk Atelier, Lagavulin 12 Year Old, The Ink of Legends and Mortlach Non Age Declared, The Katana’s Edge. This worldly collection also marks the debut offering from the esteemed Roseisle distillery, alongside the inclusion of Glenkinchie 27 Year Old, The Floral Treasure, one of the most mature bottlings ever released from this renowned Lowland distillery.
Designed in collaboration with eight illustrators from around the world, Special Releases ‘Spirited Xchange 2023’ offers a unique cultural experience in each sip. From France, Portugal, Mexico and Japan to the USA, China, Caribbean and the North Sea region, each illustrator was chosen to represent their craft and culture that inspired the liquid selection and cask finishing.
United by a love of exploration, the illustrators took inspiration from their individual cultures into the intricate designs that appear on the bottle labels. Highlights include:
Talisker: Talisker’s one-off label, designed by Rui Ricardo, fuses detailed realism with a nostalgic retro element.
The Singleton: Pierre Mornet, a contemporary French artist, lends his distinctive vintage-meets-modern aesthetic to The Singleton extraordinary label.
Lagavulin: Renowned Mexican illustrator Raul Urias brought the Lagavulin bottle to life with his blend of contemporary design with Mesoamerican aesthetics.
Mortlach: Kouzou Sakai's art style is characterised by his deep love and appreciation for nature which is reflected in the Mortlach intricate design details of the label.
Comments Morrison; “For the Special Releases ‘Spirited Xchange 2023’ Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection, we pay homage to the exchange of ideas, discovery and inspiration of Scotch whisky and its makers as it reached new shores and the contemporary resonance it holds today. The finished collection is a testament to each distillery’s rich heritage.”
Kate McGraw, Diageo National Whisky Ambassador, adds: “As the popularity of whisky continues to grow in Australia, Diageo’s Special Releases ‘Spirited Xchange 2023’ Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection offers an exciting, new way to explore the diversity and depth of Scottish Whisky. This collection looks at whisky through the lens of cultural and flavour collaboration, a unique tasting experience that combines some of the world’s most revered and treasured whisky distilleries with a modern sensibility.”
Special Releases ‘Spirited Xchange 2023’ Collection:
Singleton 14 Year Old, The Silk Atelier (France) $170
Talisker Non Age Declared, The Wild Explorador (Portugal) $170
Lagavulin 12 Year Old, The Ink of Legends (Mexico) $220
Mortlach Non Age Declared, The Katana’s Edge (Japan) $399
Clynelish 10 Year Old, The Jazz Crescendo (USA) $240
Glenkinchie 27 Year Old, The Floral Treasure (China) $599
Oban 11 Year Old, The Soul of Calypso (Caribbean) $199
Roseisle 12 Year Old, The Soaring Kite (North Sea/ Scandinavia) $170
The 2023 ‘Spirited Xchange’ Special Releases Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection is available in limited quantities from leading retailers and independent bottle shops.
