Diageo Special Releases 2025 Review
As a whisky enthusiast, there are certain dates in the year that I eagerly look forward to. World Whisky Day is one, the festive season is another, and of course, there’s Diageo Special Releases Day, which is one of my all-time favourites.
Diageo, as you are no doubt aware, are global drinks giants. They’re a name synonymous with the drinks business, particularly when it comes to whisky. Each year, they bring out a selection of unique expressions that offer something a little more unique from their standard stock. This tradition first began in 2001 and proved to be an instant success. It has since become an eagerly anticipated annual event in the whisky calendar.
Each year, the whiskies released have a specific theme and help to showcase unique drams in a different light. This year’s collection, which only recently dropped, is called Horizons Unbound and was selected by Master Blender Dr Stuart Morrison. It puts ‘bold new takes’ on some of the brand’s most iconic single malts and is designed to push boundaries and showcase what can happen when whisky producers think outside the box and try something different.
Consisting of 8 single malt Scotch whiskies, here’s the GreatDrams review of Horizons Unbound, Diageo’s Special Releases 2025.
Clynelish 18 Year Old ‘Waxen Sun’ was matured in refill casks and includes spirit from Clynelish’s ‘pineapple cut’ which has helped give the dram a tropical, fruity, sharp feel.
Bottled at 51.3% ABV, on the nose it offers up aromas of pineapple sweets, early morning dew, burnt caramel, and lemon drizzle cake.
On the palate, there’s orange zest, orange blossom honey, pink peppercorns, peaches and cream, and a touch of pineapple upside down cake. I also picked up a hint of candied ginger.
The finish is medium in length and waxy, just as the name implies. There’s pumpkin spiced latte, white grapes, and a sprinkling of oak thrown in for good measure.
Up next, we have the Dailuaine 21 Years ‘Marbled Treasures’ which was one of my personal favs. This dram, which is the oldest of this year’s releases, has been matured in Spanish ex-sherry casks and was bottled at a toasty 54.3% ABV.
On the nose, this is very much what you’d expect from a sherry bomb. There’s iced Christmas pudding, dried sherry-soaked fruits, winter baking spices, and toasted almonds. A further sniff should reveal aromas of drinking chocolate, malt drink, and dark chocolate coated coffee beans. I could nose this all day!
On the palate, those sherry notes blast you in the face. There’re flavours of mixed berries, dates, honey-roasted figs, and lightly toasted oak. These tastes then disperse and make way for something sweeter. I got golden syrup sponge drenched in tinned custard, coupled with toffee apple and cinnamon.
The finish is lengthy with a great cloying mouthfeel. There are zingy citrus notes, along with leather, pipe tobacco, and baked plums. A hint of charred oak? Maybe, or that could be the pipe tobacco again.
The Singleton of Glen Ord 17 Year Old
We’re going ‘Into the Blue’ next, with this fantastic 17-year-old expression from The Singleton.
The Singleton of Glen Ord 17 Years ‘Into the Blue’ is probably the most unique release in this year’s lineup. I suspect it’s one of those drams which will prove very divisive. That’s because it was matured in a combination of sherry and mezcal casks.
Bottled at a fiery 55.5% ABV, and with a great copper shimmer to it, on the nose you get strong scents of lemon zest, cinnamon buns frosted with vanilla cream cheese, dark chocolate, bonfire cinder toffee, and summer meadow.
On the palate, you get more than a hint of smoke from the mezcal, which works great with flavours of mango and guava sorbet, heather honey, toasted coconut chips, and madeira cake. There’s also a distinct oakiness to this dram.
The finish is medium in length and surprisingly spicy. There’s cardamon and nutmeg, chocolate lime sweets, and Jamaican ginger cake.
Known as ‘Grain & Embers’ this 12-year-old expression from Lagavulin is another sherry-matured dram that was matured in a combination of Oloroso sherry and PX (Pedro Ximenez) oak butts.
On the nose, you get the ‘embers’ straight away. There’s a distinct salinity to this dram, with aromas of seaweed, brine, and smoked seafood. These are joined by scents of roasted pumpkin, baked apples, and oak-smoked pork shoulder.
On the palate, it’s very fiery, which is not surprising considering it’s bottled at 56.5% ABV. You get baked apples, toasted oatmeal, burnt caramel, lemon meringue pie, and nori seaweed. The smoky coastal elements then shine through and offer a distinct peaty, earthiness to this dram.
The finish is lengthy and really hits you with that smoke. If you love smoky Islay expressions, you’ll love this. Think of bonfire smoke, coffee and walnut cake, and sherry-soaked raisins and you’re definitely in the right ballpark.
We’re sticking with a maritime theme for now, as we’re now heading into the ‘Heart of the Harbour’ with this exceptional 12-year-old release from Oban.
This dram was matured in American oak ex-bourbon casks and was bottled at 54.7% ABV.
On the nose, you get the scent of fresh seaweed and sea salt. These are then joined by smoked lemon and thyme butter, honey, golden syrup flapjack and pecan and maple syrup cereal drenched in whole milk.
On the palate, a strong taste of aniseed and lemon pepper, alongside freshly baked banana bread, sea-salted caramel, star anise, nutmeg, fruit salad, evaporated milk, and roasted salted peanuts.
The finish is medium-short in length and offers up plenty of notes of baked fruit crumble, black pepper, smoked sea salt, and preserved lemons. Very refreshing this dram.
‘Harmonic Grace’ is the title of this 55.9% ABV 14 Years expression from Roseisle.
This dram is one of the more complex on the list today, as it was produced using a combination of different rejuvenated and refill casks. This year’s release promised to push boundaries, and it most certainly has thanks to this expression.
On the nose, you’re first rewarded with aromas of freshly baked bread and butter pudding, nutmeg, clove, and vanilla custard. As these aromas disperse, get your nose in again and you’ll get something completely different. I got orange and ginger cake, stewed plum compote, lightly toasted oak, and apricot jam.
On the palate, a lot of sweetness comes through, in the form of clotted cream fudge, Victoria sponge cake, dark chocolate, stem ginger, and liquorice. There’s almost a grassiness to this drop, which works surprisingly well with the other flavour profiles.
The finish is fairly brief and refreshing. It almost has a rye whiskey finish here as it’s quite spicy. There’s pink grapefruit, Szechuan peppercorns, and blue cheese, honey, and walnut tart.
Talisker ‘Molten Seas’ was another dram from this release that I was intrigued to try. It has been finished in American oak barrels which were toasted using the heat of volcanic rocks from the Isle of Skye.
On the nose, this 53.9% ABV whisky is another dram that’s heavy on the maritime notes. I got sea spray, freshly washed up seaweed, brine, and eucalyptus to begin with. These aromas are then met with bonfire embers, burnt caramel, charred oak chips, and angel fruit cake.
On the palate, there’s a distinctly herbal, earthy, mineral flavour to it. First you pick up fresh garden mint, lemon balm, and thyme. These flavours work in harmony with vanilla sugar, sweet oak, BBQ smoke, candied walnuts, and freshly grated orange zest.
The finish lingers and is very spicy. If you enjoy a rye whiskey, I suspect you’ll love this. First comes the gentle warmth of rainbow peppercorns and winter baking spices, combined with buttered toasted teacake coated liberally with chilli marmalade. There’s also a whisper of peat smoke here.
Teaninich 8 Year Old Single Grain
Finally, completing this lineup we have this 8-year-old ‘Daring Rye’ from Teaninich.
Matured in ex-bourbon casks, it’s most certainly daring. At 60.3% ABV, if you’re looking for a winter warmer, this is the drop for you.
On the nose, there’s a lot going on here. I picked up damp hay and freshly mowed grass, alongside pressed apples, scorched oak, toffee pennies, and pear drop sweets.
On the palate, digestive biscuits, apple, pear, and walnut chutney, blue cheese, and honey are immediately present. As time progresses, these make way for newer tastes and flavours. I picked up stem ginger, toasted fruitcake, coconut and lime cheesecake topped with meringue, and a suggestion of glacier cherries for more of a retro vibe.
The finish was surprisingly short given the ABV, but don’t let that fool you, it’s still fantastic. I got hints of spiced chai latte, baked apples and poached pears, alongside freshly made malted drinking chocolate.
If you’d like to learn more about your favourite whiskies, or simply treat yourself to a dram or two in the process, head on over to GreatDrams.com and take a look at the diverse selection of unique whiskies we currently have in stock.
With an impressive selection of limited-edition, rare, and award-winning whisky, as well as heaps of whisky info on our blog, it’s the perfect spot for any whisky lovers out there.
Greg
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