THE CONCEPT

Elusive Expressions is the latest chapter in Special Releases where mythical beasts are unleased through striking artwork and stories. Illustrator Ken Taylor returns this year with his signature style and is joined by fellow digital visualisation artist Kevin Tong, as they partner to create designs that hero our brand protagonists, fusing fantasy, art and whisky.

Brands come to life through our most unconventional and immersive storytelling yet – the Elusive Expressions Cocktails and Serves book. Explored in a bold graphic-novel style, cocktail-making is reframed through characters and journeys. Carefully created by our Brand Ambassadors, each cocktail and serve highlights the whisky collection for fans to recreate at home and enter a new world of Special Releases.

Whisky lovers are invited to step into the artwork of our dark and vivid world through the digital experience. Activated via QR code, doorways offer a glimpse into an alternative universe, fans will be able to interact with the collection and experience each brand’s story in the most immersive way yet.

THE WHISKIES

Pouring from some of our oldest whisky dynasties in Scotland, this year’s collection pushes the boundaries of flavour uncovering treasures and rare finds in limited quantities. This cask-strength whisky collection embraces prominent contrasts, experimenting with extended secondary maturation techniques and new cask finishes including Tawny Port and Red Muscato casks to impart different flavours for fans of the distilleries to enjoy.

Offering layers of luminous flavour, the collection includes:

• The dark, sweet, and rich Mortlach, with gingery depth, unique to the Speyside Dufftown distillery
• A lively sweet expression of The Singleton of Glen Ord, aged in refill American and European Oak, then double matured in wine-seasoned casks
• A true expression of Lagavulin, matured in a combination of virgin oak casks and our smokiest reserves
• Talisker 11-Year-Old, elemental yet also classic in character with maritime malty smokiness notes
• An unusual Clynelish with just a slight trace of waxiness and added sweetness and spiciness from a maturation in refill American Oak, then finished in PX/Oloroso seasoned casks
• A rare expression of Cardhu, finished in Jamaican Rum casks for a vibrant tropical sweetness
• The creamy smooth Oban 10-Year-Old with richly sweet fruitiness, light smoke and salt notes
• And for the first time ever, the rich and exquisite Cameronbridge 26-Year-Old

The 2022 Special Releases collection will be available in limited quantities from specialist Scotch whisky retailers and malts.com from 1^st October 2022.