94 points, “An incredibly complex creation using stock from Diageo’s 28 operational single malt distilleries.” – Whisky Advocate Whisky collectors and aficionados wait with bated breath for Diageo’s annual Special Releases; these are some of the world’s most sought-after single malts. So you can imagine the furore when it was announced that one of them would be an experimental, no-age statement blend. But this is no run-of-the-mill blend, this is Collectivum XVIII. Diageo has carefully curated malts from all 28 active Diageo-owned distilleries, from a mixture of Sherry and Bourbon and first-fill and refill barrels, and of varying ages, with the youngest component likely to be a 6 year old Roseisle – opened in 2010, this is the newest distillery in the portfolio. Not watered down, this is bottled at a cask strength of 58.3% and has immense complexity: chocolate-coated candied ginger, Christmas cake, apple sauce, Coco Pops, crème brûlée, pecan pie, cigar smoke, barbequed and buttered pineapple, manuka honey, sage honey, lemon zest, mixed peel, caramelised walnuts, and a liberal seasoning of Talisker’s fiery pepper and Clynelish’s sea salt. It’s astoundingly complicated stuff. Diageo’s master blenders have set a benchmark for blended whisky with this, and it’s going to be exceedingly difficult to improve on.

£22.46 per 100.00ml