As 2024 draws to a close, it seems appropriate to reflect on the year that was. The whisky world is no different, and there have been some exceptional releases over the past 12 months, both at the budget end of the scale and in the rare and premium sectors.
So, to help you separate the wheat from the chaff, we’ve highlighted the six best new bottlings released this year below. Bottoms up.
Bushmills | 36 Years Old Hill Street Edition
Irish whiskey is currently undergoing somewhat of a renaissance. But its history is far more turbulent. Amidst all of this, one distillery has endured: Bushmills, which is up on Northern Ireland’s Co. Antrim coast near The Giant’s Causeway.
For over four centuries, they have been distilling at Bushmills, meaning they have some of the oldest maturing stocks of Irish whiskey available. And from deep in their warehouses comes this high-aged beauty, released for the legendary Belfast-based retailer The Friend at Hand.
This triple-distilled single malt represents the last spirit from 1986 in Bushmills’ portfolio and has seen ex-Oloroso sherry cask maturation throughout. There are just 208 bottles. Cedar and sandalwood combine with cinnamon and clove to accentuate sweeter and fruitier notes—imagine lush, ripe tropical fruits, juicy dried fruits, hazelnut and a hint of mocha.
It is a fabulous example of what old Irish whiskey can be like.
Available at The Friend at Hand. 35-43 Hill St, Belfast, BT1 2PB
Caol Ila | Ambrosial Feast 11 Years Old
When you think of Caol Ila and its home island of Islay, most will have smoke and peat at the forefront of their mind. However, occasionally, some of the 10 distilleries located on ‘The Queen of the Hebrides’ produce whiskies that lack this usual characteristic.
This superb offering is one such example. It uses a small pocket of rare unpeated spirit, which is no longer produced at Caol Ila. The whisky has benefitted from maturing in American oak ex-bourbon barrels and ex-red wine casks.
Taking Caol Ila’s signature ash-like peat smoke away reveals a wonderful sweetness and fruitiness in the spirit—think of green apple and candied orange married with butterscotch, golden syrup and fresh honeycomb. Buttery popcorn also sits underneath and is complimented by malty biscuits and a pinch of cracked black pepper.
This delicious treat offers a rare insight into the distillery’s production history.
Available at The Whisky Exchange
Glenmorangie | The Original 12 Years Old
The Original has been the cornerstone of the north Highland distillery of Glenmorangie’s range for decades. So why feature it here? The previous 10-year-old incarnation had remained largely unchanged since the 1950s, but this year saw the brand take the bold step of increasing the age with two extra years of maturation.
This new 12 years old version boasts the same cask make up (100% ex-bourbon barrels) and strength (40% ABV) and has a barely noticeable price increase. Essentially it is the same whisky but simply two years older. But boy, they have done an excellent job.
This is silkier, softer and creamier with a wonderfully uplifting nose and palate – aromas of mandarin orange, ripe peach and vanilla fudge are joined by flavours of fresh coconut, butterscotch and gingerbread spice. It is not easy to reinvent such a popular classic, but this is a triumph for Glenmorangie.
Available at Master of Malt
Johnnie Walker | 52 Years Old
The Johnnie Walker blends are the world’s best-selling Scotch whiskies. Their vast range, both in domestic and travel retail markets, fuels this and helps the brand outsell its nearest competitor by two-to-one.
However, every so often a premium limited edition joins the party and shows off some of owner Diageo’s old and rare stocks, plus the skills of their blending team. This is the oldest creation to date from Emma Walker, the recently anointed Master Blender.
The 52 years old uses six rare Highland single malts, including the closed distilleries of Brora and Glen Albyn and two very old single grains from Cambus and Carsebridge. The result is extraordinary and has incredible depth and complexity – dusty cocoa powder, dried apricot and spiced plum notes marry superbly with hazelnut praline, elegant gentle peat smoke and hints of blackcurrant and candied ginger.
Sublime.
Available through Diageo private client teams and selected luxury retail outlets.
Mossburn | 12 Years Old Calvados Cask Finish
Independent bottlers and distillers (they own the up-and-coming craft distillery of Torabhaig on the Isle of Skye), Mossburn is fast making a name for itself with a series of whiskies that use unorthodox cask types for maturation.
This delicious example is the second bottling in their Cask Collaboration Series, which sees them team up with other craft distillers around the globe. The first saw their award-winning Speyside blended malt finished in Foursquare rum barrels from Barbados.
This latest bottling is again a blended malt made only from Speyside single malts, finished in French oak ex-Calvados apple brandy casks sourced from France. Mossburn has joined forces with esteemed Calvados maker Domaine Dupont in Normandy.
Expect notes of golden syrup, baked apple and juicy sultana. Fabulous.
Available at Master of Malt
Wild Turkey | Jimmy Russell 70th Anniversary 8 Years Old
The American whiskey scene is booming, thanks mainly to a thriving craft and artisan distilling movement. But while this is giving the market many new and exciting products, it is important to remember the country’s whiskey making history and heritage.
Wild Turkey is one of the best-selling bourbon brands and is from the traditional heartland of Kentucky. Jimmy Russell began working with the brand during its infancy in the early 1950s and has become a Bourbon Hall of Famer. He is a living legend.
This bottling was created by his son and grandson, Eddie and Bruce Russell, who both work at the distillery. They selected barrels from Jimmy’s favourite rickhouse to commemorate his staggering 70 years of service.
This is bourbon on steroids – imagine vanilla toffee, candied orange, marzipan and cherry with hints of warming wood spices and old cigar box.
A fitting tribute to a whiskey icon.
Available at Wild Turkey
