Casks of Distinction boasts the most extensive cask resources and stringent selection criteria in the industry.
All single casks come from the inventory of original spirits from Diageo’s 48 distilleries, including those from defunct distilleries such as Port Ellen, Brora, and Convalmore. The total number exceeds ten million barrels, which is the first round of initial screening!
After the initial screening, the selected barrels undergo a three-year period of targeted sampling and further evaluation. Diageo’s master selectors determine the final choices after three years, and these barrels enter the list of candidates for the COD project.
Our COD Offering
Linkwood 1991
Aged 30 Years, Refill American Oak Hogshead 56.3%
This muscular Linkwood from a refill American oak hogshead offers both an elegant fragrance and weight on the palate. Top notes suggest crystallized angelica, decorating a fruit cake topped by flaked almonds. At natural strength, the nose-effect is spicy and drying. a drop of water introduces some fondant, with floral notes. The texture is thick and creamy-smooth, while the taste is very sweet and rich, with a dash of salt and a hint of cherry mid-palate. the long finish is drying, spicy and warming, with a sweet spiciness in the aftertaste.
Clynelish 1993
Aged 30 Years, Refill American Oak Hogshead 50.4%
This delightfully individual Clynelish was matured in an American oak hogshead. fragrant yet delicate, the nose unusually centers around fruity notes on a faint waxy base. hints of lemon, lime and an elderflower sorbet are joined by clean, freshly laundered linen and a greener note of celery salt. The waxiness re-appears as a smooth, coating mouthfeel, while the taste is sweet, with light acidity, suggesting a nutty pavlova topped with poached pear and kiwi fruit, green grape and sharp apple. of medium length, the finish is fresh and fruity, with a hint of white pepper.
Mortlach 1991
Aged 32 years, Refill European Oak Butt, 49.7%
This rich, full-bodied Mortlach was matured in a European oak butt. on the mellow nose, a vinous note brings hints of dried fig, prune and cherries in thick syrup. they are joined by polished mahogany, old leather seats and coffee grounds. dense and mouth-filling. the taste is rich with sweet hints of prune, dark chocolate, liquor ice and meaty Iberic ham, with its nutty earthiness. The long, opulent, dry finish is both sweet and savory. water brings more aromas of treacle toffee, coffee and dry fruit cake, adding a little black pepper to the finish.
Pittyvaich 1989
Aged 34 years, Refill European Oak, 56.5%
This deep amber Pittyvaich from a European oak butt opens quietly and has a savory aroma overall. the top notes suggest beeswax furniture polish and antique desk drawers, beneath which there is just a hint of dried fruit macerated in liquor on a faintly ashy base. The texture is lightly oily, while the lively taste starts sweet, fruity and grapey, soon becoming hot and spicy. Long and spicily drying, the finish leaves memories of sherry oak in the aftertaste. Adding a little water allows the richness and fruitiness more room to flourish.
Caol Ila 1983
Aged 40, European Oak Butt, 57.7%
Vigorous in feel and matured in a European oak butt, this full-on golden Caol Ila leads with maritime top notes that evoke a briny sea breeze. behind these, familiar scents of light smoke suggest the embers of a fading bonfire backed by equally reassuring hints of sticking plasters and woody spiciness. The big, smooth texture introduces a powerful, fruity taste that starts sweet, offers a good shake of salt mid-palate, and becomes smokier in the long, peppery finish. a dash of water brings up the sweetness and mellows the spiciness.
Oban 1993
Aged 30 years, Refill European Oak Butt, 55.3%
This deep amber Oban was matured in a European oak butt. the mild, drying nose has a rich top note of oloroso sherry. Behind lie spicy maritime hints of dry seaweed and dunes on a charred, waxy base. The texture is smooth and thick, while the taste is rich, sweet and fruity, with a hint of orange. soon, it dries, suggesting plums, before spiciness takes over. A splash of water dials up the sweetness, adding a pinch of salt. long and sweetly warming, the finish is crisp; now evoking liqueur chocolates, the fruitiness lingers in the pleasing aftertaste.
Royal Lochnagar 1978
Aged 45 years, American Oak Hogshead, 52.4%
This full gold royal Lochnagar from a refill hogshead is an unusually spicy example of this normally mild-mannered malt. the gentle nose has a mild feel, leaving an overall impression that is savory and faintly bosky, as with a bramble thicket or a beech mast. a drop of water introduces a suggestion of olives and olive oil. The texture is creamy-smooth; the taste shows sweetness and fruitiness but harmoniously also reveals a more savory and white pepper-spicy side to its nature. the finish is of medium length, drying and spicy.
Talisker 1986
Aged 35, Heavily Chared America Oak, 48.1%
This muscular Talisker from a freshly-charred American oak hogshead has a lively and appetizing aroma with spicy sandalwood and scented oil to the fore, over a faintly fruity and sweet complex of scents on a smoky-sooty base. full bodied. The texture is smoothly oily, while the vibrant taste is sweet, warming and soon more and more peppery drying after a dash of salt mid palate. A drop of water brings that smooth sweetness forward, while the pepper remains to balance it. The finish is long, spicy and warming, with the trademark twist of chilli.
Knockando 1991
Aged 32, First-Fill ex Sherry European Oak Butt, 45.8%
This dark amber Knockando from a first-fill ex-sherry butt is a subtle malt to enjoy at natural strength. Once the mild nose opens, the first impression is earthy and vegetal, as with a root vegetable. This fades into polished wood with a light dustiness and a glimpse of dry fruit cake with rich sherried fruit. It is quite light but smooth in texture, very sweet and fruity at first, then lightly sweet throughout, with fondant and a trace of butterscotch mid-palate. Appetizing, spicy tannins balance this. The finish is long, sweet and drying.
Singleton of Dufftown 1991
Aged 32, Refill European Oak Butt, 49.7%
This flavorful Singleton of Dufftown from a European Oak Butt bas a subtle and understated aroma but a big spicy taste. The mild nose has light, fruity aromas of dried fig and apple, rich toffee and a mint of black tea on a slightly mossy base that edges towards linseed oil. The texture is light and smooth, while the taste is sweet. then spicy; it is tannic and lively, with good balancing acidity. A dash of water does not affect these tastes but enhances the spiciness of medium length. The finish is crisp, spicy and noticeably drying.
Strathmill 1988
Aged 35, Refill American Oak Hogshead, 50.4%
This sophisticated Strathmill was matured in an American oak hogshead. the mild nose offers delicate fruity hints of fresh fruit salad, baked apple on a faintly dusty base, and then a little toffee. the texture is smooth, the taste intensely sweet yet soon appealingly acidic and fruity, with a spicy warmth and some balancing bitterness. the spiciness grows yet knows its place. surprisingly long, the lightly drying finish remains sweetly fruity. a small drop of water unites the various strands and adds fresh acidity to make the whole most appealing.