The Diageo Special Releases 2025 – Horizons Unbound Collection<\/p>\n
Diageo<\/p>\n
After spending a significant amount of time trying to find a cohesive list of new whisky (and whiskey) releases for this last month, I was frustrated that no such list seems to exist! There\u2019s individual articles announcing new whiskies, or information about some whiskies released across certain time periods, but I had no luck finding something that really covers the month very thoroughly.<\/p>\n
So I\u2019ve decided to create one (or several, actually).<\/p>\n
At the end of every month, I\u2019ll be collating to the best of my ability lists of new whiskies first released across the previous 30 days that I\u2019ll divide into three articles \u2014 USA\/Canada, Scotland\/Ireland, and Japan\/Rest of World \u2014 providing some basic information about each bottle.<\/p>\n
A few disclaimers: I\u2019ve found information on the below whiskies from a combination of sources, including emails and press releases sent to me, social media posts, ChatGPT searches, and good old-fashioned Googling.<\/p>\n
Notably (and perhaps frustratingly), I am leaving out all single cask releases as it\u2019s almost impossible to keep track of them \u2014 there\u2019s just too many! Unfortunately, this means a few significant releases<\/a> may not get featured, but I\u2019ll argue in my defence one of the joys of appreciating single cask whisky is the thrill of the hunt in finding something unique.<\/p>\n I\u2019m also certain I\u2019ve left out whiskies that should be here, and would love to know about them. Get in touch on Instagram<\/a> or BlueSky<\/a> to let me know what to add to these articles and I\u2019ll do my best to do so promptly.<\/p>\n Find this month\u2019s releases from USA\/Canada here<\/a> and Japan\/Rest of World here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Scotland October 2025 ReleasesArbikie Highland Rye \u201cArtist Edition 1\u201d \u2013 58.6% ABV, \u00a3250<\/a><\/p>\n One of the true field to glass distilleries, different varietals of rye, wheat, and barley grown on the distillery farm comprise the mash bill for this Scottish rye whisky. Four charred American oak casks were blended together before being \u2018enriched\u2019 in Calvados casks. The label art was painted by artist Francis Boag, and each bottle comes with a hand-signed print of the artwork. <\/p>\n Ardnahoe Cask Strength Batch 01 – 60.5% ABV, $85<\/a><\/p>\n This is the first ever cask strength offering from Islay-based Ardnahoe distillery. Five years old and matured entirely in first fill ex-Bourbon casks, this should be a punchy peated delight. <\/p>\n Cutty Sark 17 Years Old – 42.3% ABV, $120<\/a><\/p>\n A new addition to this iconic brand. The official explanation from master blender Stephen Woodcock is pretty thorough: \u201cTo create this rich blend, we first selected fine, aged Highland and Speyside single malts, and married them together for 17 months in hand-picked Sherry and Port casks.<\/p>\n \u201cThen we united those malts with Lowland grain whisky matured in first-fill Bourbon casks for exceptional creaminess. Bold, fruity and spicy, our 17 is an ocean of complexity, just waiting to be explored.\u201d<\/p>\n The Dalmore Cask Curation Series \u2014 The Red Wine Cask Edition (three-bottle set) \u2013 ABV varies, $44,450<\/a><\/p>\n The third release of the high end Cask Curation series, this is a pack of three bottles including 24, 34 and 43-year-old single malts finished in Ch\u00e2teau Mont-Redon Ch\u00e2teauneuf-du-Pape casks, with 150 packs available. <\/p>\n Diageo Special Releases 2025 Horizons Unbound \u2013 ABV varies, prices vary<\/a><\/p>\n This year\u2019s eight-bottle collection spans age statements from 8 to 21 years with unusual cask influences across distilleries Lagavulin, Talisker, Clynelish, Dailuaine, Roseisle, Oban, Teaninich and The Singleton of Glen Ord. Click here<\/a> for more specific information on the full collection. <\/p>\n Douglas Laing The Gauldrons Eclipse (Campbeltown blended malt) \u2013 52.9% ABV, $95<\/a><\/p>\n A blend of Campbeltown single malts (and there\u2019s only three excellent distilleries in Campbeltown to choose from) is then given an unusual finish in in orange wine casks. <\/p>\n Glenfiddich XS – 43% ABV, Prices vary<\/a><\/p>\n Three Glenfiddichs aged 15, 18, and 21 years old have been initially launched for the Chinese market, we\u2019ll see if they end up anywhere else. The 15 year old is aged in a combination of American and European oak casks and was given an Oloroso sherry cask finish. The 18 year old is similar, but finished in ex-Moscatel sherry while the 21 year old is finished in ex-Pedro Ximenez casks. <\/p>\n Glenlivet Cask Master\u2019s Collection – ABV varies, Prices vary<\/a><\/p>\n Another trio of whiskies, Glenlivet created these for the travel retail market. The 14 year old is matured in a mix of American and European oak, the 16 year old is matured entirely in American oak, while the 19 year old is finished in rare Scottish oak. <\/p>\n Highland Park Between You and I 16 Years Old \u2013 48% ABV, $190<\/a><\/p>\n A collaboration between Highland Park and 3-star Michelin chef Bj\u00f6rn Frantz\u00e9n, this 16 year old single malt is a mix of Swedish new oak casks, ex-bourbon casks and sherry-seasoned casks. The marketing campaign behind the whisky emphasizes finding your own tasting notes. <\/p>\n Kilchoman 100% Islay 11 Years Old Sherry Cask Matured \u2013 50% ABV, $120<\/a><\/p>\n Matured for 11 years in 16 ex-Oloroso sherry butts, this whisky was distilled from Islay barley harvested across 2011, 2012, and 2013. It\u2019s also one of the oldest Kilchoman whiskies released so far.<\/p>\n Torabhaig Sound of Sleat Batch Strength \u2013 60.2% ABV, $105<\/a><\/p>\n Named after for the strip of sea dividing the isle of Skye and the mainland, this whisky is the stronger version of Torabhaig\u2019s Sound of Sleat release. Matured in a mix of first fill and refill Bourbon casks as well as new oak, it\u2019s extremely heavily peated. <\/p>\n Woven Whisky \u201cThe House Blend\u201d \u2013 43.3% ABV, $53<\/a><\/p>\n A new budget-friendly release from the Leith blenders. This is a true \u2018world blend\u2019 mixing up Canadian and South African corn whiskies, Irish wheat grain whiskey, and sherried Speyside malts. <\/p>\n Ireland October 2025 ReleasesAchill Island PX Special Edition Single Malt \u2013 44% ABV, $55<\/a><\/p>\n Matured in Oloroso butts then finished in Pedro Xim\u00e9nez Sp\u00ednola 1918 casks; limited to 1,127 bottles. <\/p>\n Ballina Irish Single Malt D\u00fabailte Double Wood \u2013 43% ABV, $60<\/a><\/p>\n County Mayo\u2019s first whiskey distillery in 150 years, Ballina was formery the Connacht Distillery before being acquired by French company Terroir Spirits. The distillery is sure to win points with whisky geeks with its seven day fermentations. <\/p>\n Ballina Irish Single Malt Triarach Triple Wood \u2013 43% ABV, $60<\/a><\/p>\n Triple-distilled and triple-wood matured, featuring a combination of bourbon (50%), Oloroso sherry (40%) and ruby port (10%) casks. <\/p>\n Curraghmore The Single Estate 2025 Triple Cask Edition \u2013 46% ABV, $245<\/a><\/p>\n A triple-distilled pot still whiskey has been made grown from cereals on the Curraghmore estate, and then distilled by Great Northern Distillery. These whiskeys were then matured separately in virgin French oak, Oloroso sherry and ex-bourbon casks before blending together for a total of 2,822 bottles.<\/p>\n