Diageo Special Releases

[LostBottle]

Diageo has announced the 2013 special releases. As was the case in 2012, they once again substantially raised prices on some items. There is now a 37 year Lagavulin priced at a breathtaking £1,950. The new Port Ellen is £1,500 - take a look at the Port Ellen price history:

2010: Port Ellen 10th...34yo.....£250

2011: Port Ellen 11th....32yo.....£350.....40% YOY price increase

2012: Port Ellen 12th....32yo.....£600.....71% YOY price increase

2013: Port Ellen 13th....34yo...£1,500...150% YOY price increase

[ChainWhip]

To infinity, and beyond!

[LostBottle]

To infinity, and beyond!

This looks to be more correct than you might think. Take a look at the second derivative and you will see the rate of change (YOY price increase) nearly doubled each of the last three years. Port Ellen is on an exponential growth trajectory! Doing the math this would mean that with current trends:

2010: Port Ellen 10th...34yo......£250

2011: Port Ellen 11th....32yo......£350.....40% YOY price increase

2012: Port Ellen 12th....32yo......£600.....71% YOY price increase

2013: Port Ellen 13th....34yo....£1,500...150% YOY price increase

2014: Port Ellen 14th....32yo....£6,000...300% YOY price increase

Quite obviously, this will not happen, but it goes to show how unsustainable and out of control these price increases are.

[smokinjoe]

This looks to be more correct than you might think. Take a look at the second derivative and you will see the rate of change (YOY price increase) nearly doubled each of the last three years. Port Ellen is on an exponential growth trajectory! Doing the math this would mean that with current trends:

2010: Port Ellen 10th...34yo......£250

2011: Port Ellen 11th....32yo......£350.....40% YOY price increase

2012: Port Ellen 12th....32yo......£600.....71% YOY price increase

2013: Port Ellen 13th....34yo....£1,500...150% YOY price increase

2014: Port Ellen 14th....32yo....£6,000...300% YOY price increase

Quite obviously, this will not happen, but it goes to show how unsustainable and out of control these price increases are.

Not unsustainable so far!!

[tanstaafl2]

Some commentary on the subject: "Whiskey for Fools"

[LostBottle]

I am of two minds about this Port Ellen price increase. On one hand, it drives the price well beyond the reach of most people, which is a bit sad. However, the reality is that the price was already pretty much at that point and many bottles were being sold on the secondary market for extravagant sums anyway. This new price increase effectively drives speculators out of the market and put the profits directly in the hands of the producer - better to have someone who actually had a hand in producing the product see the proceeds than some rent-seeking middleman who did nothing...

[theglobalguy]

Agreed, and for a quick history lesson on my behalf. Is the driver of the price the age, or more to the fact it's a long gone distillery?

[LostBottle]

The Port Ellen phenomenon is the culmination of the facts it is a good malt of substantial age, it is a silent distillery with shrinking stocks, and the general whisky madness that has pervaded the globe. These have all combined to turn it into the obscure darling of the Scotch world - the trophy bottle.

In regards to the remaining stocks, Diageo has been very cagey on this issue; some speculate there is more PE left than what they let on as they have been claiming low supply for years now. I know Diageo was aggressively buying back Port Ellen stock from independents. I would guess they paid a high price for some of it as they wanted to own the PE market to ensure continued releases while also eliminating some competition and allowing them to charge at will.

Perhaps some of the price increase is recouping increased cask costs, perhaps some of it simply increasing profit margins because they know they can get it. The bottom line is that I have no doubt that even into this new four figures pricing, this will not be found on the shelf - I am just wondering how far they can actually push the envelope.

[LostBottle]

The Diageo Special Releases went on sale at 6am PST this morning at Royal Mile Whiskies (pre-orders). Even with the new pricing scheme, the Port Ellen 13th and the Lagavulin 37 look to have sold out within minutes.

Edited November 11, 2013 by LostBottle

[MtnDew]

The Diageo Special Releases went on sale at 6am PST this morning at Royal Mile Whiskies (pre-orders). Even with the new pricing scheme, the Port Ellen 13th and the Lagavulin 37 look to have sold out within minutes.

How many bottles of each did you order?

[Trey Manthey]

On the more reasonable side of the pricing scale, anyone try the Distiller's Edition releases for this year?

[Yeti]

On the more reasonable side of the pricing scale, anyone try the Distiller's Edition releases for this year?

I haven't seen them at my normal spots but I buy the Lag 12 and DE each year. Can anyone vouch for CI or Tali DE over the regular 12 and 10 releases?

[tanstaafl2]

I haven't seen them at my normal spots but I buy the Lag 12 and DE each year. Can anyone vouch for CI or Tali DE over the regular 12 and 10 releases?

I like the Talisker DE over the 10 and have at least three different DE years in the house that I have sought out. I think my most recent one is the TD-S:50A from 2012. I like the 10 as well but I happily admit to being a fan of a sherry finish as a general rule. I also liked the new slightly peater Storm but of course like most things it seems too expensive for what it is and so it won't likely be a regular buy. Instead I look for older bottles of 10, 18 and DE still at something close to the older price point when I can find it. Bought about 8 gift packs of 200ml 10, 18 and an older DE from 2005 (TD-S:5NZ 1992/2005) that is a bit older than the current DE's that will keep me busy for awhile.

There is also a Talisker "Dark Storm" which is retail travel only and has gotten some good reviews. Of course my only recent international travel was to Peru which is too much of a backwater country to have something new like this available. I would probably give it a try if I saw it.

[LostBottle]

Not to be overly picky, but the distiller's editions are not considered part of Diageo's Special Releases range; they are part of their core portfolio.

As to the questions, I am sure the Lagavulin DE will be good this year - it always is with that balance of peat and sherry. I normally cannot stand PX sherry, but the Lagavulin distillate holds up well against the (usually) cloying sweetness. The Talisker is usually not too bad either and uses a bit drier sherry. Neither are a daily dram, but they are a nice change of pace on two profiles I very much enjoy.

Edited November 12, 2013 by LostBottle

[Trey Manthey]

I'm not a fan of the Talisker DE. I went to a tasting last year that had the regular and DE versions of Oban, Lagavulin, Talisker and Dalwhinnie. The Talisker was the only one that I felt was a step down from the core bottling. I posted some detailed tasting notes last year, but I'm having trouble finding them.

[LostBottle]

I'm not a fan of the Talisker DE. I went to a tasting last year that had the regular and DE versions of Oban, Lagavulin, Talisker and Dalwhinnie. The Talisker was the only one that I felt was a step down from the core bottling. I posted some detailed tasting notes last year, but I'm having trouble finding them.

[Yeti]

I get a baking chocolate note in the Lagavulin DE that I really enjoy, but I don't necessarily think it to be superior to the standard 16 year.

[chrisg]

Does RMW ship to the USA again?

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[ChainWhip]

I'm trying to ignore the Diageo special releases - thx LB...

[LostBottle]

Does RMW ship to the USA again?

They do, but they advise they cannot guarantee safe delivery and you do so at your own risk. If available, I would order from Master of Malt, The Whisky Exchange, or my personal favorite, Hedonism Wines (phenomenal service, this is who I buy from).

[chrisg]

I have not used Hedonism. I will have to check them out. Thanks!

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[AaronWF]

my personal favorite, Hedonism Wines (phenomenal service, this is who I buy from).

Bookmarked! Oh boy oh boy oh boy, I bet my ship's about to come in any day now!!

[LostBottle]

Bookmarked! Oh boy oh boy oh boy, I bet my ship's about to come in any day now!!

Yes, definitely use them. Just to clarify though, I tend to use them more for wine (as they are one of the few places with a great selection of well-curated first-growth Bordeaux) than whisky. That said, if they get wine right, whisky is a piece of cake and you will be pleased with their service.

Edited November 13, 2013 by LostBottle

[ChainWhip]

2013 Tasting notes from Master of Malt:

http://www.masterofmalt.com/Blog/post/The-Diageo-Special-Releases-2013-Yeah-Boyeee.aspx

[LostBottle]

The Whisky Exchange posted their notes a few weeks back too.

http://blog.thewhiskyexchange.com/2013/10/diageo-special-releases-2013/''>http://blog.thewhiskyexchange.com/2013/10/diageo-special-releases-2013/' rel="external nofollow">

http://blog.thewhiskyexchange.com/2013/10/diageo-special-releases-2013/

Edited November 26, 2013 by LostBottle