John Walker & Sons – the prestige collection from renowned whisky label Johnnie Walker – and Tasmanian distillery Sullivans Cove have both announced new limited releases to kick off the month of May.
The John Walker & Sons Private Collection 2017 edition, by Master Blender Jim Beveridge, is a limited release of 5,588 individually numbered decanters and is the fourth in a series that showcases the innovative spirit and craft of the label.
According to Diageo, The 2017 edition, Mastery of Oak, is “the first bottle in the series to celebrate the full richness that cask character can bring to Blended Scotch Whiskies.
“A sumptuous whisky with a rich abundance of oak and fruit notes, the 2017 edition comes in a clear decanter designed to mirror the halo effect of wood.”
The John Walker & Sons Private Collection 2017 Edition (46.8% ABV) is now available via Diageo (RRP $995).
Sullivans Cove Distillery’s ‘Special Cask’ is its first new single malt expression in a decade, showcasing exceptional singe casks different from the distillery’s regular French and American oak offerings. 
Sullivans Cove’s first ever release of Special Cask comes from a 300 litre French Oak barrel previously used to mature Australian Chardonnay. A first for the distillery, this white wine cask aged whisky has matured for just under ten years.
“Every once in a while we find something exceptional in our warehouse, in a different kind of barrel. It might be wine, virgin oak, refill or something else entirely, but if we decide to give it a green label, it is incredibly special and rare,” says Head Distiller for Sullivans Cove.
“Each barrel is unique, producing only a few hundred bottles of outstanding quality. So, each time another bottle of Sullivans Cove Special Cask is opened, a new page in the distillery’s story is turned.”
There are only a few hundred bottles of this rare malt (RRP $750) available, and the future Special Cask whiskies will only be released very occasionally.
Both of these premium releases come in the lead up to World Whisky Day, held annually on the third Saturday in May – falling on May 20 this year.
The day was founded in 2012 and has been officially recognised by the Scottish Parliament, and is a great opportunity for bars and retailers to celebrate all things whisky.
