In the spirit

Diageo’s highly-anticipated limited annual collection of impeccably crafted, rare and precious natural cask single malt Scotch whiskies celebrate global cultural collaboration.

14 April 2024

Diageo’s 2023 Special Releases Single Malt Scotch Collection, Spirited Xchange 2023, has launched in Australia.

Inviting whisky enthusiasts on a trip around the world, this extraordinary collection celebrates cultural collaboration, with a diverse range of single malt expressions inspired by eight countries across the globe.

Former Diageo Master Blender Stuart Morrison hand selected eight rare and collectable whiskies across a variety of ages and spirit characters. Collection highlights include Talisker Non Age Declared, The Wild Explorador, The Singleton 14 Year Old, The Silk Atelier, Lagavulin 12 Year Old, The Ink of Legends and Mortlach Non Age Declared, The Katana’s Edge.

Designed in collaboration with eight illustrators from around the world, Special Releases Spirited Xchange 2023 offers a unique cultural experience in each sip.

From France, Portugal, Mexico and Japan to the USA, China, Caribbean and the North Sea region, each illustrator was chosen to represent their craft and culture that inspired the liquid selection and cask finishing.

Kate McGraw, Diageo National Whisky Ambassador, ‘Spirited Xchange 2023’ Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection offers an exciting, new way to explore the diversity and depth of Scottish Whisky.

Kouzou Sakai's art style is characterised by his deep love and appreciation for nature, reflected in the Mortlach label.

Renowned Mexican illustrator Raul Urias brought the Lagavulin bottle to life.

To a Lagavulin at its most vigorous, delicious to drink and full of distillery character, the tequila finishing casks have brought indelible layers of bright, herbal smoke and dark plum fruit.

Rui Ricardo's signature style is a fusion of intricate realism and a nostalgic retro element, resulting in illustrations that are captivating and evocative.

The Singleton 14 Year Old, The Silk Atelier. Pierre Mornet's intricate patterns, attention to detail, and bold colours draw inspiration from Art Deco and Art Nouveau.

United by a love of exploration, the illustrators took inspiration from their individual cultures into the intricate designs that appear on the bottle labels.

Talisker – Talisker’s one-off label, designed by Rui Ricardo, fuses detailed realism with a nostalgic retro element.

The Singleton – Pierre Mornet, a contemporary French artist, lends his distinctive vintage-meets-modern aesthetic to The Singleton extraordinary label.

Lagavulin – Renowned Mexican illustrator Raul Urias brought the Lagavulin bottle to life with his blend of contemporary design with Mesoamerican aesthetics.

Mortlach – Kouzou Sakai’s art style is characterised by his deep love and appreciation for nature which is reflected in the Mortlach intricate design details of the label.

Comments Morrison, “For the Special Releases Spirited Xchange 2023 Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection, we pay homage to the exchange of ideas, discovery and inspiration of Scotch whisky and its makers as it reached new shores and the contemporary resonance it holds today. The finished collection is a testament to each distillery’s rich heritage.”

Kate McGraw, Diageo National Whisky Ambassador adds, “As the popularity of whisky continues to grow in Australia, Diageo’s Special Releases ‘Spirited Xchange 2023’ Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection offers an exciting, new way to explore the diversity and depth of Scottish Whisky.

“This collection looks at whisky through the lens of cultural and flavour collaboration, a unique tasting experience that combines some of the world’s most revered and treasured whisky distilleries with a modern sensibility.”

Special Releases Spirited Xchange 2023 Collection is priced from $170 to $599 and available in limited quantities from leading retailers and independent bottle shops.

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