The Diageo Special Releases 2025 – Horizons Unbound Collection
Diageo
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’s 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.
So I’ve decided to create one (or several, actually).
At the end of every month, I’ll be collating to the best of my ability lists of new whiskies first released across the previous 30 days that I’ll divide into three articles — USA/Canada, Scotland/Ireland, and Japan/Rest of World — providing some basic information about each bottle.
A few disclaimers: I’ve 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.
Notably (and perhaps frustratingly), I am leaving out all single cask releases as it’s almost impossible to keep track of them — there’s just too many! Unfortunately, this means a few significant releases may not get featured, but I’ll argue in my defence one of the joys of enjoying single cask whisky is the hunt to find something unique and special.
I’m also certain I’ve left out whiskies that should be here, and would love to know about them. Get in touch on Instagram or BlueSky to let me know what to add to these articles and I’ll do my best to do so promptly.
Find this month’s releases from USA/Canada [here] and Japan/Rest of World [here].
Scotland October 2025 Releases
Arbikie Highland Rye “Artist Edition 1” – 58.6% ABV, £250
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 ‘enriched’ in Calvados casks. The label art was painted by artist Francis Boag, and each bottle comes with a hand-signed print of the artwork.
Ardnahoe Cask Strength Batch 01 – 60.5% ABV, $85
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.
Cutty Sark 17 Years Old – 42.3% ABV, $120
A new addition to this iconic brand. The official explanation from master blender Stephen Woodcock is pretty thorough: “To 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.
“Then 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.”
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 Château Mont-Redon Châteauneuf-du-Pape casks, with 150 packs available.
Diageo Special Releases 2025 Horizons Unbound – ABV varies, prices vary
This year’s 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 for more specific information on the full collection.
Douglas Laing The Gauldrons Eclipse (Campbeltown blended malt) – 52.9% ABV, $95
A blend of Campbeltown single malts (and there’s only three excellent distilleries in Campbeltown to choose from) is then given an unusual finish in in orange wine casks.
Glenfiddich XS – 43% ABV, Prices vary
Three Glenfiddichs aged 15, 18, and 21 years old have been initially launched for the Chinese market, we’ll 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.
Glenlivet Cask Master’s Collection – ABV varies, Prices vary
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.
Highland Park Between You and I 16 Years Old – 48% ABV, $190
A collaboration between Highland Park and 3-star Michelin chef Björn Frantzén, 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.
Kilchoman 100% Islay 11 Years Old Sherry Cask Matured – 50% ABV, $120
Matured for 11 years in 16 ex-Oloroso sherry butts, this whisky was distilled from Islay barley harvested across 2011, 2012, and 2013. It’s also one of the oldest Kilchoman whiskies released so far.
Torabhaig Sound of Sleat Batch Strength – 60.2% ABV, $105
Named after for the strip of sea dividing the isle of Skye and the mainland, this whisky is the stronger version of Torabhaig’s Sound of Sleat release. Matured in a mix of first fill and refill Bourbon casks as well as new oak, it’s extremely heavily peated.
Woven Whisky “The House Blend” – 43.3% ABV, $53
A new budget-friendly release from the Leith blenders. This is a true ‘world blend’ mixing up Canadian and South African corn whiskies, Irish wheat grain whiskey, and sherried Speyside malts.
Ireland October 2025 Releases
Achill Island PX Special Edition Single Malt – 44% ABV, $55
Matured in Oloroso butts then finished in Pedro Ximénez Spínola 1918 casks; limited to 1,127 bottles.
Ballina Irish Single Malt Dúbailte Double Wood – 43% ABV, $60
County Mayo’s 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.
Ballina Irish Single Malt Triarach Triple Wood – 43% ABV, $60
Triple-distilled and triple-wood matured, featuring a combinatio of bourbon (50%), Oloroso sherry (40%) and ruby port (10%) casks.
Curraghmore The Single Estate 2025 Triple Cask Edition – 46% ABV, $245
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.
Green Spot 100 Year Anniversary Edition 10-Year-Old Single Pot Still – 46% ABV, $100
A celebration of Green Spot’s 100th anniversary, this limited edition 10 year old version of the famous Pot Still whiskey comes with an optional bag of paint – a specific shade called Green Spot Shade developed by paint specialists YesCoulours.
Teeling Sommelier Selection Rioja Red Wine Cask Finish – 46% ABV, $64
Teeling’s Sommelier Selection series showcases maturation in wine casks. The seventh release in the series features maturation in ex-Spanish Rioja casks.