Diageo Launches Rare Series with 55-Year-Old Single Malt from Ghost Distillery

Diageo has released its oldest single malt whisky to date, a 55-year-old expression from the ghost distillery Glenury Royal, as part of the new Rare Series under its Rare & Exceptional lineup. The distillery closed in 1985. The whisky was matured in American oak hogsheads and then European oak puncheons, bottled at 62.4% ABV. Senior global brand ambassador Ewan Morgan attributed the high ABV to tight-grained oak minimizing evaporation. Only 21 bottles are available at $6,350 each. The series includes four other whiskies: Talisker 1992 (33-year-old, 30 bottles, $1,300), Caol Ila 1983 (42-year-old, 30 bottles, $3,000), Clynelish 1983 (42-year-old, 16 bottles, $4,000), and Blair Athol 1991 (34-year-old, 25 bottles, $900). Diageo master blender Dr. Craig Wilson described the collection as celebrating Scotland's whisky treasures. The whiskies are available via Diageo's Private Client teams, though some may already be sold out.