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Add Whisky Monkeys as a Google favoriteWhat if exclusive whisky became even more exclusive? Diageo has unveiled two new whiskies in its Rare Series. This latest release features one whisky from a closed distillery and another from one of Scotland’s coldest distilleries.
Diageo introduced the Rare Series in April 2026. The collection showcases exceptional Scotch whiskies that are far from easy to find. With the series, Diageo delves into Scotland’s rich whisky heritage, selecting remarkable casks from the company’s vast stocks. For its latest chapter, Diageo has chosen a winter theme, featuring two single malts that have weathered decades of Scottish winters: the Convalmore 1984 Rare Series and the Dalwhinnie 1989 Rare Series.
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The Convalmore 1984 Rare Series comes from a closed distillery
The first whisky is a rare find indeed. The Convalmore distillery in Speyside closed its doors for good in 1985. A handful of casks from the distillery have, however, survived.
For this new release, Diageo selected four refill American oak hogsheads filled in 1984. The whisky has now reached the remarkable age of 41 years. The Convalmore 1984 Rare Series is bottled at 45.6% ABV, with just 310 bottles available worldwide.
- Nose: Orange juice, followed by tropical fruits such as papaya, mango and unripe banana. Drier notes emerge next, evoking a dusty desk drawer.
- Palate: Full and creamy, with a soft texture. Sweet notes of salted toffee and honey, with a touch of honeycomb.
- Finish: Long and peppery, with a pleasant, almost perfumed aftertaste.
Collectors will need to dig deep for this exceptional whisky. The recommended price is $3,000 before tax, or £2,900 including tax.

The Dalwhinnie 1989 Rare Series received more than four years of additional maturation
The second whisky hails from the Scottish Highlands. Dalwhinnie is known as one of Scotland’s highest and coldest distilleries.
For the Rare Series, Diageo has selected a 36-year-old Dalwhinnie distilled in 1989.
What makes this whisky special is its maturation in American oak hogsheads treated with Amoroso sherry. It also received a finish lasting more than four years. According to Diageo, this is the first time a Dalwhinnie has been released in this way.
The Dalwhinnie 1989 Rare Series is bottled at 49.9% ABV, with 305 bottles available worldwide.
- Nose: Floral aromas with honeycomb. Add a drop of water to reveal notes of warm candle wax, bog myrtle and heather pollen.
- Palate: Creamy and soft, with sweet fruit notes, delicate peppery spices and a subtle waxy character.
- Finish: Medium in length, sweet and spicy, with lingering peppery notes.
The recommended price for the Dalwhinnie 1989 Rare Series is $1,300 before tax, or £1,100 including tax.
Where can you find the new Rare Series whiskies?
Anyone hoping to get their hands on one of these exceptional bottles won’t find it at their local liquor store. Both whiskies are available exclusively through Diageo’s Private Client team, including the specialists at Justerini & Brooks.
Whisky lovers can register from 3 November 2026 via the Rare Series page for the chance to secure a bottle.
FAQ
- Which two whiskies has Diageo added to the Rare Series?
Diageo has released the 41-year-old Convalmore 1984 Rare Series and the 36-year-old Dalwhinnie 1989 Rare Series. Both are highly exclusive and available in very limited quantities. - How much do the new Rare Series whiskies cost?
The Convalmore 1984 Rare Series has a recommended price of £2,900 including tax. The Dalwhinnie 1989 Rare Series costs £1,100 including tax. - Where can you buy the new Rare Series whiskies?
Both whiskies are available exclusively through Diageo’s Private Client team, including Justerini & Brooks. Those interested can register via rare-series.com for the chance to secure a bottle.
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- I enjoyed reading the different approaches to building a whisky collection. Whether you collect by region, style, or limited releases, discovering new brands keeps the hobby interesting. Soorahi is another premium whisky worth considering for collectors looking to explore the evolving world of quality whiskies.dinesh04-08-2026
- There is no distillery equipment there and also no licences to produce or sell alcohol.TRC19-12-2025
- Hi Yvonne, Thank you for your response and for sharing the video. Unfortunately, the evidence you referred to consists only of two people talking about the whisky, without any explanation or identification. We have not spoken to the individuals in the video ourselves, nor can we verify who they are. We describe it as a Chinese whisky because it is released by a Chinese distillery. As you mentioned, the distillery has chosen to label the product as “pure malt” instead of “Chinese whisky.” Based on that, we do not believe they are doing anything illegal.M0nkey16-11-2025
- So - you have the proof......where's your write up?Yvonne16-11-2025
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- There is nothing legally to prevent the English whisky GI from coming into force, it complies with all the relevant laws and the single malt definition follows the precedent of Welsh whisky and US whiskyChefBear15-10-2025
- Three emails sent (two with videos, linked to a Google Drive Share). 1. The original video. 2. The video with subtitles as it was shared on YouTube 3. Screen grab of the YouTube channel where the video was blocked due to Pernod Ricard lobbying. The story was covered on Drinks Intel at the time - link here - https://drinks-intel.com/subscriber-news/pernod-ricards-the-chuan-pure-malt-whisky-not-sourced-solely-from-china-global-drinks-intel-exclusive/Yvonne10-10-2025
