At an exclusive event hosted in Aldourie Castle beside Loch Ness, Diageo have announced the next 12 perfect casks that will be available through Casks of Distinction. The hero of the 2024 release is undoubtedly the Brora 1977 cask, which is one of a highly limited number of casks still remaining from before Brora originally closed.

The Twelve Casks Of Distinction

Casks Of Distinction are rare and exceptional casks from Diageo’s stock of over 10 million maturing casks that have been selected as epitomizing the spirit of their particular distillery. The master whisky makers from across Diageo’s distilleries spend over 4,200 hours a year assessing casks and deciding if they are ready to be included in the exclusive programme.

Each cask that is deemed worthy is marked with a star and carefully monitored until they reach perfection. At which point they are released into Diageo’s Casks Of Distinction programme, for dedicated whisky fans to mature for up to five more years and eventually bottle.

In 2023 Diageo debuted “The Twelve,” which are the very best casks selected for customers to buy and personally bottle through Casks of Distinction. In November beside the renowned Loch Ness, 2024’s Twelve were announced. The selection is awe-worthy, but this year a special dedication has been made to one particular cask.

The Twelfth Cask

In 2024 “The Twelve” are a seriously impressive selection. There are two Talisker casks—one 1986 and one from 1975—as well as a Clynelish 1990 and Benrinnes 1992—I’ve copied the cask details below for curious whisky geeks like myself. They’re all amazing, but the hero cask for this year is undoubtedly the single cask of Brora 1977.

This year marks the first year that whisky distilled at the newly reopened Brora distillery can officially be classed as whisky. It is a momentous occasion for the distillery, and for Diageo. To mark the event and to confirm Brora’s place within Diageo’s premium selection, they have selected the Brora 1977 to be the showstopping cask of this release.

Of course, with the general premiumisation of scotch, when you are buying something at this level it’s about more than just the whisky itself. The cask is sat at 47.8% ABV, which gives patient purchasers the option to choose to mature the cask further if they wish—I imagine the temptation to aim for 50 is likely to be high. As well as getting the opportunity to own and bottle your very own cask of some of the rarest and most collectable whisky in the world the purchaser of each of The Twelve will get “tailored experiences at the distilleries from which their casks originate.”

For the Brora cask that includes the chance to visit the distillery and fill a cask of Brora in 2026 and mysteriously includes: “two unique artefacts that set them apart from other Brora collectors.”

The Event

Diageo’s most prestigious connoisseurs were invited to a lavish “trunk show” where The Twelve were introduced. As well as being the first to know about the latest selection of casks, the lucky attendees were treated to a feast from Two Michelin Star Chef Jordan Bailey, which was paired with exceptional wines from Justerini & Brooks, one of the UK’s oldest wine & spirits merchants.

If you fancy owning your very own cask from one of Diageo’s 28 scotch whisky distilleries then you can get in touch with their private client services.

The Casks

Brora 1977

Fill date: 16.11.1977

Cask NO: 2845

Est. ABV: 47.8%

Est. Bottle No.: 158

Cask type: Refill American Oak Hogshead

Talisker 1975

Fill date: 11.12.1975

Cask NO: 4966

Est. ABV: 47.8%

Est. Bottle No.: 155

Cask type: Refill American Oak Hogshead

Talisker 1986

Fill date: 20.03.1986

Cask NO: 896

Est. ABV: 47.2%

Est. Bottle No.: 153

Cask type: Freshly Charred American Oak Hogshead

Clynelish 1990

Fill date: 12.11.1990

Cask NO: 12016

Est. ABV: 53.6%

Est. Bottle No.: 333

Cask type: Refill American Oak Hogshead

Caol Ila 1990

Fill date: 10.09.1990

Cask NO: 9243

Est. ABV: 48.9%

Est. Bottle No.: 201

Cask type: Refill American Oak Hogshead

Royal Lochnagar 1988

Fill date: 14.10.1988

Cask NO: 1119

Est. ABV: 50.9%

Est. Bottle No.: 168

Cask type: Refill American Oak Charred Ends Hogshead

Benrinnes 1992

Fill date: 23.11.1992

Cask NO: 9954

Est. ABV: 53%

Est. Bottle No.: 362

Cask type: First-fill ex-Sherry European Oak Butt

Dalwhinnie 1989

Fill date: 14.11.1989

Cask NO: 3754

Est. ABV: 47%

Est. Bottle No.: 214

Cask type: Refill American Oak Hogshead

Linkwood 1990

Fill date: 15.10.1990

Cask NO: 7805

Est. ABV: 52.9%

Est. Bottle No.: 164

Cask type: Refill American Oak Hogshead

Inchgower 1992

Fill date: 30.03.1992

Cask NO: 2754

Est. ABV: 50.7%

Est. Bottle No.: 131

Cask type: Refill American Oak Barrel

Cragganmore 1990

Fill date: 26.01.1990

Cask NO: 388

Est. ABV: 57.3%

Est. Bottle No.: 146

Cask type: Refill America Oak Hogshead

Auchroisk 1991

Fill date: 15.08.1991

Cask NO: 572018

Est. ABV: 48.2%

Est. Bottle No.: 238

Cask type: Wine Seasoned American Oak Hogshead