Diageo Rare Series Adds Convalmore 1984 and Dalwhinnie 1989

Cask maturation, distillery backgrounds and Rare Series context for two aged single malts

Diageo has added two aged single malt Scotch whiskies to Rare Series: a 41-year-old Convalmore 1984 from Speyside and a 36-year-old Dalwhinnie 1989 from the Highlands. Rare Series is Diageo’s evolving collection of rare Scotch whiskies; this new chapter follows the series’ debut in April and is themed around remote corners of Scotland and harsh winters.

Convalmore 1984: Refill American Oak Casks from a Closed Distillery

Convalmore 1984 Rare Series comes from a closed distillery in northeast Scotland; the liquid was matured in four refill American oak casks and was filled shortly before the distillery closed in 1985. Diageo says the original producer had previously bottled this Convalmore whisky only five times. The distillery is in Dufftown, in the heart of Speyside; during its operation, almost all of its stock was kept for blending, and for a time it was an important malt source for Black & White blended whisky. This vintage has appeared before: the second release of Diageo’s Prima & Ultima included a bottling made from three refill American oak hogsheads filled on 22 November 1984.

Dalwhinnie 1989: Amoroso Sherry Casks and a Long Finish

Dalwhinnie 1989 Rare Series is a 36-year-old single malt; Dalwhinnie is one of Scotland’s highest and coldest distilleries. The liquid was matured in American oak hogsheads seasoned with Amoroso sherry, then given an unusually long finish of more than four years. Official brand notes highlight a honeyed richness and wild moorland character.

Series Background, Distillery Strategy and Future Bottling Principles

Diageo master blender Dr. Craig Wilson said in the official press release: “These two expressions show what happens when exceptional Scotch whisky is left to quietly endure and thrive in the natural environment. From a lost Speyside icon to one of our highest and coldest distilleries, decades of Scotland’s biting winters have forged remarkable depth, turning the cold into enveloping honeyed warmth and complex spice. Shaped by nature and time, they embody the essence of our craft.”

At the April launch, Julie Bramham, managing director of Diageo Luxury Group, added: “Rare Series is an ode to Scotland’s rich whisky heritage and its enduring influence on the world of luxury; here, rarity is not created but revealed over time. The series is defined by provenance and character.” Dalwhinnie also has a long-standing role in Diageo’s single malt strategy: in the late 1980s, United Distillers released a series of benchmark single malt Scotch whiskies from six Scottish distilleries, and Dalwhinnie was one of them.

Rare Series first appeared on 30 April 2026; the first chapter included Blair Athol 1991, Clynelish 1983, Caol Ila 1983, Talisker 1992 and Glenury Royal 1970; at 55 years old, Glenury Royal became the company’s oldest single malt whisky to date. Diageo says it draws on more than 30 distilleries and over 10 million casks; future releases will be launched only when the master blender team judges that these whiskies show their best character.

📅 Publish date: 2026-11-03

🔗 Source: The Whiskey Wash