This year Diageo created its Special release as a second edition of the Spirited Xchange theme. It is still a cask strength series which revolves around uncommon cask types. We start with Talisker, usually a reliable component – it appeared over twenty times in this series already. For the Talisker 8 Year Old ‘Tidal Churn’ they used stone-spun and lightly re-toasted cask. Quite an elaborate description. The barrels’ original char layers were polished away by rocks and water, but I’m not sure how to understand this exactly. I believe wet stones go inside and then the cask rotates, creating gentle erosion. Afterwards they re-toast the oak to bring out fresh vanilla and fruit flavours. The 12-year-old Lagavulin matured in ex-bourbon casks and refill wine casks made from American oak as well as refill casks made from European oak. The surprisingly mild and sweetly smoky whisky flavour experience was bottled at natural cask strength. The elaborately designed outer packaging makes the limited special bottlings ideal as a collector's item or gift.