Diageo has revealed its annual ‘The Twelve’ by Casks of Distinction collection at Royal Lochnagar Distillery on Royal Deeside, presenting twelve of its rarest and most exceptional casks to an international gathering of whisky collectors. The event, held earlier this month in the shadow of Balmoral Castle, marked the first time the presentation has taken place at Royal Lochnagar, the home of Casks of Distinction.
At the centre of the 2026 collection was Lagavulin 1991 Cask #1069, the oldest Lagavulin cask ever offered through the programme.
The cask was unveiled as the ‘Twelfth Cask’, the single whisky chosen each year to represent the pinnacle of the collection.
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More than three decades in the making, the spirit was filled into European and American oak refill casks in late 1991. In 2007, it was transferred to a Pedro Ximénez (PX) seasoned American oak hogshead, where it matured for nearly two decades.
According to the official notes from the brand, the whisky balances Lagavulin’s maritime smoke with layers of dried fruit, liquorice and charred oak, while retaining its powerful peated character.
Stuart Morrison, Lagavulin master blender, said: “This is certainly one of the most special Lagavulin casks I have ever experienced. After more than 35 years, it still has remarkable vitality.”
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READ THE STORYHe added: “The PX maturation has added incredible depth without ever overshadowing the distillery’s character. It’s a whisky that reflects decades of patience, careful stewardship and the confidence to let time do what it does best.”
The future owner may choose to continue maturing the cask for up to five additional years at Royal Lochnagar, shaping it into a 40-year-old expression. They will also be invited to Lagavulin Distillery on Islay for a bespoke experience.
The wider collection spans distilleries including Talisker, Caol Ila, Clynelish, Cragganmore, Glen Ord and Linkwood. Highlights include a Talisker 1978 matured for almost five decades in refill American oak, a Caol Ila 1984 aged 42 years in a refill European oak butt, and a Blair Athol 1997 matured in a first-fill European oak ex-Sherry hogshead.
Previous editions were held in London, New York and Singapore. Since its creation in 2023, every cask selected for the programme continues to be cared for by Diageo master whisky makers while awaiting sale or opening.
Tod Bradbury, private client director of Justerini & Brooks, the private client division of Diageo, said: “‘The Twelve’ by Casks of Distinction is more than a showcase – it has become a decisive gathering in the annual whisky calendar.”
Each cask is drawn from more than 10 million maturing casks across Scotland, selected following more than 4,200 hours of annual tasting by Diageo’s master whisky makers.
Diageo is the world’s largest producer of Scotch whisky, with a portfolio that includes Johnnie Walker and a network of malt distilleries across Scotland.
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