Special Whisky Release for Norway - December 2017

Super special whisky release at the Vinmonopolet on Friday December 15. This is not a regular whisky release by any means. The whiskies themselves look stunning (at least quite a few of them), and the prices are quite reasonable (at least quite a few of them). In addition, this release is only primarily for the seven special outlets ("spesialpol"). These special outlets are located at: Aker Brygge and CC-Vest in Oslo, Hamar, Sandnes sentrum, Sandefjord, Valentinlyst in Trondheim and Valkendorfsgaten in Bergen.

Here are the 'rules' of the engagement, as far as I have managed to clarify them:

1. The whiskies have been evenly distributed between the seven outlets.
   • There are one or two product lines where the total quantity is less than seven though, so all things are not equal...
2. A few product lines will be available as stock in the web shop, and as such will be possible to order online on the release day (Friday)
   • These will naturally be the product lines with the most bottles available.
   • The probable suspects are marked +web in the list below.
3. Vinmonopolet will attempt to introduce a cap of max 2 bottles per customer for some of the product lines
   • One example of this is the new Highland Park single cask for Norway
   • This cap will be in effect both in the web shop and in the actual outlets
4. All product lines can be ordered online, but since this is a special release the 'normal' procedure is not in effect. You can order these items online starting the day after the release (Saturday) - the exception being the products mentioned in item 2 above.

To sum up, if you really want these whiskies you have to be at one of the outlets on the Friday.

I predict queuing. I predict whisky nerds (at least quite a few of them) standing in queue from very, very early that morning - or perhaps from late the night before.

The number of bottles available for most of these whiskies will be very limited (at least quite a few of them), and in some cases extremely limited.

I hope to taste and review more of these before the release date (at least quite a few of them), and will update with links to reviews accordingly.

As usual I have to add the disclaimer that all of this might change at any time, and I am of course in no way responsible for any of this. I do drink responsibly though, as should you!

** 2017-11-29 List updated - this is the final list of products** ** New reviews linked daily up until December 15** ** 2017-12-15: Short update on release day ** - No whisky was made available online on release day ** - the web site has been suffering badly today, very slow responses and timeouts ** - At least one outlet opened at 09.00, and not at 10.00 as expected

Arran 21st Anniversary (52.6 %) (no 8112901), Scotland, NOK 1982,70 BB & R Blue Hanger 11th Release (45.6 %) (no 1925901), Scotland, NOK 1599,90 Bowmore 1989 23 YO Port Cask Matured (50.8 %) (no 1129901), Scotland, NOK 3494,50 Bowmore Single Malt 25 YO (43 %) (no 5266501), Scotland, NOK 2799,90 Cameronbridge 1991 25 YO Old Particular (52.4 %) (no 8111901), Scotland, NOK 1470,20 Caol Ila 2010 6 YO Provenance (46 %) (no 8112201), Scotland, NOK 1020,10 +web Carsebridge 1970 47 YO (Murray McDavid) (40.9 %) (no 8111401), Scotland, NOK 3199 Chichibu The Peated 2012/2016 (54.5 %) (no 7635801), Japan, NOK 1999,90 +web Craigellachie 2008 8 YO Benchmark (Murray McDavid) (46 %) (no 8111501), Scotland, NOK 835 Glen Elgin 18 YO 1998 (Special Releases 2017) (54.8 %) (no 7900801), Scotland, NOK 3974 Glenburgie 1998 16 YO Chieftain's (46 %) (no 8136101), Scotland, NOK 1099,90 Glendronach 1992 25 YO Single Cask (Batch 15) (58.5 %) (no 7941301), Scotland, NOK 2999,90 Glendronach 1995 21 YO Single Cask (Batch 15) (52.6 %) (no 7941201), Scotland, NOK 2449,90 Glenfarclas 1986 The Family Casks (Spring 2017) (52.8 %) (no 8113101), Scotland, NOK 4065 Glenfarclas 1990 The Family Casks (Spring 2017) (49,7 %) (no 8113001), Scotland, NOK 2474 Glenfarclas 1991 The Family Casks (Spring 2017) (57.6 %) (no 8112801), Scotland, NOK 2469,40 Glenfarclas 1992 The Family Casks (Spring 2017) (59 %) (no 8112701), Scotland, NOK 2468,60 Glenfarclas 1993 The Family Casks (Spring 2017) (59.4 %) (no 8112601), Scotland, NOK 2468,40 The Glenlivet Pittandlich (59.9 %) (no 8086001), Scotland, NOK 1912,30 Hakushu 12 YO Single Malt (43 %) (no 1132201), Japan, NOK 999,90 Hanyu 2000 Number One Drinks 10th Anniversary (56.6 %) (no 7701801), Japan, NOK 6000 Hanyu Final Vintage 15 YO (46.5 %) (no 8136801), Japan, NOK 6000 +web Highland Park Single Cask Vintersolsnu (58.8 %) (no 8085801), Scotland, NOK 1420,30 +web Ladyburn 42 YO (40 %) (no 8085901), Scotland, NOK 14999,90 Linkwood 1990 26 YO Dimensions (Duncan Taylor) (45.9 %) (no 8099401), Scotland, NOK 3275 Longmorn 1996 20 YO Dimensions (Duncan Taylor) (52.1 %) (no 8099501), Scotland, NOK 2645 Macduff 1991 26 YO 1991 (Chieftain's) (46 %) (no 8136201), Scotland, NOK 1899,90 North British 1988 28 YO Select Grain - Limited Release (Murray McDavid) (46 %) (no 8111701), Scotland, NOK 1299 Pittyvaich 1989 25 YO (Special releases 2015) (49.9 %) (no 3405901), Scotland, NOK 2800,20 Springbank 1993 23 YO Mission Gold - Limited release (Murray McDavid) (50.4 %) (no 8111601), Scotland, NOK 3499,90 Springbank Hazelburn 13 YO Oloroso Cask Matured (47.1 %) (no 8112301), Scotland, NOK 1020,10 +web Springbank Longrow 18 YO Limited Edition 2017 Release (46 %) (no 8112001), Scotland, NOK 1498 +web Springbank Longrow Red 13 YO Malbec Cask Matured (51.3 %) (no 8112101), Scotland, NOK 1270,20 Talisker 2010 6 YO Provenance (46 %) (no 8111801), Scotland, NOK 1019,20 +web Teaninich 1999 17 YO (Special release 2017) (55.9 %) (no 7900701), Scotland, NOK 3666,20 Yamazaki 12 YO Single Malt (43 %) (no 5138201), Japan, NOK 641,90

Phew! That's it for the Special Whisky Release. Good luck!

Sláinte! - Thomas