The man tasked with identifying the pinnacle Casks of Distinction from Diageo’s expansive stock says we’re getting more savvy.

Talk about a dream job. Dr Craig Wilson holds down the title of Master of Malt at Diageo, meaning he has access to the largest portfolio of whisky distilleries (both operating and shuttered) ever assembled under a single company.  What, then, is the distillate of Wilson’s 20 years in the industry, crossed with the enviable task of sampling thousands of the world’s premium drams?

The answer: Diageo’s ultra-exclusive Casks of Distinction programme, accessible in Singapore through the invite-only Johnnie Walker house. About as rare as a blue moon, casks that are identified to be the more than just perfect embodiments of a distillery’s trademark expression (see below) are earmarked for greatness.

Private clients are then free to buy out an entire cask (while it continues to mature in Diageo facilities), bottle it when the time is right, or even have it blended to their liking in consultation with master blender Jim Beveridge. Aficionados, bear in mind these offerings include irreplaceable Scotch from legendary ghost distilleries like Brora and Port Ellen.

The Peak caught Wilson when he was last in town to talk about the programme, along with Adam Brewer, head of Singapore’s Johnnie Walker House.

So what exactly sets a Cask of Distinction apart from the regular product out of a single distillery?

Wilson: Normally when we make a single malt whisky, it’s about picking out the casks which reflect the characteristic flavours you would expect from that particular distillery. Whereas with Casks of Distinction, it gives us the opportunity to do, to find something unique – so that may be a different route taken to what you would conventionally associate with a particular distillery, or do something much bolder that people would not normally expect. That’s the key point, it’s a very unique expression of the whisky.

Which Cask stood out for you?

Wilson: The Port Ellen and Brora are always special. They’re very limited in stock, but there are some amazing whiskies in there. Incredible diversity in the stocks we have remaining, in terms of flavour.

 

 

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