Worldwide alcohol conglomerate Diageo is working overtime for Game of Thrones fans. It’s already brought us a limited edition blended White Walker whisky, and now it’s releasing a full line of eight single malt scotches, each representing a major house of Westeros, plus the Night’s Watch. Forbes brings us all the details, courtesy of Ewan Morgan, Diageo’s master of whisky. Morgan detailed his extensive “research”:
"We sat in a room together drinking a lot of whisky for multiple days. The room smelled phenomenal—we probably didn’t. But we walked out of there with a wish list of what we really wanted. We then got back to the team in Scotland and said, ‘Here are the whiskies we want.’ They said no and we said, ‘Please?’ And they said, ‘Okay you can have very very small amounts of it.’ And so that’s really how this project came around: us sitting in a room with a wish list of whiskies…"
“Please” gets you far no matter where in the world you are. Also, I may be in the wrong business; sitting in a room getting paid to drink scotch is a gig I can get behind.
But I digress. The scotches will range in suggested retail price from $30 to $65, but all will be available only in limited runs. How limited? That’s unknown, but Morgan did say that the partnership between HBO and Diageo has been “phenomenal” for the company, “and for me, specifically, because we got to take some of the best whiskies available in Scotland and bring them to the market. It’s an amazing collection we have here.” Well, now he’s just bragging.
Each of the bottles will be adorned with the appropriate house sigil. Diageo detailed each of the scotches just so:
THE NIGHT’S WATCH: OBAN LITTLE BAY RESERVE (SRP $63 | 43% ABV)
"The Oban distillery sits beneath the steep cliff that overlooks the bay in the frontier between the west Highlands and the Islands of Scotland, separating land and sea, just as Castle Black, home of The Night’s Watch, sits between Westeros and the lands beyond The Wall. The liquid’s richness is balanced with a woody, spicy dryness that The Night’s Watch could enjoy even on the coldest of nights."
HOUSE LANNISTER: LAGAVULIN 9 YEAR OLD (SRP $65 | 46% ABV)
"Lagavulin is one of the most legendary single malt brands and has been crafted on the shores of Islay for more than 200 years – mirroring the meticulous calculation and tenacity employed by the Lannister’s in their rise to conquer the Iron Throne. This single malt whisky is a roaring single malt that recalls the Lannister’s riches and is best served neat or with a single drop of water."
HOUSE STARK: DALWHINNIE WINTER’S FROST (SRP $40 | 43% ABV)
"House Stark’s resiliency, strength and ability to thrive under the most intense situations are greatly shaped by Winterfell’s frigid temperatures. Dalwhinnie, known for being one of the highest distilleries in all of Scotland, is cold and remote much like The North where House Stark calls home, making the two an iconic pairing. Extreme conditions are responsible for shaping the signature Dalwhinnie Winter’s Frost honeyed sweetness and spicy warmth. Naturally, it’s best served chilled or over ice."
HOUSE TARGARYEN: CARDHU GOLD RESERVE (SRP $40 | 40% ABV)
"Fueled by the same fiery spirit of the fierce female leadership of Daenerys Targaryen, this single malt celebrates legendary women and their unwavering perseverance. The Cardhu distillery was pioneered by Helen Cumming and her daughter-in-law Elizabeth during the 1800s, a time when the whisky industry was almost entirely male-dominated."
HOUSE BARATHEON: ROYAL LOCHNAGAR 12 YEAR OLD (SRP $65 | 45% ABV)
"Royal lineage drives the iconic pairing between House Baratheon and Royal Lochnagar. Similar to Robert Baratheon ruling the Seven Kingdoms upon the Iron Throne, Royal Lochnagar was deemed a whisky worthy of a royal family as it was granted a Royal Warrant after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited the distillery in 1848. Balanced with delicate fruits and spices, this taste of royalty is best enjoyed neat."
HOUSE TYRELL: CLYNELISH RESERVE (SRP $60 | 51.2% ABV)
"House Tyrell of Highgarden rules over the Reach, the lush and fertile region of Westeros. Like the Reach, Clynelish is positioned among green pastures and rolling hills, with scenic views of the North Sea. This vibrant, golden Scotch is light and floral, like House Tyrell, and it’s not to be underestimated with its underlying complex combination of Highland and maritime qualities."
HOUSE TULLY: THE SINGLETON GLENDULLAN SELECT (SRP $30 | 40% ABV)
"House Tully located at Riverrun, rules as the lord of The River lands. The power of water flows through both House Tully and The Singleton Glendullan Select as it is made on the banks of the River Fiddich in the wooded hills of Dufftown. Here they harnessed the water that flowed through the land utilizing a water wheel to power the entire distillery."
HOUSE GREYJOY: TALISKER SELECT RESERVE (SRP $45 | 45.8% ABV)
"House Greyjoy rules the Iron Islands and worships the Drowned God. Talisker was a natural pair for House Greyjoy as this single malt is distilled on the shores of the Isle of Skye, one of the most remote and rugged areas of Scotland. The layered flavors and signature maritime character of Talisker Select Reserve are the result of its wave-battered shores. This liquid is an intense smoky single malt Scotch with spicy, powerful and sweet elements combined with maritime flavors."
The complete line will be released in the United States this November. Save me a bottle. Or two.
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