To celebrate the eighth and final season of the TV series, Game of Thrones, Diageo and HBO have teamed up to release a limited-edition collection of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies.
The collection, which went on sale in the US in November, features seven Scotch whiskies from across the country, each paired with one of the iconic Houses of Westeros, as well as an eighth, which has been picked for the Night’s Watch, giving fans an "authentic taste of the Seven Kingdoms".
The collection joins White Walker by Johnnie Walker, another limited-edition whisky which is inspired by those enigmatic and feared antagonists, the White Walkers, and is available for £35 while supplies last.
The drinks giant's diverse portfolio has meant that the pairings draw on the similarities behind the collection, creating an authentic storyline between each House and single malt pairing.
House Targaryen, for example has been paired with the Cardhu Gold Reserve, which the team say is fueled by the "same fiery spirit" as the fierce female leadership of Daenerys Targaryen, as the distillery in Speyside, near Moray, 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.
Meanwhile, royal lineage has been chosen as the theme for the pairing for House Baratheon, which rules over the Seven Kingdoms, with the Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old, which distilled on the Abergeldie Estate on Royal Deeside, having been granted a Royal Warrant after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited the distillery in 1848.
From Dalwhinnie Distillery in the Highlands (paired with House Stark) to the home of Talisker in Skye (paired with House Greyjoy), Diageo will be hosting special events at each of the chosen distilleries across Scotland to celebrate the season finale, with fans and whisky lovers able to purchase their own limited edition bottles at all eight of the Brand Homes.
Pedro Mendonca, global reserve marketing & malts director, said: “We’re excited that the Game of Thrones Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection will be hitting shelves in more countries around the world.
“We are always trying to find fun and interesting ways to introduce our scotch portfolio and what better way than partnering with Game of Thrones, one of the most successful TV series ever created.
"We are thrilled to be celebrating the final season of the show by toasting with whiskies that authentically pay homage to some of the greatest characters and houses.”
Jeff Peters, vice president, licensing & retail at HBO, added: “Game of Thrones is one of the most popular TV shows around the globe, so we’re thrilled to be able to give fans in so many countries the chance to celebrate the final season with these fantastic whiskies.
"Whether they’re choosing allegiance to a House or collecting the whole range, there’s a wonderful diversity of the utmost quality thanks to Diageo’s unparalleled Scotch distilleries.”
(All bottles are 70cl)
Dalwhinnie Winter’s Frost - SRP: £48, ABV 43%
Singleton of Glendullan Select - SRP: £38; ABV 40%
Cardhu Gold Reserve - SRP: £48, ABV 40%
Lagavulin 9 Year Old - SRP: £65, ABV 46%
Talisker Select Reserve - SRP: £48, ABV 45.8%
Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old - SRP: £38, ABV 40%
Clynelish Reserve - SRP: £48, ABV 51.2%
Oban Bay Reserve - SRP: £65, ABV 43%
