• Diageo is launching its Spirited Xchange 2.0 Special Releases Single Malt Scotch Whisky collection. The annual collection of special single malt releases includes eight rare and collectible malts curated by master blender Dr. Stuart Morrison. Highlights from this year’s collection include Lagavulin ‘Fireside Tales’ Aged 12 Years and Oban ‘Coastal Orchard’ Aged 10 Years. Special bottlings of Mortlach, Talisker, The Singleton, Benrinnes, Roseisle, and Caol Ila are also included. Limited quantities of Diageo’s annual Scotch whisky special releases are rolling out to leading retailers.

• Old Potrero, part of the Hotaling & Co. portfolio, is launching a new California Cellar Series with two wine cask finished rye whiskies. The highly allocated Old Potrero Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Silver Oak Wine Barrels (56.6% abv, $100 a 700-ml.) and Old Potrero Toasted Barrel Rye Whiskey Finished in Sonoma Portworks Wine Barrels (56.8% abv, $100 a 700-ml.) arrive on-shelf this month. Additional collaborations with white wine and beer barrel finishes will launch in 2025 as part of Old Potrero’s Golden State program.

• The Barker Company, formed by industry veteran Philippe Roederer and photographer and TV personality Nigel Barker, is introducing a ready-to-serve Espresso Martini as its first product. The new entry is a vegan blend of 100% Colombian espresso and six times distilled vodka bottled at 20% abv. It’s debuting across New York, Texas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Colorado, Michigan, and Tennessee in 200-ml. cans ($5) as well as 375-ml. and 750-ml. variants selling at $16 and $28 respectively. Roederer is former VP of sales for Clicquot Inc., CEO of Voss Water, and CMO of Remy Cointreau.