I just spoke with my contact at Edrington and he told me that the Highland Park single cask bottling program offered to specialty retailers and restaurants throughout the United States is being discontinued, effective April 2008. Yes, now is the time for you to go out and get a bottle if you want one. Here’s the official statement from my Edrington contact:

“The intention is to finish the program at the end of the current financial year (April 08) and only release single casks beyond that date if there is a very good reason to do so. We are not short of stock, the program has been very successful and has built strong relationships with some of the finest spirit retailers across the world. We could easily continue it, but feel that after 4 successful years we should focus on our core expressions.

Our permanent core range which will soon have – 12, 15, 18, 25, 30 and 40 (later in 2008), plus 16 and 21 in travel retail, we do not want to confuse the consumer with too many offerings and are pulling back on releasing single casks. There will be the odd one for key customers or individuals from time to time.”