Diageo has unveiled the second release in its Prima & Ultima Collection. The new series of incredibly rare single malt Scotch whiskies comprises eight bottles that have been drawn from the historic stock of Diageo’s finest distilleries across Scotland including Talisker, Mortlach, The Singleton of Glendullan, and Brora.
The Prima & Ultima collection gathers highly limited single vintage malts that are either the first or last bottling of their kind – each a piece of distilling history offering collectors and connoisseurs the opportunity to build an expertly curated liquid library over time.
Each release is curated by one of Diageo’s most celebrated master blenders. This year, Maureen Robinson took up the mantle from the curator of the inaugural Prima & Ultima, Dr Jim Beveridge OBE. With over 40 years of whisky expertise, Maureen Robinson hand-selected each bottling to make up the second release.
“This is a selection of very special Single Malts – some that have never before seen the light of day and others that are the fleeting and final examples of their kind,” said Maureen. “I remember choosing to hold back the cask filled at Auchroisk knowing it would be special for the future and the anticipation and excitement of the maturation trials we undertook with Linkwood and The Singleton, now realised in these releases. Some of these casks I helped to lay down, and have taken great pleasure in tending to them since, so I chose them with rich memories in mind.”
Each full set of eight Prima & Ultima single vintage malts is accompanied by eight unique glasses, each engraved with a bespoke design that reflects the story behind each whisky, created in collaboration with two glass artists. Individual 20ml samples of each whisky are also included with a booklet of personal stories told by Maureen.
Only 376 full sets are available for purchase, directly through appointed Prima & Ultima agents, at a recommended retail selling price of £23,500 (including tax and duty) in the UK (that’s $32,662 USD). An online registration page is now open at the collection’s official website for whisky collectors across the globe to register their interest to own this year’s release.
Once registration ends on the August 23, 2021, there will be an opportunity to own the elusive set #1 of the second release of Prima & Ultima, each signed personally by Maureen Robinson when it goes under the hammer in an online auction at Sotheby’s from 15th – 24th September 2021 in Hong Kong, with all proceeds of the sale going to leading humanitarian charity, CARE International. Funds from the auction will support CARE International UK’s work to empower women and their communities around the world through encouraging entrepreneurship, building livelihoods, improving access to education and healthcare, and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Check out the full collection below:
Auchroisk – Vintage | 1974 – Rarest of all, the very first cask
The very first cask to be filled in 1974, the first year of production at Auchroisk.
47-Year-Old | 48.7% ABV | 70cl
Lagavulin – Vintage | 1992 – Mellow first from fresh-charred hogsheads
The enjoyment of connoisseurs will be ample reward for its long years in cask.
28-Year-Old | 47.7% ABV | 70cl
Linkwood – Vintage | 1981 – Trial-matured masterpiece with stunning depth
Born of an experimental series, double matured for 26 years for an unseen, lavish flavour.
39-Year-Old | 52.9% ABV | 70cl
The Singleton – Vintage | 1992 – Extraordinary Singleton double-matured in Madeira casks
Born of an experimental series, double matured for 26 years for an unseen, lavish flavour.
28-Year-Old | 60.1% ABV | 70cl
Talisker – Vintage | 1979 – Forty storm-lashed years beside the sea
The oldest and last remaining casks to emerge from Warehouse 4, closest to the sea.
41-Year-Old | 47.5%ABV | 70cl
Brora – Vintage | 1980 – A golden year’s last treasured cask
Epitomising its distinctive waxy style, last of 3 casks from 1980.
40-Year-Old | 49.4% ABV | 70cl
Mortlach – Vintage | 1995 – A richly rewarding lone wolf cask
A rare distillery discovery, untouched for more than two decades, reveals a whisky that has bigness far beyond its age.
25-Year-Old | 52.4% ABV | 70cl
Convalmore – Vintage | 1984 – The last rays fall on a Speyside star
Celebrates the iconic waxy style, from the last 3 casks from 1984.
36-Year-Old | 48.6% ABV | 70cl
In July 2020, Diageo unveiled the first series in the Prima & Ultima Whisky Collection. The eight bottles of Whisky that make up the collection are worth a staggering £20,000 ($24,600 USD).
