Diageo's Prima & Ultima Fourth Release: Showcasing Rare & Valuable Single Malt Scotch Whiskies
A hand curated collection from some of the finest distilleries in Scotland which includes the oldest ever Single Malt from Talisker Distillery
Registration is now open for collectors around the world to secure the fourth release of Prima & Ultima, the esteemed anthology of rare and collectible vintage Single Malt Scotch Whiskies from Diageo.
Hand-selected from some of the finest distilleries in Scotland, including legendary Brora and Port Ellen, Prima & Ultima gives collectors and connoisseurs the opportunity to build an expertly curated liquid library of magnificent whiskies over time. This fourth release comprises eight remarkable bottlings; the oldest ever whisky to come from Talisker Distillery, the forgotten last casks from The Singleton of Dufftown in 1985 and the last ever 1997 Lagavulin.
Each whisky from the collection holds a story of a first and a last of its kind. The collection presents the chance to build one of the rarest and most exceptional liquid libraries in the world, capturing the ever unfolding story of Scotch. Including pioneering experiments and the dwindling remains from long lost ghost distilleries, the whiskies in this collection can never again be experienced by the world.
Revealed to a select group of guests at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, the fourth edition in the series sees eight incredibly rare and precious vintage cask strength Single Malt Scotch Whiskies personally selected by Master Blender Dr Emma Walker. Celebrated as a true master of malt, Dr Emma Walker has spent a luminous career at the forefront of Diageo’s finest work in whisky. Her first hand experience of these liquid legends truly comes to life in this vivid and personal selection of Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
With Emma’s heightened knowledge of Single Malts she takes up the mantle from its three previous curators, Dr Craig Wilson, Maureen Robinson and Dr Jim Beveridge OBE, each individual highly respected within the industry with over a century of experience between them.
Dr Emma Walker said: “It is a privilege to introduce the fourth release of Prima & Ultima which I have personally selected from Scotland’s reserves of exceptionally aged Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Each of these whiskies have been watched, influenced and marked as outstanding. As well as being exceptional, these rare whiskies were each distilled during a specific, unrepeatable moment of note or change at each of the eight iconic distilleries.”
Emma continued to say: “In curating this release I’ve drawn whiskies that not only are noteworthy in whisky history, but also have a personal connection to myself. For instance the very first malt whisky I tried was a Lagavulin, it was its spectacular qualities that enticed me to enter the whisky world. It has also been one of my dreams to craft a special 1977 Brora and I am so pleased that this release has seen this realised.”
Hand picked for their outstanding quality and character, the fourth release includes the oldest whisky ever to be bottled from Talisker Distillery - a Talisker 46-Year-Old, an experimental Single Malt from Clynelish, and a Lagavulin heralding from 1997, known as a golden year for the Islay distillery. This Prima & Ultima release also features the debut of Oban Distillery to the collection with its very last casks from 1996, chosen for its unique coastal character, uncharacteristic of the distillery.
Exceptionally rare whiskies from the reawakened ghost distilleries Brora and Port Ellen have been carefully curated by Dr Emma Walker, with the last ever 1977 American oak hogsheads from Brora Distillery and the final 1978 American oak hogsheads from Port Ellen joining the collection.
On the evening of the launch for this new release, a select group of guests have been invited to taste the whiskies, alongside an exceptional collection of other firsts and lasts. Guests have been hosted amongst some of the rarest books at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, one of the oldest institutional fine arts libraries in the world. These include the Ruins Of The Palace Of The Emperor Diocletian At Spalatro In Dalmatia, the first book to be donated to the library in 11th January 1769 by the architect Robert Adam just one month after the RA was founded, and the David Hockney: a bigger book, the last to be added to the collection.
Only 413 full sets of the Prima & Ultima Fourth Release are available for purchase, directly through appointed Prima & Ultima agents. Individual bottlings from the fourth release are also available. The recommended retail selling price for the fourth release of Prima & Ultima is GBP45,580 (including tax and duty) in the UK. An online registration page is open from 13th September to 11th October 2023 at www.theprimaandultimacollection.com for whisky collectors across the globe to register their interest.
