A highly coveted gift for the consummate whisky drinker, collector or appreciator of refinement and prestige, the Prima & Ultima Second Release by Diageo Rare & Exceptional features a formidable curation of some of the best drams in all of Scotland drawn from the historic stock of Diageo’s finest distilleries.
Extremely limited in quantities with 376 numbered sets circulating around the world, these vintage single malts are either the first or last bottling of their kind — each with a piece of distilling history offering collectors the opportunity to build an expertly curated liquid library over time.
For the whisky connoisseur who understands the value in extremely rare finds, the Prima & Ultima is most certainly a worthy investment item — not to mention a statement of luxury that reflects their own personal branding. Each product also offers the owner an opportunity to experience something truly unique and become a part of Diageo’s legacy.
Never to be experienced again, the whiskies for this collection have been carefully selected by one of Diageo’s most celebrated master blenders Maureen Robinson, who has personally tended to several of these casks herself.
For this collection, she has handpicked eight outstanding spirits that honour the sunrise and sunset of some of Scotland’s most eminent names — each showcasing unique characteristics and backstories with a maturity of up to 47 years. All of them are natural cask strength, non-chill filtered with no colour added.
“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. Each bottling shares a glimpse into the history of Scotch and one that I am honoured to have witnessed in person,” says Robinson.
She adds: “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 has its own unique style, which you can now explore for yourself.”
Mistress Blender
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Maureen Robinson is a master blender at Diageo with over 44 years of experience in blended Scotch and single malts like The Singleton. She has personally tended to many casks during her time at Diageo, some of which make up the single vintage malts in the second release of Prima & Ultima.
After studying Pharmacy at Strathclyde University, Robinson began her career in the Glenochil Research Station as a young scientist in 1977. This is where she discovered her excellent sense of smell and spent nine years developing her nosing and tasting ability. She then moved onto a Quality Assurance role which ultimately led to her being a Master Blender where she works on products through from development to launch.
She is often seen on the judging panels of whisky competitions such as International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) and was made Keeper of the Quaich — an exclusive and international society that recognises those that have shown outstanding commitment to the Scotch Whisky industry — in 2012. Working across a wide breadth of distilleries across her career, Robinson acts as a custodian for each cask, devoting her time to guaranteeing the best spirit possible.
Encased in a beautiful custom-made wooden box, each set is accompanied by eight unique glasses, engraved with a bespoke design that reflects the story behind each cask, created in collaboration with two glass artists. Individual 20ml samples of each whisky are also included with a booklet of personal stories told by Robinson. Here, we take a closer look at the unique profiles of each bottle and why they deserve a place is this extremely rare and exceptional ensemble.
Auchroisk 1974
The very first cask to be filled at Auchroisk when distilling began in January 1974, this cask aged in European Oak Butt in the town of Mulben has been kept back for many years for its character and its rarity. Now 47 years old, it is remarkably rich and spicy, with fruity aromas and smooth flavours.
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Brora 1980
Distilled during the golden age of peated Brora in 1980, this is taken from the very last of the distillery’s casks from that year. A fitting tribute to a great legacy aged in American Oak for 40 years, its fragrant smokiness lingers in the long, warming finish.
Convalmore 1984
Bottled in November 1984, this 36-year-old whisky is taken from three American Oak hogsheads, a matter of months before the distillery closed forever — now a ghost distillery in Dufftown. Very little of the malt remains, which harnesses the golden, smooth character and rich fruitiness of Convalmore.
Lagavulin 1992
The first of its kind from a small experimental batch matured entirely on Islay in freshly charred American Oak hogsheads, this is a very rare 28-year-old Lagavulin from Port Ellen. Time has mellowed the smoky nature of this spirit making it elegantly rounded and smooth in texture.
Linkwood 1981
This 39-year-old single malt is part of the first pioneering trial exploring different maturation processes at Linwood’s distillery in Elgin. The rich flavours and aromas of a PX/Oloroso-seasoned cask are deeply integrated with the creamy texture and spicy, toasted characters brought by the new American Oak.
Mortlach 1995
Known as ‘The Lone Wolf’ for standing out from the pack, this 25-year-old single malt aged in Dufftown is taken from a very special 1995 Pedro Ximenez/Oloroso seasoned European Oak butt. It tastes meaty and robust with complex and rich flavours.
Talisker 1979
This single malt dram is selected from the last four 1979 refill American Oak hogsheads that spent their time in the storm-lashed warehouse facing the Atlantic Ocean in Carbost, Isle of Skye. Now 41-years-old, it is supremely rugged, smooth and muscular.
The Singleton of Glendullan 1992
Having been personally involved in its creation in her role as Master of Malts for The Singleton, Robinson has selected The Singleton of Glendullan 1992, part of a one-off trial that saw spirit first kept in refill wood, before double-maturing in two small ex-Madeira barriques for a further fourteen years. This 28-year-old has imparted a sweet richness to the malt that complements the light and elegant distillery character.
Limited full sets of the Prima & Ultima Second Release are available at $39,500 through Diageo Rare & Exceptional Singapore Private Client Team at www.DiageoRareAndExceptional.com
