For the primary time within the historical past of the Prima & Ultima sequence, 4 bottles can be obtainable for particular person buy within the U.S.
Grasp blender Dr. Craig Wilson had the privileged job of choosing the uncommon casks—the primary and final of their sort—for this third launch of Diageo’s Prima & Ultima sequence. Buying one of many 317 full units will set you again £36,500/$43,400, however for the primary time, 4 of the person bottles from the gathering can be launched on the market within the U.S. on their very own.
Based mostly on the theme of “A Second in Time,” the gathering contains eight whiskies with a mixed maturation of almost 300 years. It marks the sequence debut of Royal Lochnagar, and it’s the primary assortment to characteristic each Brora and Port Ellen whiskies: That hasn’t occurred because the 2017 Diageo Particular Releases. To mark this 12 months’s Platinum Jubilee, the Port Ellen was bottled from the final remaining cask crammed in 1980, the 12 months Queen Elizabeth II visited Port Ellen maltings on Islay.
The 2022 Prima & Ultima Collection Reviewed
Prima & Ultima Port Ellen 41 12 months outdated 1980
96 factors, 59.6%, £36,500/set
The oldest Port Ellen ever launched is a basic: a mind-blowing dry, salty, coastal dram. Dense peat, nearly meaty; smokiness abounds, with driftwood, brine, zested lime, greengages, and new chamois leather-based notes. Satin easy, with saltiness and candy citrus, it’s peppery at full energy although it takes water nicely. Dilutes to honey, barley, and baked lemon notes, creating a thick creaminess earlier than ending with banana sweet, peat smoke, and chocolate. (555 bottles)—Jonny McCormick
Prima & Ultima Brora 40 12 months outdated 1981
95 factors, 44.1%, £36,500/set
This final Brora launch from 1981 has a nostril of salty seaweed, toffee, ozone, ripe melon, canned pears, muted vanilla, beeswax candles, and well-integrated peppery smoke. Oily and mouth-drawing, with flavors of crème caramel, treacle, pepper, caramelized apple, and toffee, turning into waxy then velvety, with notes of cassis and darkish chocolate. Smoke is a continuing presence, whereas these oils lubricate the throat with darkish vanilla and nutty flavors. (354 bottles)—Jonny McCormick
Prima & Ultima Royal Lochnagar 40 12 months outdated 1981
94 factors, 52.5%, $6,000 (or £36,500/set)
This wraps up a whisky experiment designed to curb the angels’ share. A chic nostril of contemporary florals, honeysuckle, linen, wonderful spices, clotted cream on scones, blossom honey, gentle oak, and lemon zest. The stability of candy fruitiness and Lochnagar’s spiciness is scrumptious, with flavors of crème caramel, creamy banana, and a remaining section of honey, vanilla custard, and white chocolate. This rocks, however gently. (1,047 bottles)—Jonny McCormick
Prima & Ultima The Singleton of Glen Ord 34 12 months outdated 1987
94 factors,49.4%, $1,200 (or £36,500/set)
The final Glen Ord inventory of this classic has a concentrated, layered nostril of lemon bonbons, gooseberry custard, toffee, vanilla, ripe barley, honey, fruit pastilles, and delicate oak. The style buds are smothered within the confectionary sweetness of lemon meringue pie, butterscotch, honey, creamed coconut, gingernut biscuits, and toffee apple, plus pepper and energetic clove. Water provides richness and deeper citrus flavors. Gorgeous—like a summer time’s night you want would by no means finish. (1,047 bottles)—Jonny McCormick
Prima & Ultima Lagavulin 28 12 months outdated 1993
93 factors, 50.1%, $3,000 (or £36,500/set)
Drawn from the final 1993 casks, there are notes of chocolate-covered cherries, crystallized ginger, seasoned oak, woodsmoke, salt and pepper potato chips, and black tea on the nostril. Loads of European oak affect on the palate, with wealthy toffee, dried vine fruit, praline, strong smoke, pepper, and clove, although water coaxes out brighter cherry jam flavors. Spectacularly good, even when it performs many acquainted outdated Lagavulin tunes. (642 bottles)—Jonny McCormick
Prima & Ultima Talisker 37 12 months outdated 1984
93 factors, 51.9%, $3,500 (or £36,500/set)
Dry smokiness, salt, pepper, dried chile flakes, seashells, flaky chocolate, and the outdated oak of empty bourbon barrels baking within the solar. On the palate, candy concoctions of lemon curd, oranges, and chalky rock sweet are bridged by peppery smoke to an oilier section of nougat, almond, and seasoned oak, ending with creamy chocolate notes. Talisker has launched older bottlings, however these are the final of the casks from 1984. (968 bottles)—Jonny McCormick
Prima & Ultima Mannochmore 31 12 months outdated 1990
92 factors, 45.1%, £36,500/set
Initially matured in refill casks, this unconventional whisky developed wealthy chestnut hues after almost three many years in virgin European oak. An intriguing nostril of prune juice, sultana, halva, wooden spice, After Eight mints, and caramelized sugar. The palate expresses orange marmalade, chocolate-covered Brazil nuts, cocoa, oak spice, black cherry, and black currant mousse to complete: Chorus from including water. That is precisely what you need from a sequence like this. (317 bottles)—Jonny McCormick
Prima & Ultima Cragganmore 48 12 months outdated 1973
88 factors, 44.8%, £36,500/set
Drawn from the oldest casks from the distillery’s steam-driven stills period, the beguiling nostril has a honeyed depth of vanilla cream, Quaker Oats, ripe stone fruit, mango, contemporary tropical fruits, floor almond, and candied orange. The tart bitter-orange flavors are mouth-drawing, with peppercorn, walnut, and a jungle of oaky tannins. It’s very dry, with a end of barely robust dried fruit, falling wanting Diageo’s elegant 1973 unique. (351 bottles)—Jonny McCormick
