The third launch of Prima & Ultima, the sequence of uncommon single malts from Diageo, is now open for registration.
Chosen from among the extra well-known distilleries in Scotland, together with Brora, Port Ellen and The Singleton, the Prima & Ultima sequence permits collectors and whisky aficionados a key to rising a set of highly-limited classic single malt whiskies.
An announcement from Diageo explains that Prima & Ultima bottlings are drawn from casks which are the primary or final of their variety. Every launch of Prima & Ultima is curated by certainly one of Diageo’s grasp blenders.
Diageo Prima & Ultima, Third Launch (picture by way of Diageo)
For 2022, Dr. Craig Wilson hand-selected eight distinctive and private bottlings for the gathering. His expertise spans greater than 13 years, however extra not too long ago he has performed a basic position within the restoration of the Brora spirit and overseeing new releases from Port Ellen.
And as a celebration of his work, Wilson chosen a uncommon bottling from each Brora and Port Ellen to characteristic on this launch, a primary for Prima & Ultima.
Additionally a primary, the Prima & Ultima launch presents what’s described as the chance to find a single malt that’s each a primary and a final, the primary The Singleton of Glen Ord 1987 classic. It’s the one one ever launched from the final casks that stay.
This yr’s providing additionally contains debut appearances to the Prima & Ultima assortment from Royal Lochnagar, a 1981 bottling a part of a pioneering experiment on the distillery and a uniquely matured, unusually darkish Mannochmore 1990.
Grasp Blender Wilson takes the reins from the 2 earlier curators, Maureen Robinson and Jim Beveridge, for the Prima & Ultima sequence. With Wilson’s chosen bottlings on this third launch, the entire Prima & Ultima Assortment expands to 24 bottles.
Wilson mentioned it was his honor to “personally choose every whisky with nice care, every an distinctive spirit marking a particular time within the distilleries’ historical past and whiskies that I’ve had the privilege to observe mature.”
Within the yr of celebrating the Queen’s Platinum jubilee, Wilson mentioned it’s further particular to have chosen the final ever Port Ellen 1980 cask, stuffed within the yr of Her Majesty’s go to to the distillery’s maltings. “The Brora bottling is equally as valuable, taken from our final ever 1981 cask, making it certainly one of our rarest Brora whiskies of all time.”
In complete, solely 317 full units of the Prima & Ultima Third Launch are available for purchase, instantly by appointed Prima & Ultima brokers. The really helpful retail value for the third launch is £36,500.
The net registration web page is open till June thirtieth at www.theprimaandultimacollection.com to register curiosity.
The Third Launch of Prima & Ultima blender’s notes:
Royal Lochnagar 1981
- 40-12 months-Previous | 52.5% ABV
- Bottled: 06.12.21 | Refill casks, refill American Oak Hogsheads
- Quantity Bottled: 1,047 | Balmoral, Royal Deeside
- A tiny batch of Royal Lochnagar, a part of a pioneering experiment to achieve the angels’ share, the whisky misplaced from the cask by evaporation. When the experiment ended, a small quantity of liquid was transferred into the current casks, to slumber peacefully till its fifth decade. This can be a sleek, mature whisky of nice freshness and vitality with aromas of honeysuckle, rose and bramble, resulting in a {smooth} creamy mouthfeel.
Cragganmore 1973
- 48-12 months-Previous | 44.8% ABV
- Bottled: 06.12.21 | 3 refill American Oak Hogsheads
- Quantity Bottled: 351 | Ballindalloch, Speyside
- With advanced aromas that embody almond oil, this Cragganmore comes from the oldest casks we’ve, stuffed quickly after the coal-heated stills turned to steam. This milestone in distilling gave start to a brand new age by which craft and imaginative and prescient may stroll hand in hand. A pathfinder for the sleek whiskies of the modern-day, the nostril is extra advanced than standard with a palate that’s candy however pleasantly tart.
Mannochmore 1990
- 31-12 months-Previous | 45.1% ABV
- Bottled: 06.12.21 | Refill cask, untreated virgin European Oak
- Quantity Bottled: 317 | Glenlossie, Speyside
- A really particular Mannochmore sourced from a single small experimental batch uncovered to a extremely uncommon maturation. First housed in refill casks, then in uncommon, extremely lively virgin European Oak for nearly three many years has revealed a complete new character. The pale and youthful whisky has advanced right into a darkish and intriguing spirit, lean and {smooth} in texture. The highly effective style of putting darkish orange marmalade is minimize with drying wooden spice earlier than spiraling into countless layers of deep bitterness.
Brora 1981
- 40-12 months-Previous | 44.1% ABV
- Bottled: 09.12.21 | 1 refill American Oak Hogshead, 1 European Oak Sherry Butt
- Quantity Bottled: 354 | Brora, Highlands
- A lot of the Brora we all know in the present day is closely peated, the American Oak hogshead and European Oak Sherry butt chosen right here present us a distinct facet of the Brora story. Crammed at a time when much less whisky was being made, it was typically much less peaty permitting new aromas and tastes to shine by. Aromatic notes of scented candle wax dance with smoke and moorland flowers, resulting in a {smooth} waxy texture that’s candy and barely smoky. The final launch of 1981 Brora, this could be the rarest publically obtainable Brora of all.
The Singleton of Glen Ord 1987
- 34 Years-Previous | 49.4% ABV
- Bottled: 10.12.21 | 5 refill American Oak Hogsheads
- Quantity Bottled: 1,047 | Glen Ord, Highlands
- A primary, and final, that is the primary 1987 The Singleton of Glen Ord classic and the one one ever to be launched, from the final casks that stay. Gradual crafting and persistence have been key to this uncommon bottling, taking time to distill the liquid and see every cask attain its peak. The result’s a chic liquid with a aromatic nostril and creamy-smooth texture. The sweetly satisfying style holds deep fruity flavors with hints of ginger.
Lagavulin 1993
- 28-Years-Previous | 50.1% ABV
- Bottled: 08.12.21 | 1 Pedro Ximenez/Oloroso seasoned butt, 1 refill American Oak Hogsheads
- Quantity Bottled: 642 | Port Ellen, Isle of Islay
- A prized Lagavulin, from the final two 1993 casks, stuffed within the yr the distillery received the primary of an avalanche of worldwide awards. It was the beginning of a golden period, a hit that owed a lot to an Islay legend, Supervisor Grant Carmichael. A Lagavulin at its mature peak with redcurrant fruitiness on the nostril, quickly overcome by the maritime scents of sea salt and candy seaweed. Barely oily, the sleek texture delivers an extended mellow end, a gloriously wealthy and rounded whisky.
Talisker 1984
- 37-Years-Previous | 51.9% ABV
- Bottled: 07.12.21 | 3 refill American Oak Hogsheads, 1 ex-Sherry European Oak Butt
- Quantity Bottled: 968 | Carbost, Isle of Skye
- Taken from the final 1984 casks from Talisker, put aside and guarded for many years for his or her promising potential. On the time few knew of Talisker’s tempestuous maritime character, however there was one thing particular about these 1984 casks that made the distiller set them apart. The nostril offers instant gentle smoky notes, joined by tremendous sand and seaweed drying on a sizzling day. The marginally oily texture is nice and wealthy to start out, with thunder rolling in shortly after, leaving a mighty peppery kick. It’s Skye in all its elemental glory.
Port Ellen 1980
- 41-12 months-Previous | 59.6% ABV
- Bottled: 07.12.21 | 1 refill American Oak Hogshead, 1 ex-Sherry European Oak Butt
- Quantity Bottled: 555 | Port Ellen, Isle of Islay
- This prized piece of historical past is the oldest Port Ellen ever to be launched, stuffed within the yr the Queen visited the Port Ellen maltings. It comes from the 2 final casks of 1980 that spent all their days on Islay. This whisky of majestic high quality is wealthy and {smooth} with notes of brine and dry seaweed on the nostril. This very particular Port Ellen is an ideal steadiness of candy, salty, and smoky, with an extended, barely peaty end.
