Following the outstanding success of the first and second Prima & Ultima comes the hugely anticipated third release. This year Master Blender Dr Craig Wilson takes up the baton, following Master of Malts Maureen Robinson, after the inaugural selection was made by celebrated master blender Dr Jim Beveridge OBE.
Among the treasured casks of Scotch Whisky made and stored every year there is a small cohort that will rise to become remarkable. Their greatness emerges over time adding new stories into this growing narrative of Scotland’s rich liquid history.
Embodying the very best in Scotch, each whisky in the collection tells a tale of heritage and craftsmanship, so rare that their contents, and the moment they capture, risk being lost to the world forever. The series this year features the oldest ever release from Port Ellen; the a 1980 taken from two casks filled the year Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited the maltings. It is the last of this vintage. The casks for this release matured exclusively on Islay, overlaying the whisky with notes of brine and seaweed. Alongside this sit Brora 1981, considered the rarest publicly available whisky from the distillery; a single malt that shows a more fragrant, less peated side to the classic style.
The last Talisker casks from 1984 bring another maritime note to the collection, while two exploratory whiskies capture the spirit of innovation; a Royal Lochnagar from 1981, the result of an experiment to capture the angels’ share, and a Mannochmore from 1990, a whisky exposed to an unusual maturation process.
The oldest whisky in this year’s selection comes from the oldest casks of Cragganmore in the reserves, while a 28 year old Lagavulin 1993 celebrates the beginning of a golden era of awards for the celebrated Islay distillery.
The Singleton of Glen Ord finishes the line up with a dual claim to the Prima & Ultima title, being the first ever 1987 vintage release, taken from the last remaining casks of 1987.
Every whisky in this collection tells a story, capturing an essence of a time and era in liquid form, holding those moments in suspension until they are released out of darkness, bottled and brought to light.
Every set of Prima & Ultima includes the eight single vintage bottlings and is accompanied by 20ml tasting samples of each whisky and a booklet of Craig’s personal reflections.