This Collection of Rare Single Malts Includes Talisker’s Oldest Whisky
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The fourth release of Prima & Ultima has arrived, the annual collection of expensive, rare, aged single malts from some of Diageo’s most esteemed distilleries. This time the entire set will be available here in the U.S., and it includes the oldest whisky to date from the Talisker distillery.
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There are some other special whiskies that make this year’s Prima & Ultima eight-bottle collection unique: It also includes the last ever 1997 vintage from Lagavulin, and Oban has been included for the very first time. The entire lineup is as follows, all bottled at cask strength, non-chill filtered, with no color added: Brora 1977, 45-year-old aged in a American oak hogshead with a “sweet peat” character ($14,500); Clynelish 1996, 26-year-old aged in PX and Oloroso sherry casks ($1,400); Lagavulin 1997, 25-year-old aged in a refill American oak cask ($2,300); Pittyvaich 1992, aged in the last PX and Oloroso sherry-seasoned casks from that year ($1,200); Oban 1996, 26-year-old aged in European oak, a cask not often used at the distillery ($1,900); Port Ellen 1978, 43-year-old aged in American oak hogshead at this shuttered (soon to reopen) distillery ($14,500); The Singleton of Dufftown 1985, 37-year-old aged in American oak hogshead ($2,400); and Talisker 1976, 46-year-old aged in aged in American oak hogshead, the oldest release to date from this distillery.
The whiskies were selected by Diageo master blender Dr. Emma Walker, who was appointed “whisky maker” for this year’s Prima & Ultima collection. “As well as being exceptional, these rare whiskies were each distilled during a specific, unrepeatable moment in the histories of eight iconic distilleries,” she said in a statement. “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 single malt scotch whisky I tried was a Lagavulin, and 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 realized.”
The prices for the individual bottles are as listed above, but you can also purchase one 413 complete sets for a grand total of $44,000. Collectors take note—each bottle comes with a miniature version, so you can sample the whisky but maybe hold onto the set as a liquid investment. Interested parties can register from now until October 11 at the website to inquire about purchasing the collection. And you can find other Diageo single malts like the Talisker Distiller’s Edition for sale now at websites like ReserveBar.
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