Prima & Ultima is collection of unrepeatable bottlings of elusive and exquisite single malts, each with its own rarity & provenance story. Each distilled during a specific, unrepeatable moment of change.
The second release of small parcels is hand-selected by Maureen Robinson. With nearly 40 years experience at Diageo, her legacy comes from a dedication to understanding whisky.
From Scotland’s reserves of exceptionally aged Single Malt whisky comes our rarest, most exclusive collection of bottles drawn from casks now almost lost; whiskies that can never again be experienced by the world.
First and only bottlings are as intimate and personal as they are historic, and each tells its own story.
There are only 6 sets of Prima & Ultima sold only on Diageo Rare and Exceptional in the whole of Australia. Each collection comes with a set of crystal glassware.
Tasting Notes
Auchroisk 1974 | 47 Years | 48.7% Alc
Remarkably rich and spicy, with fruity aromas and smooth flavours that have evolved so well. Sweet baked apple on a brambly, wooded base leads into a creamy texture and a sweet taste, bold on the tongue with rich fruits, that softens to a spicily drying finish.
Brora 1980 | 40 Years | 49.4% Alc
This relaxed superstar has a lightly drying aroma, with mineral and maritime top notes backed by soft notes of almond oil and light smoke. The texture is smoothly waxy and the rounded taste is sweet and smoky, with an enticing bittersweet note of burnt caramel and a sprinkle of salt. Fragrant smokiness lingers in the long, warming finish.
Convalmore 1984 | 36 Years | 48.6% Alc
The mild nose is rich in sweet aromas on a woody base; the top notes suggest pale fruits such as lychees, white grapes or melon, all with gentle acidity. The texture is thick and creamy-smooth, while the vibrant taste skillfully balances sweet hints of mandarin orange with a peppery, oaky dryness. The finish oozes rich, sweet warmth with light spice, and traces of coconut in the aftertaste.
Lagavulin 1992 | 28 Years | 47.7% Alc
Mellow aromas of linseed oil and fragrant smoke introduce a smooth texture. The lightly sweet and smoky taste starts softly, with a pinch of salt mid-palate, then becomes oaky with vanilla spice and gently drying. It quietly builds in intensity and finishes long, leaving a sweet gingery warmth and light smoke in the aftertaste.
Linkwood 1981 | 39 Years | 52.9% Alc
Profoundly rich, the nose offers notes of dark, moist Christmas cake, mince pies and crystalised orange peel, backed by polished oak. The texture is smoothly creamy and the sweet taste is intensely fruity, with rich notes of ripe plum. The sweetness stays throughout, the second maturation also contributing to an oaky dryness. A drop of water even increases the sweet smoothness.
Mortlach 1995 | 25 Years | 52.4% Alc
At natural strength, the aromas are rich and complex, with a succession of fruity and fragrant notes. The texture is creamy-smooth. A very sweet, fruity and luscious start leads into a malt that is deliciously rich and full flavoured, letting these traits shine; the whole impression is proud, rounded and balanced. Lightly oaky and very lightly drying, it has well-controlled tannins. A drop of water evens it out, the sweetness still balanced by fruity acidity. It is, quite simply, delicious; a magnificent, many-layered mature malt with a character as individual as that of the uniquely complex distillery in which it was made.
Talisker 1979 | 41 Years | 47.5% Alc
The nose is characterful, with lightly oily and smoky top notes that lead into scents of the sea-shore; sweet edible seaweed, sea-breezes and warm sand. A deliciously mellow, lightly oily texture introduces a sweet and rich start, the smokiness rolling in with, yes, a little salt mid-palate. It is peppery too, as you would expect, with chilli in the warming finish and more linseed oil in the aftertaste.
The Singleton of Glendullan 1992 | 28 Years | 60.1%
Fresh and lively, the mild nose rests gentle citrus notes of sweet mandarin orange on a bed of sweet toffee and cut grass. Rich and creamy in texture, the taste is immediately very sweet, fruity and intense with juicy orange fruit. A growing savoury-spicy warmth then covers the palate, seeming to fizz in its desire to please. It is creamy in the development and has a long, drying finish.