Diageo is getting set to release its annual edition of Prima & Ultima, its most collectible whiskies on offer. This year’s edition, which goes on sale next month, contains 8 bottles in all, as with previous releases. Only 413 sets will be available for sale, at a price of £45,580 ($56,865), up 25% from last year. The company has created a web page for collectors to log on and register their interest at theprimaandultimacollection.com, and that site will close on October 11.
Whiskies in the collection are from Brora, Clynelish, Lagavulin, Pittyvaich, Oban, Port Ellen, The Singleton of Dufftown, and Talisker. Highlights from this year’s releases include a Talisker 46 year old (its oldest bottling ever), the last 1996 Oban casks from 1996, the last 1977 American oak hogheads from Brora, the last 1978 American oak hogsheads from Port Ellen, and the final 30 year old from Pittyvaich. Read on for more details.
Brora 1977
Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Highlands)
Age: 45 year old
ABV: 48.2%
Availability: 794 bottles made
Note: Brora 1977 comes from the final remaining American oak hogshead from the last distillation of 1977, the year that marked the end of an era known as the distillery’s Age of Peat.
Clynelish 1996
Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Highlands)
Age: 26 year old
ABV: 52%
Availability: 889 bottles made
Note: Clynelish 1996 comes from two experimental Pedro Ximénez and oloroso sherry-seasoned European oak butt
Lagavulin 1997
Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Islay)
Age: 25 year old
ABV: 50.7%
Availability: 625 bottles made
Note: Lagavulin 1997 was matured in refill American oak filled during the tenure of distillery manager Mike Nicolson.
Pittyvaich 1992
Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Speyside)
Age: 30 year old
ABV: 55.5%
Availability: 609 bottles made
Note: Pittyvaich 1992 is the final Pittyvaich 30 year old and comes from the last Pedro Ximénez/oloroso butts filled the year before the distillery closed.
Oban 1996
Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Highlands)
Age: 26 year old
ABV: 55.2%
Availability: 428 bottles made
Note: Oban 1996 marks the distillery’s first appearance in the series, and was matured in refill European oak, a rarity for this distillery.
Port Ellen 1978
Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Islay)
Age: 43 year old
ABV: 53.4%
Availability: 413 bottles made
Note: Port Ellen 1978 comes from the last four remaining American oak hogsheads in Diageo’s inventory from this year.
The Singleton of Dufftown 1985
Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Speyside)
Age: 37 year old
ABV: 47.7%
Availability: 511 bottles made
Note: The Singleton of Dufftown 1985 was matured in American oak hogsheads originally earmarked for blending, but discovered during the acquisition of a warehouse
Talisker 1976
Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Islands)
Age: 46 year old
ABV: 50.9%
Availability: 771 bottles made
Note: Talisker 1976 is Diageo’s oldest-ever release from this distillery, matured in an American oak hogshead and rested in a single puncheon before bottling.
