A hand curated collection from some of the finest distilleries in Scotland which includes the oldest ever Single Malt from Talisker Distillery

LONDON, 13th September 2023: Registration is now open for collectors around the world to secure the fourth release of Prima & Ultima, the esteemed anthology of rare and collectible vintage Single Malt Scotch Whiskies from Diageo. 

Hand-selected from some of the finest distilleries in Scotland, including legendary Brora and Port Ellen, Prima & Ultima gives collectors and connoisseurs the opportunity to build an expertly curated liquid library of magnificent whiskies over time. This fourth release comprises eight remarkable bottlings; the oldest ever whisky to come from Talisker Distillery, the forgotten last casks from The Singleton of Dufftown in 1985 and the last ever 1997 Lagavulin. 

Each whisky from the collection holds a story of a first and a last of its kind. The collection presents the chance to build one of the rarest and most exceptional liquid libraries in the world, capturing the ever unfolding story of Scotch. Including pioneering experiments and the dwindling remains from long lost ghost distilleries, the whiskies in this collection can never again be experienced by the world.

Revealed to a select group of guests at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, the fourth edition in the series sees eight incredibly rare and precious vintage cask strength Single Malt Scotch Whiskies personally selected by Master Blender Dr Emma Walker. Celebrated as a true master of malt, Dr Emma Walker has spent a luminous career at the forefront of Diageo’s finest work in whisky. Her first hand experience of these liquid legends truly comes to life in this vivid and personal selection of Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

With Emma’s heightened knowledge of Single Malts she takes up the mantle from its three previous curators, Dr Craig Wilson, Maureen Robinson and Dr Jim Beveridge OBE, each individual highly respected within the industry with over a century of experience between them.

Dr Emma Walker said: “It is a privilege to introduce the fourth release of Prima & Ultima which I have personally selected from Scotland’s reserves of exceptionally aged Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Each of these whiskies have been watched, influenced and marked as outstanding. As well as being exceptional, these rare whiskies were each distilled during a specific, unrepeatable moment of note or change at each of the eight iconic distilleries.” 

Emma continued to say: “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 malt whisky I tried was a Lagavulin, 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 realised.”