Master Of Malts Maureen Robinson Curates Diageo's Prima & Ultima Collection

Diageo’s Prima & Ultima collection is a series of limited single vintage malts that are either the first or last bottling of their kind. We spoke to master of malts Maureen Robinson to uncover her approach to whiskies

- Richard Augustin

CURATED BY DIAGEO’S MOST CELEBRATED master blenders, the Prima & Ultima collection presents some of Diageo’s most magnificent and incredibly rare single malt Scotch whiskies. It is an unequalled gathering of cask-strength bottlings, except perhaps by its last release, which comprised eight bottles drawn from the historic stock of Diageo’s finest distilleries across Scotland, including Talisker, Mortlach, The Singleton of Glendullan, and Brora.

For collectors and whisky afficionados, each release represents a piece of distilling history. It is an opportunity to own an ultra-rare spirit drawn from casks that can never again be experienced by the world.

This year, that honour goes to Maureen Robinson who takes up the mantle from the curator of the inaugural Prima & Ultima, Dr Jim Beveridge OBE. An avid whisky lover who has spent over 40 years at Diageo, Robinson immediately began hand-selecting each whisky to make up the second release of Prima & Ultima. She knew every whisky in Diageo’s Single Malt portfolio, and her curation makes this year’s edition a celebration of some truly outstanding spirits that offer not just flavour but also history.

“This is a selection of very special single malts – some that have never before seen the light of day and others that are the fleeting and final examples of their kind,” expressed Robinson. “Each bottling shares a glimpse into the history of Scotch and one that I am honoured to have witnessed in person,” declared Robinson.

Exceptionally Aged, Ultra-Rare