Elite Traveler Summer 2023

DIAGEO, PRIMA & ULTIMA Owner of nearly 30 Scotch distilleries, Diageo is a major player in the market from top to bottom. With iconic brands such as Lagavulin, Mortlach and Talisker under its umbrella, the multinational has access to an incredible array of whiskies. First launched in 2020, Prima & Ultima is an annual collection that puts the company’s power and in fl uence in plain sight. Released in batches of eight bottles, Prima & Ultima is the modern-day interpretation of the Rare Malts series, which ran from 1995 until 2005 and is now widely coveted by collectors. While Rare Malts were sold for a pittance compared to today’s prices (a fi ne investment for early adopters), a full collection of Prima & Ultima stretches north of $30,000. The price, however, is justi fi ed. The collection usually includes the rarest casks within Diageo’s huge portfolio. The whiskies are of the highest quality, but they all come with backstories that are as powerful as the cask-strength liquids inside the bottles. For instance, the Auchroisk 47 Year Old, released in the 2021 series, was drawn from the very fi rst cask fi lled on the very fi rst day of operation when the distillery opened in 1974. Most notable of all was the Cragganmore 48 Year Old, released in the debut series in 2020, which came from the last remaining cask of whisky fi lled before its famous coal- fi red stills were turned o ff forever. The whisky has an intense smokiness that was ingrained at the moment of distillation and retained inside the cask for almost half a century. James Mackay, global private client director at Diageo and one of the leading fi gures behind Prima & Ultima, told Elite Traveler : “Today, there is a certain type of whisky connoisseur who gets particularly excited about something that has a very distinct provenance. They see it as a moment in time that can be collected and treasured, but can’t be replicated, which is verydi ff erent to any other kind of luxury purchase.” diageorareandexceptional.com

TAKE THREE/// BEST OF THE REST

1. LEADING TEQUILA Patrón El Alto Tequila is still far behind Scotch whisky in terms of collectibility, but it is making up ground quickly. Fine and rare releases are now commonplace, and Patrón recently took its fi rst step into the prestige category with El Alto. Four years in the making, this new expression combines Extra Añejo with Añejo and Reposado tequilas. The tequila was aged in an astonishing 11 di ff erent cask types, including American oak and French oak. A genuinely innovative release, the result is an endlessly complex tequila that o ff ers subtle notes of fi gs, honey, caramel, dried fruit and vanilla. $179, patrontequila.com

2. LEADING BOURBON Michter’s Celebration Sour Mash Whiskey The original ‘expensive’ bourbon when it arrived in 2013, the Celebration Sour Mash Whiskey was the fi rst American whiskey to be sold for several thousand dollars straight from a distillery. There have been just four releases in the series since standards dictate only exceptional casks can be used in the blend. The 2022 Edition is the latest to join a coveted lineup and the fi rst release since 2019. Made up of just seven casks and limited to 328 bottles, all will have been allocated to those in the know. Prices on the secondary market will be signi fi cantly above SRP. $6,000, michters.com

3. LEADING COGNAC Hennessy X.O Masterpiece Created in 1870 by Maurice Hennessy for his close circle of friends, Hennessy X.0 is a timeless expression that captures the essence of the Cognac region. Instead of changing the spirit, Hennessy has jazzed up the bottle, collaborating with Dior Men’s and Fendi Womenswear artistic director Kim Jones to bring cognac and couture together through a unique decanter. The innovative titanium second skin twists and folds in the same way Hennessy bottles were once hand-enveloped in tissue paper. The cognac must be extracted via a fusil designed by Jones. It is

At a time when true luxury is increasingly elusive, Scotch retains a level of authenticity that cannot be bought

limited to just 200. POA, hennessy.com

Photos J Spencer