April 2016 Auction

Anon, The Practical Distiller: Or, a Brief TREATISE OF Practical Distillation London: B. Lintot, 1718.

Bound with,

Smith, George, A Compleat Body OF DISTILLING, Explaining the MYSTERIES OF THAT SCIENCE, IN A most easy and familiar Manner London: Bernard Lintot, 1725.

The Practical Distiller is one of the earliest known books on whisky distillation. This seminal work, often attributed to George Smith, is a fascinating insight into the craft before it had even become an industry. A first edition dating to 1718, the British Library Short Title Catalogue lists only eight other copies, one of which is held in Oxford University's Bodleian Library and another at Harvard University. The work has been laterly bound with a subsequent work, A Compleat Body of Distilling, known to be by George Smith, also a first edition dating to 1725. 

Together these two works bound in one volume offer a unique opportunity to own a real piece of whisky history.

Please see images for any condition issues. Condition report available on request.

Bowmore Bicentenary 1779-1979 / 98.8 Proof

An extremely rare Bowmore released for their Bicentenary in 1979. This was created for the Italian market.

The whisky is rumoured to be from 1969 but this is not stated on the bottle. 

Bottled at a cask strength of 56.2%. 

Brora 1972 Douglas Laing 29 Year Old

One of Brora's legendary1972 vintages. This was distilled in 1972 and bottled in 30 years later by Douglas Laing for their Old & Rare Platinum Slection.  

One of 240 bottles

Bruichladdich 1964 'The Forty' 40 Year Old​ / Signed

This mythical 40 year old Bruichladdich is the oldest official release from the distillery.

Distilled on 24th October 1964 and matured in a single bourbon cask until bottling in november 2004.  There were only 550 bottles released of this exceptional Islay malt, this is bottle number 107.

Signed by Jim McEwen.

Brora 1972 Whisky Shop 30 Year Old

One of Brora's legendary1972 vintages. This was distilled in March 1972 and bottled in February 2003 by The Whisky Shop. 

One of 220 bottles

Port Ellen 1979 32 Year Old 12th Release

The twelth edition of the incredibly popular Port Ellen annual releases.  Distilled in 1979 and bottled 32 years later in 2012, bottled at cask strength and limited to 2,964 bottles, this is bottle 0546.

Port Ellen is the lost jewel in the Islay crown. Closure in 1983 has enabled this distillery to receive a near mythical amount of love and respect. As stocks get thinner on the ground, these bottles become rarer and rarer.

Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 23 Year Old

The oldest release as part of the 'Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve' series of bourbons.  

Matured for an incredible 23 years, this is now one of the most desirable, collectable and stunning bourbons in the world.

Bottle Code F-2141.

Bowmore 8 Year Old Sherriff's / 1970s

A legendary Bowmore, the Sherriff's bottling was originally released during the 1960s and created before the distillery was sold to Stanley P Morrison.

This early 1970s bottling is highly sought after.

Please take a close look at the overall condition.

Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 23 Year Old

The oldest release as part of the 'Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve' series of bourbons.  

Matured for an incredible 23 years, this is now one of the most desirable, collectable and stunning bourbons in the world.

Bottle Code F-3541.

Bowmore 30 Year Old Sea Dragon

Nicknamed 'the seadragon' due to the mythical beast adorning the rather pretty black ceramic bottle and box, this 30 year old Bowmore appeared in the mid 1990s and has achieved almost mythic status.

The contents of this decanter are almost entirely made up of long-aged casks from the legendary 1960s vintages.

Please note tax seal and condition of the box, pay close attention to the overall condition.

Balvenie 1970 Vintage Cask

Distilled on 28th September 1970 and bottled on 31st July 2001 from a single cask #12527.

Limited to a mere 310 bottles.

Bottle number 64 of 310.

Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 23 Year Old

The oldest release as part of the 'Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve' series of bourbons.  

Matured for an incredible 23 years, this is now one of the most desirable, collectable and stunning bourbons in the world.

Bottle Code F-2144.

Updated 28/04/2016 to show picture of bottle including neck tag.

Bowmore 30 Year Old Sea Dragon

Nicknamed 'the seadragon' due to the mythical beast adorning the rather pretty black ceramic bottle and box, this 30 year old Bowmore appeared in the mid 1990s and has achieved almost mythic status.

The contents of this decanter are almost entirely made up of long-aged casks from the legendary 1960s vintages.

Please note condition of the box.

Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 20 Year Old

This bourbon has become quite legendary, particularly after the theft of 65 X 3 bottle cases in 2013.

Now incredibly hard to find and even harder to buy from any retailer.

This bottle was distilled in the Frankfort distillery. 

Brora 30 Year Old 2004 Release

The third release of 30 year old Brora released as part of the 'special release' series in 2004 by Diageo.

Bottle 2961 of 3000 bottles.

Please note rust and marks on the box.

Brora 30 Year Old 2002 / 1st Release

This is a bottle of the original 30 year old Brora released within Diageo's Super Premium malts, back in 2002.  

Bottle number 1,111  of 3,000.

Please note condition of lot as shown.

Bowmore 1991 President's Selection Keizo Seji's Cask

At the time the president of Suntory, Mr Keizo Seji visited Bowmore distillery in 1991 and oversaw the filling of a single sherry cask.  After the death of Mr Seji his son visited Bowmore distillery and donated his fathers cask to the employees of Morrison Bowmore.  

The single sherry cask was distilled in 1991 and bottled in 2012, this 21 year old Bowmore was only given to employees of Morrison Bowmore.

Bottle number 360.

Bowmore 1984 Samaroli

A very rare Samaroli bottling of Bowmore distilled in 1984 and matured in a Sherry Fino puncheon #61930.

Bottle number 735 of 798.

Brora 1975 Rare Malt 20 Year Old

The Rare Malt Selection is a historic selection of single malt whiskies from operational and lost distilleries that were released by Diageo between 1995 and 2005.

This bottle of Brora was distilled in 1975 and matured for 20 years.

Bottle number 1,880.

Bowmore 1972 27 Year Old

A rare bottling of Bowmore 27 year old carrying the vintage 1972 released in the 1990s style packaging.

A vatting of three casks 4864, 4865 and 4866. 

Bottle number 167 of 466. 

Please note the condition of the box. 

Balvenie Tun 1858 Batch #1

A marriage of 6 American Oak casks and 3 European Oak Sherry casks created the first limited edition Balvenie Tun 1858, for the Taiwanese market. A limited release of only 2,600 bottles this has rarely been seen at auction.

As with the Balvenie Tun 1401, these whiskies are hand-selected by Malt Master David Stewart. Nine traditional whisky casks and two sherry butts are combined and rested for several months in Tun 1858.  The vintages range from 1966 and 1975.

The expression consists of the casks shown below.

Six traditional whisky casks   
#2387
#9917
#5036
#5245
#15338
#15328

Three sherry butts
#6443
#1041
#7497

Please note that there is a tube however it is damaged. 

Adelphi Glover 22 Year Old

Named after Scotsman Thomas Glover who moved to Japan and set up The Japan Brewery Company and the company that would become Mitsubishi.

A single cask Hanyu matured in sherry, a Longomorn matured in an American ex-sherry hogshead and a touch of Sherry butt matured Glen Garioch were all combined to make this Scottish Japanese fusion. 

One of 390 bottles. 

Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 Year Old

As sought after as the other members of this 'family'.

Produced in very limited quantites by Buffalo Trace distillery.

70cl

Port Ellen 1978 Rare Malt 20 Year Old

The Rare Malt Selection is an historic selection of single malt whiskies from operational and lost distilleries that was released by Diageo between 1995 and 2005.

One of the two Rare Malt releases by Diageo, this particular 20 year old was distilled in 1978 and bottled in October 1998.

Bottle number 1852.

Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 Year Old

As sought after as the other members of this 'family'.

Produced in very limited quantites by Buffalo Trace distillery.

Code - F1553 

75cl

Port Ellen 1978 Rare Malt 20 Year Old

The Rare Malt Selection is an historic selection of single malt whiskies from operational and lost distilleries that was released by Diageo between 1995 and 2005.

One of the two Rare Malt releases by Diageo, this particular 20 year old was distilled in 1978 and bottled in October 1998.

Bottle number 1520.

Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 15 Year Old

The teenager of this family of world reknowned American whiskies, now in incredibly high demand!

Port Ellen 1978 24 Year Old 2nd Release

The second of the incredibly popular Port Ellen annual releases.  Distilled in 1978 and bottled 24 years later in 2002, bottled at cask strength and limited to 12,000 bottles, this is bottle 6,598.

Port Ellen is the lost jewel of the Islay crown. Closure in 1983 has enabled this distillery to receive a near mythical amount of love and respect. As stocks get thinner on the ground, these bottles become rarer and rarer.

Please note condition of lot and fill level as shown in pictures.

Talisker 1958 Gordon and Macphail

An absolutely stunning bottle of Talisker, distilled in 1958 and bottled at some point in the early 1980s by Gordon and Macphail.

75cl and 40%.

Taketsuru 25 Year Old

A very rare bottling of Taketsuru, originally introduced in 2012 this blended malt contains casks from Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries.

It is extremely limited and only 120 bottles were available throughout Europe, this bottle was released in Asia. 

Taketsuru 25 Year Old

A very rare bottling of Taketsuru, originally introduced in 2012 this blended malt contains casks from Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries.

It is extremely limited and only 120 bottles were available throughout Europe, this bottle was released in Asia. 

Taketsuru 25 Year Old

A very rare bottling of Taketsuru, originally introduced in 2012 this blended malt contains casks from Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries.

It is extremely limited and only 120 bottles were available throughout Europe, this bottle was released in Asia.