April 2025 Auction

Willowbank 1987 Touch Pause Enjoy 26 Year Old

Willowbank distillery was built in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1974 by the Baker family, and primarily produced blends such as Wilson's and 45 South. In the 1980s it was bought by Canadian giants, Seagram, who provided it with a global distribution network and began to market its single malt under the Lammerlaw brand. Sadly, with Seagram beginning to struggle in the late-1990s, the distillery was sold to the Fosters brewing company, who mothballed it in 1997 and sent the stills to the South Pacific distillery in Fiji to produce rum. The remaining 443 barrels of Willowbank whisky were bought procured by a company called the New Zealand Whisky Collection, who have been bottling them ever since.

This single malt was distilled in 1987 and matured for 26 years. It was bottled at cask strength in March 2013 under the title Touch, Pause, Enjoy, a play on the instructions a referee would offer during a scrum in a game of rugby.

White Heather 5 Year Old de Luxe Scotch Whisky 1.125 Litre 1980s

Once a well known brand in France and elsewhere in Europe, White Heather Distillers Ltd was originally a subsidiary of S. Campbell & Son Limited. The blend was on the market from the early 1950s until the middle of the 1980s. White Heather was recently revived by Billy Walker and GlenAllachie in 2021.

This is an older bottling of blended Scotch from White Heather Distillers from around the 1980s.

NOTE: This lot will include a two bottle shipping fee

Arran 1996 Vintage Collection

Although the Isle of Arran was once a hot-bed of distilling activity, there were no distilleries on the island for the majority of the 19th and 20th centuries. Isle of Arran Distillers opened their first distillery in 1995, and it quickly became a firm favourite. They bottled its first single malt in 1998, a limited edition 3 year old in a glass decanter. The distillery also produced a peated single malt called Machrie Moor, however an experimental second distillery on the other side of the island, called Lagg, is now the site of all the company’s peated production. As of 2019, the distillery was renamed Lochranza, however its single malt brand is still known by the old name, Arran.

This Arran was distilled in 1996 and bottled as part of the distilley's Vintage Collection in 2005.

One of 6,000 bottles.

Arran 1995 First Distillation

Although the Isle of Arran was once a hot-bed of distilling activity, there were no distilleries on the island for the majority of the 19th and 20th centuries. Isle of Arran Distillers opened their first distillery in 1995, and it quickly became a firm favourite. They bottled its first single malt in 1998, a limited edition 3 year old in a glass decanter. The distillery also produced a peated single malt called Machrie Moor, however an experimental second distillery on the other side of the island, called Lagg, is now the site of all the company’s peated production. As of 2018, the distillery was renamed Lochranza, however its single malt brand is still known by the old title, Arran.

This limited release from Arran was from their first distillation in 1995. It was bottled in 2004.

One of 2,784 bottles.

Willowbank 1987 Touch Pause Enjoy 26 Year Old

Willowbank distillery was built in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1974 by the Baker family, and primarily produced blends such as Wilson's and 45 South. In the 1980s it was bought by Canadian giants, Seagram, who provided it with a global distribution network and began to market its single malt under the Lammerlaw brand. Sadly, with Seagram beginning to struggle in the late-1990s, the distillery was sold to the Fosters brewing company, who mothballed it in 1997 and sent the stills to the South Pacific distillery in Fiji to produce rum. The remaining 443 barrels of Willowbank whisky were bought procured by a company called the New Zealand Whisky Collection, who have been bottling them ever since.

This single malt was distilled in 1987 and matured for 26 years. It was bottled at cask strength in March 2013 under the title Touch, Pause, Enjoy, a play on the instructions a referee would offer during a scrum in a game of rugby.

AnCnoc 1998

Knockdhu could be considered by many to be the genesis of what is now the whisky giant, Diageo. Then known as DCL, a consortium of Lowland grain distillers, they built Knockdhu distillery in their first foray into malt whisky distilling in 1893. They operated the distillery until 1983 when, like much of their portfolio, they closed it down due to an oversupply resulting from the Scotch market downturn of the period. The distillery was bought and re-opened by Inver House in 1988, who quickly turned out the first official single malt bottlings. The product was swiftly rebranded as AnCnoc in 1993 however, purportedly to avoid confusion with the similarly named Knockando.

This 1998 vintage was bottledin February 2012.

Aberlour 18 Year Old

Aberlour is a picturesque Speyside distillery, built in 1879 by James Fleming after the original distillery of the same name was lost in a fire. It became the first distillery in the S. Campbell & Son portfolio when they acquired it in 1945, and produced fillings for their popular Clan Campell and White Heather blends. Production capacity was increased to meet rising demand for its spirit in 1973, and the following year the company was bought over by Pernod-Ricard who operated it under the Campbell Distillers before merging it with Chivas Brothers, which they acquired from Seagram in 2001. The reverence for the sherry-casked A'Bunadh, launched in 1997, has greatly boosted the popularity of the distillery, and its output from all eras is increasingly sought after.

Ardbeg Perpetuum Bicentenary Release

You would not think it to see it now, but Ardbeg had a difficult time of it for much of the 20th century. The distillery was bought in a joint venture between Hiram Walker and DCL in 1959, both intending to supply their blends. The subsequent years were very successful, but DCL backed out in 1979 (closing many of their other distilleries a few years later), and Hiram Walker then struggled in the 1980s era oversupply when interest is blended Scotch was waning. They closed it down for the majority of the decade. It re-opened briefly in the 1990s before being revived for good by Glenmorangie plc in 1997.

Released in 2015 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the legendary Islay distillery, this is the standard release of Perpetuum, which was launched during Feis Ile 2015. A higher proof offering was also available to Ardbeg Committee members and at the distillery.

Perpetuum is a blend of old and young whisky, matured in both bourbon and sherry casks.

Wolfburn Kylver Series 12th Release / Jera

Wolfburn distillery is the most northerly on the Scottish mainland, located in the town of Thurso. The original Wolfburn distillery was built in 1821 by William Smith, and was operational for around 30 years before closing. The current Wolfburn distillery was built as close to the site of the original as possible, just 350 metres from its ruins. Distilling began there in January 2013.

The Kylver series is named after an old burial stone, discovered to have one of the earliest examples of the runic alphabet on it. This release features the symbol “Jera”.

This was released in 2023, and was matured in 100 litre Pedro Ximénez casks.

Wild Turkey Old No.8 Brand 70cl 1994

The Wild Turkey distillery, then known as Boulevard, was built in 1935 by the Ripy Brothers in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. The Wild Turkey brand name originated around 1941 when some, shared on a hunting trip, was referred to as \"some of that wild turkey whiskey.\" It is distilled at bottled by the Austin Nicholls company and for many years they had sourced the whiskey from the Ripy's, but eventually bought the distillery from them in 1972, renaming it in the process. Of almost equal importance, the purchase of the distillery included the contract of legendary master distillery, Jimmy Russell, who started working there in 1954. His name is synonymous with the brand, and his son succeeded him 2015. In 2011 a new Wild Turkey distillery was built on the same site, replacing the original Ripy plant after 76 years.

The \"Old No. 8 brand\" briefly replaced the 8 year old Wild Turkey in the early 1990s, though this too was dropped by the turn of the millennium. 

Bottled at the lower than usual strength of 86.8 US Proof.

Abhainn Dearg Single Cask 50cl

Abhainn Dearg was founded in 2008 by Marko Tayburn at Red River on the Isle of Lewis, and was the first legal whisky producer in the area for over 150 years. Being Scotland’s remotest distillery, operations there are still particularly old fashioned. The bottles are still hand-filled and sent to the local post office for distribution, and Tayburn even designed and built his own stills, modelling them after an old illicit still he had discovered on the island. The Abhainn Dearg single malt brand was released launched in 2011, and its first 10 year old in 2018, which at the time was the oldest legal whisky ever produced on Lewis.

Aberlour 10 Year Old 1 Litre 1980s

Aberlour is a picturesque Speyside distillery, built in 1879 by James Fleming after the original distillery of the same name was lost in a fire. It became the first distillery in the S. Campbell & Son portfolio when they acquired it in 1945, and produced fillings for their popular Clan Campell and White Heather blends. Production capacity was increased to meet rising demand for its spirit in 1973, and the following year the company was bought over by Pernod-Ricard who operated it under the Campbell Distillers before merging it with Chivas Brothers, which they acquired from Seagram in 2001. The reverence for the sherry-casked A'Bunadh, launched in 1997, has greatly boosted the popularity of the distillery, and its output from all eras is increasingly sought after.

Wilderness Trail 8 Year Old Small Batch Single Barrel Bourbon #070122B

Founded in 2013, Shane Baker and Pat Heist's Wilderness Trail is a family owned and operated distillery in Danville, Kentucky. 

This is a small batch 8 year old single barrel release from batch #070122B. 

Arran 2014 Decadent Drinks 10 Year Old / Decadent Drams

Although the Isle of Arran was once a hot-bed of distilling activity, there were no distilleries on the island for the majority of the 19th and 20th centuries. Isle of Arran Distillers opened their first distillery in 1995, and it quickly became a firm favourite. They bottled its first single malt in 1998, a limited edition 3 year old in a glass decanter. The distillery also produced a peated single malt called Machrie Moor, however an experimental second distillery on the other side of the island, called Lagg, is now the site of all the company’s peated production. As of 2019, the distillery was renamed Lochranza, however its single malt brand is still known by the old name, Arran.

This Arran was distilled in 2014 and matured in a single first-fill sherry hogshead for 10 years. It was bottled by Decadent Drinks in 2025, under their Decadent Drams label.

Whiskybroker was founded in 2010 with the intention of supplying larger quantities of whisky to clubs and connoisseurs to buy and bottle in bulk. In addition to this service, they bottle some of the casks themselves, keeping the presentation simple and the costs down in order to offer affordable independent alternatives to standard distillery bottlings.

One of 294 bottles.

Ardbeg Perpetuum Bicentenary Release

You would not think it to see it now, but Ardbeg had a difficult time of it for much of the 20th century. The distillery was bought in a joint venture between Hiram Walker and DCL in 1959, both intending to supply their blends. The subsequent years were very successful, but DCL backed out in 1979 (closing many of their other distilleries a few years later), and Hiram Walker then struggled in the 1980s era oversupply when interest is blended Scotch was waning. They closed it down for the majority of the decade. It re-opened briefly in the 1990s before being revived for good by Glenmorangie plc in 1997.

Released in 2015 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the legendary Islay distillery, this is the standard release of Perpetuum, which was launched during Feis Ile 2015. A higher proof offering was also available to Ardbeg Committee members and at the distillery.

Perpetuum is a blend of old and young whisky, matured in both bourbon and sherry casks.

Ardnamurchan 2018 Single Bourbon Cask 6 Year Old #1069 / AD/Venturers

Ardnamurchan is the Highland distillery belonging to revered independent bottlers-turned-distillers, Adelphi. The Adelphi name has a rich history, operating as a distillery in the Gorbals district of Glasgow from 1825, producing spirit from the waters of Loch Katrine. The distillery ceased production in the early 20th century however and several changes in ownership culminating in a takeover by DCL in 1902. The Adelphi name was revived in 1993 by Jamie Walker, great-grandson of former distillery owner Archibald. Ardnamurchan is situated on the most westerly point of the British mainland, and opened in 2014, producing both peated and unpeated single malts.

This unpeated Ardnamurchan was distilled from Golden Promise barley in 2018, and matured in single first-fill bourbon barrel #1069 for 6 years. It was bottled exclusively for the AD/Venturers.

Each bottle carries a scannable QR code that reveals complete details of the spirit from barley to bottle.

One of 248 bottles.

Aultmore 21 Year Old

Built in 1896 by Alexander Edward, Aultmore distillery was procured by John Dewar & Sons in 1923. They joined DCL two years later. So key is it to the Dewar's blends, that it has been part of their outfit ever since, and has rarely been bottled as an official single malt. United Distillers included it in the Flora & Fauna range of the 1990s, but it was not until after Bacardi acquired the Dewar's brand and associated distilleries in 1998 that Aultmore's excellent spirit was rewarded with a permanent range.

This is the 21 year old core-range expression from Aultmore, matured in refill hogsheads.

Wire Works 2019 Single Cask #256 / Special Waters

White Peak distillery was founded in 2016 by husband-and-wife team, Max & Claire Vaughan. When the facility was completed inside the former Johnson & Nephew Wire Works, it became the first whisky producer in the county of Derbyshire. In the 19th century, the Wire Works was known for producing some of the highest quality cabling in the world. The factory’s galvanised products would be used in the first cross-Channel communication line, suspension bridges and buildings all over the world.  Max & Claire describe their operation as “very manual,” and involves a mixture of peated and unpeated spirit. A four-day fermentation period is their standard and distillation takes place in small custom-built, copper pot stills. Early examples of the distillery’s spirit were made available from 2020, including an independent release from That Boutique-y Whisky Company, and the distillery debuted its inaugural single malt in 2022. In recognition of the facility's manufacturing past, the distillery's glass bottles are presented in the form of a wound galvanised cable.

This lightly peated single malt was distilled in 2019 and matured in single STR (Shaved, Toasted and Recharred) cask #256. It was bottled under the title Special Waters.

One of 393 bottles.

Wire Works 2019 Single Cask #256 / Special Waters

White Peak distillery was founded in 2016 by husband-and-wife team, Max & Claire Vaughan. When the facility was completed inside the former Johnson & Nephew Wire Works, it became the first whisky producer in the county of Derbyshire. In the 19th century, the Wire Works was known for producing some of the highest quality cabling in the world. The factory’s galvanised products would be used in the first cross-Channel communication line, suspension bridges and buildings all over the world.  Max & Claire describe their operation as “very manual,” and involves a mixture of peated and unpeated spirit. A four-day fermentation period is their standard and distillation takes place in small custom-built, copper pot stills. Early examples of the distillery’s spirit were made available from 2020, including an independent release from That Boutique-y Whisky Company, and the distillery debuted its inaugural single malt in 2022. In recognition of the facility's manufacturing past, the distillery's glass bottles are presented in the form of a wound galvanised cable.

This lightly peated single malt was distilled in 2019 and matured in single STR (Shaved, Toasted and Recharred) cask #256. It was bottled under the title Special Waters.

One of 393 bottles.

Whistlepig 10 Year Old Single Barrel Rye #72177 / TWS

The Whistlepig distillery was established in Vermont in 2007 by Raj Peter Bhakta, who enlisted the late Dave Pickerell as Master Distiller, having previously worked at Maker's Mark for 14 years. Initially, the distillery sourced casks of rye whisky while they were setting up their distilling operation. The majority of these barrels were sourced from MGP in Indiana, and from Alberta Distillers in Canada. Their high-quality blends, single barrels, and unusual cask finishes have seen the brand become and overwhelming success. They began distilling at Whistlepig Farm in 2015, bottling the first of their own distillate as part of their \"triple terroir\" Farmstock blends in 2017. In the same year, Bhakta retired from the company, selling his stake in it to BDT Partners two years later.

This single barrel rye was sourced from Alberta Distillers and selected exlusively for The Whisky Shop.

Auchentoshan 21 Year Old pre-2008

Famed for its exclusive use of triple distillation, Auchentoshan is based on the outskirts of Glasgow and was owned for the duration of the 1960s by Tennents brewery. They sold it to Eadie Cairns at the end of the decade, who upgraded the site and began officially bottling it as a single malt. The distillery passed through the hands of Morrison Bowmore before becoming part of the Beam Suntory table today. Unusually, none of the Auchentoshan output is reserved for blends, meaning there has been a wealth of distillery bottled single casks and independent releases throughout the years.

This is an older version of the 21 year old, produced in this style until the distillery rebrand in 2008.

Ardbeg BizarreBQ Limited Edition

You would not think it to see it now, but Ardbeg had a difficult time of it for much of the 20th century. The distillery was bought in a joint venture between Hiram Walker and DCL in 1959, both intending to supply their blends. The subsequent years were very successful, but DCL backed out in 1979 (closing many of their other distilleries a few years later), and Hiram Walker then struggled in the 1980s era oversupply when interest is blended Scotch was waning. They closed it down for the majority of the decade. It re-opened briefly in the 1990s before being revived for good by Glenmorangie plc in 1997.

An Ardbeg limited release for 2023, this was matured in a combination of double charred oak casks, Pedro Ximenez casks and \"unique BBQ casks\". The style was inspired by smokey BBQ's with the help of Christian Stevensen under the stewardship of Master Distiller, Bill Lumsden.

Ardbeg Supernova SN2014 Committee Release Miniature x 2

You would not think it to see it now, but Ardbeg had a difficult time of it for much of the 20th century. The distillery was bought in a joint venture between Hiram Walker and DCL in 1959, both intending to supply their blends. The subsequent years were very successful, but DCL backed out in 1979 (closing many of their other distilleries a few years later), and Hiram Walker then struggled in the 1980s era oversupply when interest in blended Scotch was waning. They closed it down for the majority of the decade. It re-opened briefly in the 1990s before being revived for good by Glenmorangie plc in 1997. 

Following in the footsteps of the previous Supernova release, this is as peaty as Ardbeg gets.  Sold exclusively to members of the Ardbeg Committee via Ardbeg Embassies worldwide, as you can imagine it was not available for long...

This release celebrates the return to earth of the 'Ardbeg Space Experiment'.

Officially launched in January 2000, the Ardbeg Committee is a fan club that loosely tasked with safeguarding the distillery from a return to its darker days of the previous century. Open to anyone to register, the club has access to exclusive releases like this one, which are never available to the general public. Membership also have access to a private room at the distillery and are asked to adhere to semi-tongue in cheek set of Committee rules, one of which warns of grave consequences for those who mix their Ardbeg with anything other than water.

Ardmore 2002 Global Whisky 21 Year Old OLO

Ardmore was built by Wm. Teacher at the end of the 19th century, and as a rare peated Highland single malt, provided the smoky qualities in their well-loved blends. Now in the hands of Beam Suntory, there have been very few official bottlings, but the independent releases that have appeared over the years are much sought after.

This Ardmore was distilled in February 2002 and matured for 21 years, including a finshing period in single Oloroso sherry cask #288. It was bottled by Global Whisky as part of their Oloroso-themed OLO series.

One of 206 bottles.

Ardmore 2002 Global Whisky 21 Year Old OLO

Ardmore was built by Wm. Teacher at the end of the 19th century, and as a rare peated Highland single malt, provided the smoky qualities in their well-loved blends. Now in the hands of Beam Suntory, there have been very few official bottlings, but the independent releases that have appeared over the years are much sought after.

This Ardmore was distilled in February 2002 and matured for 21 years, including a finshing period in single Oloroso sherry cask #288. It was bottled by Global Whisky as part of their Oloroso-themed OLO series.

One of 206 bottles.

Ardnamurchan Paul Launois Release AD/04.21 

Ardnamurchan is the Highland distillery belonging to revered independent bottlers-turned-distillers, Adelphi. The Adelphi name has a rich history, operating as a distillery in the Gorbals district of Glasgow from 1825, producing spirit from the waters of Loch Katrine. The distillery ceased production in the early 20th century however and several changes in ownership culminating in a takeover by DCL in 1902. The Adelphi name was revived in 1993 by Jamie Walker, great-grandson of former distillery owner Archibald. Ardnamurchan is situated on the most westerly point of the British mainland, and opened in 2014, producing both peated and unpeated single malts.

This unpeated spirit has been aged in ex-Bourbon casks before being finished in nine wine barriques from Paul Launois. One of 2,576 bottles. 

Weller 12 Year Old 70cl

William Larue Weller was born into a distilling family in Kentucky in 1825, and launched his W.L. Weller brand in 1849. Originally a rectification business (creating 'whiskey' using neutral spirit, colouring and flavourings), this all changed with the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897 and the death of Weller two years later. The company was left in the hands of the fiercely passionate Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle I who, having steered it safely through the wreckage of National Prohibition, established Old Weller alongside the newly acquired Old Fitzgerald labels and the flagship brands for the new Stitzel-Weller distillery in 1933. It was produced there for over 60 years, eventually being sold to the Sazerac Company in 1999, who distil it at Buffalo Trace using Pappy's recipe to this day.

This Buffalo Trace release follows the 2016 rebrand of the range, which saw the \"W.L.\" prefix dropped from the packaging. In her book But Always Fine Bourbon, Sally Van Winkle Campbell claims that Sazerac did not have the exact Weller recipe until their partnership with her brother, Julian Van Winkle III was agreed in 2002. Undoubtedly a nod of approval from the family for the modern day product. As of 2019, Weller products have been bottled with either screw caps or a gold foil capsule with cork stopper, depending on the market in which it was originally intended.

A historic distillery, Buffalo Trace was built in 1812 Harrison Blanton. It was then purchased by the legendary Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr in 1870, who named it OFC (Old Fashioned Copper) and invested heavily in its modernisation. So much so in fact that he declared himself bankrupt after just seven years, and George T. Stagg stepped in to rescue it, becoming its owner in 1878. He ran the distillery until his retirement in the 1890s, and it was renamed in his honour in 1904. Having survived Prohibition, it was bought up by the Schenley company in 1933, who ran it as part of their extensive portfolio for the next fifty years, eventually selling it to Age International. The latter's new Japanese ownership in 1992 had no interest in it (only in its brands), and immediately sold it to the Sazerac company, who renamed it Buffalo Trace in 1999.

Ardnamurchan 2018 Peated Single Cask #1287 / Tyndrum Whisky

Ardnamurchan is the Highland distillery belonging to revered independent bottlers-turned-distillers, Adelphi. The Adelphi name has a rich history, operating as a distillery in the Gorbals district of Glasgow from 1825, producing spirit from the waters of Loch Katrine. The distillery ceased production in the early 20th century however and several changes in ownership culminating in a takeover by DCL in 1902. The Adelphi name was revived in 1993 by Jamie Walker, great-grandson of former distillery owner Archibald. Ardnamurchan is situated on the most westerly point of the British mainland, and opened in 2014, producing both peated and unpeated single malts.

This peated single malt was distilled in 2018 and aged in single peated Spanish oak ex-oloroso hogshead cask #1287. One of 322 bottles.

Absolut Vodka

A classic bottle of vodka from Absolut.

Absolut Vodka

A classic bottle of vodka from Absolut.

Antiquary 21 Year Old Millennium Blend

J&W Hardie were established in Edinburgh in 1857 by James Hardie, operating as a wine and spirit merchant as well as a tea blender. Their famous Antiquary blend was created by his sons, John and William, who took the name from the eponymous Walter Scott novel in 1888. The company eventually became part of DCL, who made them licensees to the Benromach distillery for a while during the 20th century. It was purchased in 1994 by the Tomatin group, who continue to produce its Antiquary brand to this day. The J&W Hardie name was shelved in 2014 however.

The Millennium Blend is aged 21 years and presented in a replica of the original Antiquary blend packaging produced back in 1888.

Wire Works 2019 Single Cask #256 / Special Waters

White Peak distillery was founded in 2016 by husband-and-wife team, Max & Claire Vaughan. When the facility was completed inside the former Johnson & Nephew Wire Works, it became the first whisky producer in the county of Derbyshire. In the 19th century, the Wire Works was known for producing some of the highest quality cabling in the world. The factory’s galvanised products would be used in the first cross-Channel communication line, suspension bridges and buildings all over the world.  Max & Claire describe their operation as “very manual,” and involves a mixture of peated and unpeated spirit. A four-day fermentation period is their standard and distillation takes place in small custom-built, copper pot stills. Early examples of the distillery’s spirit were made available from 2020, including an independent release from That Boutique-y Whisky Company, and the distillery debuted its inaugural single malt in 2022. In recognition of the facility's manufacturing past, the distillery's glass bottles are presented in the form of a wound galvanised cable.

This lightly peated single malt was distilled in 2019 and matured in single STR (Shaved, Toasted and Recharred) cask #256. It was bottled under the title Special Waters.

One of 393 bottles.