April 2025 Auction

Highland Park Hillhead​

Highland Park was built by David Robertson all the way back in 1798. The distillery's relationship with blenders, Robertson & Baxter, saw it acquired by Highland Distillers in 1937, who were subsequently bought by Edrington in 1999, who run it today. The modern Highland Park single malt brand was first officially bottled in the 1970s, with the release of an 8 year old age statement, but distillery bottlings first appeared around the 1950s. The look of the brand has changed many times over the years, but its cult following and popularity has never diminished. It remains one of the most recognisable single malts in the world to this day.

Released in 2018, Hillhead was the fifth and final bottling in Highland Park's The Keystones Series, which explored and celebrated the five traditional keystones of production that have remained unchanged for 220 years.

Named after the distillery in Kirkwall, this release explores the impact of cask harmonisation. The whisky itself consists of three first-fill casks: sherry seasoned European oak, sherry seasoned American oak, and bourbon American oak.

One of 1,200 bottles.

Highland Single Malt 2015 Woodrow's 9 Year Old / A Race to The Bottom Edition

This unusual single malt is a vatting of two casks from an undisclosed Highland distillery, hinted at only by the word Motherlover. It was distilled in 2015 and matured for 9 years, including a finishing period in a first-fill Oloroso hogshead and a first-fill Pedro Ximénez hogshead. It was bottled by Woodrow's of Edinburgh in 2024 under the title A Race To The Bottom, and features a label with a strong message towards the popular and competitively priced 100 Proof range from independent bottlers Signatory Vintage.

Interestingly, the bottler notes the distillery of origin is often referred to as Speyside M, and although it resides in Speyside, its whisky is often presented as a Highland single malt.

High West Double Rye

High West sourced their early whiskey from the MGP distillery in Indiana. Their parent company, Constellation Brands, purchased a minority stake in the Bardstown Bourbon Company contract-distillery in 2016 however, so future releases will likely be distilled there.

This release of Double Rye High is made by blending two rye whiskies together, both aged for a minimum of two years.

High West Rendezvous Rye Limited Release

Rendezvous Rye has a well known high rye content (not just 51%) and is known for its spiciness.

High West sourced their early whiskey from the MGP distillery in Indiana. Parent company, Constellation Brands, purchased a minority stake in the Bardstown Bourbon Company contract-distillery in 2016, so future releases will likely be distilled there.

The blend contains 4-7 year old whiskies, comprising : 95% rye, 5% barley malt from MGP in Indiana, and an 80% rye, 20% malted rye from High West distillery itself.

This limited release was mas married in a used bourbon barrel for 19 months and bottled at a higher abv than the seasonal release. 

High West Campfire

An unusual blend composed of straight rye whiskey, straight bourbon whiskey and blended malt Scotch whisky, finished in heavily toasted fine wine barrels made from French and Hungarian oak. 

High West sourced their early whiskey from the MGP distillery in Indiana. Their parent company, Constellation Brands, purchased a minority stake in the Bardstown Bourbon Company contract-distillery in 2016 however, so future releases will likely be distilled there.

Hazelburn 2003 Oloroso Cask 13 Year Old

First distilled in 1997, Hazelburn is the triple distilled single malt produced at Springbank distillery, and is named after the distillery of the same name, mothballed in 1925. Although very popular, Hazelburn remains an elusive whisky. Like Longrow, their peated single malt, it makes up 10% of the annual production at Springbank each year, resulting in around 100 to 150 casks. The first bottlings of Hazelburn were released in 2005.

This was matured in fresh and refill Oloroso sherry casks for 13 years. Distilled in October 2003 and bottled in March 2017.

One of 12,000 bottles.

Hakushu 18 Year Old Limited Edition

Hakushu was the third distillery built by Suntory, established in 1973 to shoulder some of the malt production burden for Yamazaki. The latter’s grain production had moved entirely to the new Chita distillery the year prior as well. Hakushu was built at the foot of the Southern Japan Alps, a location deliberately chosen by Suntory to provide a contrast to the style of spirit produced at Yamazaki. Interestingly, a second distillery was built in 1981 (referred to as Hakushu East) which has stills of varying shapes and sizes which are able to produce a wide range of distillate character. This is in contrast to the now-dormant old site (referred to as Hakushu West) which had 24 large stills identical in shape and size, but only capable of producing one particular style of distillate. The first Hakushu single malt was bottled in 1994.

Launched in 1994, the Hakushu 18 year old is the only age-statement from the distillery still in production.

This limited edition packaging was exclusively produced for travel retail.

Hibiki 21 Year Old Kacho Fugetsu Limited Edition

Suntory are one of the founding fathers of Japanese whisky, established by Shinjirō Torii in 1899 as a wine store in Osaka. The venture was hugely successful, and the company was renamed Kotobukiya in 1921, which built its first distillery three years later, Yamazaki. The distillery produced both malt and grain whiskies which the company blended together, releasing its first Suntory White Label in 1929, the resulting popularity of which saw the firm renamed after it 1963. Expansion in the next decade saw the company move its grain production to a new Chita distillery in 1972, and open a second malt distillery, Hakushu, the following year. Suntory today has a large stake in both the bourbon and Scotch whisky industry, but remains at the forefront of its native whisky market too.

Hibiki was launched in 1989 and is Suntory's most popular blend. It contains malt whisky from Yamazaki and Hakushu, and grain from the Chita distillery. It was developed by fourth generation chief blender Shinji Fukuyo with production overseen by third generation master blender and great-grandson of the founder, Shingo Torii, and is presented in a bottle with 24 facets representing the 24 seasons of the Japanese lunar calendar. Unprecedented demand for Japanese whiskies in the years since however have seen the discontinuation of most age-statements, and only this and a premium 30 year old remain part of the Hibiki portfolio.

This limited edition follows the theme of Kacho Fugetsu, the Japanese Kanji for Flowers, Birds, Breeze, and Lunar. This bottle is designed to embody the beauty of Japanese nature.

High West A Midwinter Nights Dram Rye Whiskey / Act 10 Scene 4

A blend of straight rye whiskies finished in french oak port barrels from Utah in the USA. 

This limited botting from the folks at High West is incredibly sought after. High West sourced their early whiskey from the MGP distillery in Indiana. Parent company, Constellation Brands, purchased a minority stake in the Bardstown Bourbon Company contract-distillery in 2016, so future releases will likely be distilled there.

The history of the Ross & Squibb distillery has its roots in the mid-19th century, however it is best known for its association to Seagram, who purchased it at the close of Prohibition in 1933. Located in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, the distillery provided whiskey and grain neutral spirits for many of the Canadian distilling giant’s products for the rest of the 20th century. When an ill-advised move into the entertainment industry saw Seagram collapse in the early 2000s, much of their assets, including the Lawrenceburg distillery were bought up by Pernod-Ricard. They announced in 2006 that they intended to close it, however ended up selling it instead to a holding company in Trinidad called CL Financial. They renamed it LDI (Lawrenceburg Distillers Indiana). It was not long however before the new owners would go bust as well, and the distillery was again sold, this time to MGP Ingredients, who renamed it in the process. The company produced and markets some of its own brands, but its main line of business is a huge contract-distilling operation. Among these are a number of well-regarded grain recipes, and several bourbons. Among its biggest customers are Diageo, and former owners, Pernod-Ricard, alongside an extensive list of independent boutique brands. In 2021 it was announced that MGP had acquired Luxco, which would provide it with a new national distribution for its Indiana-produced brands. In the same year, the distillery was renamed Ross & Squibb, however (confusingly) it still fulfils its contract-distilling by trading as MGP, with the new name appearing only on its own products.

Hennessy Paradis Cognac  

When the Irish Jacobite, Richard Hennessy, founded a distillery in 1765, he could not have possibly foreseen the scale to which his fledgling business would grow. Hennessy found himself in the right place at the right time as trade in alcoholic spirits was booming, extremely popular not only with the French but also with many people within the British Empire. In addition, Hennessy and the other cognac producers at the time also benefitted from rum shortages due to the Seven Years War. Fast forward to the 1970s and Kilian Hennessy, a fifth-generation descendant of Richard became the CEO of the family business. In 1971 she oversaw the merger of the business with French wine giant, Moët & Chandon, which created one of the biggest drinks companies in the world. The business was further strengthened in 1987 by the merger with fashion house, Louis Vuitton to create LVMH, however due to a managerial crisis the following year, Guinness (now Diageo) also came on board by securing a 34% share. Today Hennessy sell around 50 million bottles of cognac per year and account for more than 40% of the world’s supply.

The Paradis is a blend of over 100 eaux de vie from ages between 30 and 100 years old.

Hibiki Suntory Whisky Miniature

Suntory are one of the founding fathers of Japanese whisky, established by Shinjirō Torii in 1899 as a wine store in Osaka. The venture was hugely successful, and the company was renamed Kotobukiya in 1921, which built its first distillery three years later, Yamazaki. The distillery produced both malt and grain whiskies which the company blended together, releasing its first Suntory White Label in 1929, the resulting popularity of which saw the firm renamed after it 1963. Expansion in the next decade saw the company move its grain production to a new Chita distillery in 1972, and open a second malt distillery, Hakushu, the following year. Suntory today has a large stake in both the bourbon and Scotch whisky industry, but remains at the forefront of its native whisky market too.

This is Suntory's most popular blend, the Hibiki. Launched in 1989, it contains malt whisky from Yamazaki and Hakushu, and grain from the Chita distillery. It was developed by fourth generation chief blender Shinji Fukuyo with production overseen by third generation master blender and great-grandson of the founder, Shingo Torii, and is presented in a bottle with 24 facets representing the 24 seasons of the Japanese lunar calendar.

This is an early non-age statement expression of the popular blend.

Hibiki Suntory Whisky Miniature

Suntory are one of the founding fathers of Japanese whisky, established by Shinjirō Torii in 1899 as a wine store in Osaka. The venture was hugely successful, and the company was renamed Kotobukiya in 1921, which built its first distillery three years later, Yamazaki. The distillery produced both malt and grain whiskies which the company blended together, releasing its first Suntory White Label in 1929, the resulting popularity of which saw the firm renamed after it 1963. Expansion in the next decade saw the company move its grain production to a new Chita distillery in 1972, and open a second malt distillery, Hakushu, the following year. Suntory today has a large stake in both the bourbon and Scotch whisky industry, but remains at the forefront of its native whisky market too.

This is Suntory's most popular blend, the Hibiki. Launched in 1989, it contains malt whisky from Yamazaki and Hakushu, and grain from the Chita distillery. It was developed by fourth generation chief blender Shinji Fukuyo with production overseen by third generation master blender and great-grandson of the founder, Shingo Torii, and is presented in a bottle with 24 facets representing the 24 seasons of the Japanese lunar calendar.

This is an early non-age statement expression of the popular blend.

Highland Park 1982 Gordon and MacPhail Private Collection

Highland Park was built by David Robertson all the way back in 1798. The distillery's relationship with blenders, Robertson & Baxter, saw it acquired by Highland Distillers in 1937, who were subsequently bought by Edrington in 1999, who run it today. The modern Highland Park single malt brand was first officially bottled in the 1970s, with the release of an 8 year old age statement, but distillery bottlings first appeared around the 1950s. The look of the brand has changed many times over the years, but its cult following and popularity has never diminished. It remains one of the most recognisable single malts in the world to this day.

This whisky was distilled in 1982 and aged in single refill ex-Sherry puncheon #1155. It was bottled at cask strength in 2022.

Gordon & MacPhail are one of the largest and most recognisable whisky companies in the world. Although they began distilling at the newly refurbished Benromach distillery in 1998, for most of their history they were an independent bottler. Their labels are recognised by whisky lovers the world over, and their licensed bottlings from distillery's like Macallan and Talisker in the 1970s and 1980s, when the companies were not bottling themselves, are a huge part of the success of those distillers today.

This is part of the Private Collection range from the Elgin-based bottlers. As of 2018, this line fully replaced the Rare Old series as its most premium offerings, and come exceptionally presented in decadent glass bottles.

One of 202 bottles.

Highland Park Odin 16 Year Old

Highland Park was built by David Robertson all the way back in 1798. The distillery's relationship with blenders, Robertson & Baxter, saw it acquired by Highland Distillers in 1937, who were subsequently bought by Edrington in 1999, who run it today. The modern Highland Park single malt brand was first officially bottled in the 1970s, with the release of an 8 year old age statement, but distillery bottlings first appeared around the 1950s. The look of the brand has changed many times over the years, but its cult following and popularity has never diminished. It remains one of the most recognisable single malts in the world to this day.

Released in 2015, this 16 year old is the last in Highland Park's Valhalla series, following previous annual releases Thor, Loki and Freya.

One of 17,000 bottles.

NOTE: Please be advised that the printed bottle graphics have a history of deteriorating from the glass over time. 

Hanyu 1990 Ichiro's Malt 'Card' #9022 / Nine of Spades

Since its stills were turned off in 2000, Hanyu has become one of Japan's most sought after single malts. An economic recession at the turn of the millennium forced the distillery to shut its doors, and the remaining casks of its unblended whisky stock were purchased by Venture Whisky, a firm established by the Hanyu distillery founder's grandson, Ichiro Akuto, in 2004. In 2005 he bottled his first single casks under the Ichiro's Malt label. He later cemented his legacy with the opening of the acclaimed Chichibu distillery, but his finest achievement will surely always be considered to be the Hanyu 'Card' series. The bottles are a collection of 58 releases, each displaying one of 52 playing cards on the label, two jokers, and a second batch of follow up releases to the original 2005 Ace of Spades, Queen of Hearts, King of Diamonds, and Jack of Clubs bottlings. Each unique in its own right, every one of these have become a true collector's piece and an important moment in the history Japanese whisky.

The Nine of Spades was distilled in 1990 and initially matured in a single hogshead. It was finished in a cream sherry butt, and bottled in 2010.

One of 584 bottles.

Hanshin Tigers Mercian 2003 Team Figurine 36cl / Akahoshi

The Hanshin Tigers are one of the oldest professional baseball teams in Japan. They played their first season in 1936 and are based in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture.

In late 2023, the Tigers won the Japan Series. This became their second title and brought an end to a 38 year-long losing streak since their only championship in 1985. The streak became known as The Curse of The Colonel due to a statue of KFC's Colonel Sanders being thrown into the Dōtonbori River during the 1985 celebrations. After the 2023 victory, fans of the team celebrated by cosplaying as Sanders and jumping into the same river. 

These bottles were produced by Mercian, the former owners of Japan’s legendary Karuizawa distillery, to celebrate the players from the 2003 season.

This 36cl bottle depicts player number 53, Norihiro Akahoshi.

Haig's Dimple Ceramic Decanter / Tsukuba Expo '85

John Haig & Co was established in 1824 with the foundation of the Cameronbridge distillery. Already part of a great distilling dynasty, John's uncles had all been distillery owners, and his aunt had been married to John Jameson in Dublin. John Haig & Co were one of the five founding members of DCL in 1877, although were run independently from it until 1919. Best known for its Gold Label and Dimple blends, which were sold all over the world, the firm were also granted the licences to the Glenkinchie, Mannochmore and Glenlossie malt distilleries by DCL, but never bottled their single malts. The company's prominence declined in the latter half of the 20th century, but Diageo have revived the Haig name it in recent times as the single grain brand for the Cameronbridge distillery.

This lovely decanter commemorated the Tsukuba Expo in 1985.

Highland Park 12 Year Old Hjarta

Highland Park was built by David Robertson all the way back in 1798. The distillery's relationship with blenders, Robertson & Baxter, saw it acquired by Highland Distillers in 1937, who were subsequently bought by Edrington in 1999, who run it today. The modern Highland Park single malt brand was first officially bottled in the 1970s, with the release of an 8 year old age statement, but distillery bottlings first appeared around the 1950s. The look of the brand has changed many times over the years, but its cult following and popularity has never diminished. It remains one of the most recognisable single malts in the world to this day.

Bottled in 2009, Hjarta was released to the Scandinavian market. This 12 year old Highland Park was limited to a mere 3,924 bottles.

Highland Park 1987 SMWS Special Bottling 4.65 50cl​

Highland Park was built by David Robertson all the way back in 1798. The distillery's relationship with blenders, Robertson & Baxter, saw it acquired by Highland Distillers in 1937, who were subsequently bought by Edrington in 1999, who run it today. The modern Highland Park single malt brand was first officially bottled in the 1970s, with the release of an 8 year old age statement, but distillery bottlings first appeared around the 1950s. The look of the brand has changed many times over the years, but its cult following and popularity has never diminished. It remains one of the most recognisable single malts in the world to this day.

This Highland Park was distilled in June 1987 and re-racked into a single fresh sherry gorda in June 1997. It was bottled by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society in May 1999 to celebrate the opening of the London Members Room on Greville Street. This 'Speical Bottling' is rarely seen at auction.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.

HHigh West American Prairie Reserve

High West sourced their early whiskey from the MGP distillery in Indiana. Parent company, Constellation Brands, purchased a minority stake in the Bardstown Bourbon Company contract-distillery in 2016, so future releases will likely be distilled there.

This release was produced in celebration of the American Prairie Wildlife Reserve.

Hibiki Blossom Harmony 2022

Suntory are one of the founding fathers of Japanese whisky, established by Shinjirō Torii in 1899 as a wine store in Osaka. The venture was hugely successful, and the company was renamed Kotobukiya in 1921, which built its first distillery three years later, Yamazaki. The distillery produced both malt and grain whiskies which the company blended together, releasing its first Suntory White Label in 1929, the resulting popularity of which saw the firm renamed after it 1963. Expansion in the next decade saw the company move its grain production to a new Chita distillery in 1972, and open a second malt distillery, Hakushu, the following year. Suntory today has a large stake in both the bourbon and Scotch whisky industry, but remains at the forefront of its native whisky market too.

This is Suntory's most popular blend, the Hibiki. Launched in 1989, it contains malt whisky from Yamazaki and Hakushu, and grain from the Chita distillery. It was developed by fourth generation chief blender Shinji Fukuyo with production overseen by third generation master blender and great-grandson of the founder, Shingo Torii, and is presented in a bottle with 24 facets representing the 24 seasons of the Japanese lunar calendar. The non-age statement Japanese Harmony was introduced in 2015, following the discontinuation of the 12 year old as the entry level to the core range.

Blossom Harmony has been finished in casks made from sakura trees which are more commonly known as Japanese cherry blossom. This is the 2022 release.

Hazelburn 10 Year Old​

First distilled in 1997, Hazelburn is the triple distilled single malt produced at Springbank distillery, and is named after the distillery of the same name, mothballed in 1925. Although very popular, Hazelburn remains an elusive whisky. Like Longrow, their peated single malt, it makes up 10% of the annual production at Springbank each year, resulting in around 100 to 150 casks. The first bottlings of Hazelburn were released in 2005.

This core range age-statement was introduced in 2014.

Highland Single Malt 15 Year Old Master Of Malt / Black Friday

Master of Malt began operating in 1985 as a small mail-order company that specialised in selling whisky, and they would go on to open their first retail shop in the Kent town of Royal Tunbridge Wells in 1990. Like many savvy businesses of the 1990s, they saw the huge potential of the internet and launched their first website in 1997. This proved so successful that they closed the original shop the following year. Over the years, Master of Malt has built a reputation as a prolific independent bottler. With access to swathes of impressive stock, the company has always offered a wide range of different whiskies and in 2013 they bottled an unnamed 60 year old Speyside malt, at the time was one of the oldest single malts ever released.

An unnamed Highland single Malt aged for 15 years in first and refill Pedro Ximénez sherry butts, bottled in 2024.
 

Highland Park 2003 Single Sherry Cask 16 Year Old #1885 / TWE

Highland Park was built by David Robertson all the way back in 1798. The distillery's relationship with blenders, Robertson & Baxter, saw it acquired by Highland Distillers in 1937, who were subsequently bought by Edrington in 1999, who run it today. The modern Highland Park single malt brand was first officially bottled in the 1970s, with the release of an 8 year old age statement, but distillery bottlings first appeared around the 1950s. The look of the brand has changed many times over the years, but its cult following and popularity has never diminished. It remains one of the most recognisable single malts in the world to this day.

This Highland Park was distilled in 2003 and matured in single first-fill European oak sherry butt #1885 for 16 years. It was bottled in 2019 exclusively for The Whisky Exchange.

One of 585 bottles.

Highland Park 14 Year Old Loyalty of the Wolf 1 Litre

Highland Park was built by David Robertson all the way back in 1798. The distillery's relationship with blenders, Robertson & Baxter, saw it acquired by Highland Distillers in 1937, who were subsequently bought by Edrington in 1999, who run it today. The modern Highland Park single malt brand was first officially bottled in the 1970s, with the release of an 8 year old age statement, but distillery bottlings first appeared around the 1950s. The look of the brand has changed many times over the years, but its cult following and popularity has never diminished. It remains one of the most recognisable single malts in the world to this day.

A travel retail exclusive from Highland Park. It was launched in 2018 as part of a range to replace The Warriors bottlings that the distillery had marketed in airports since 2011.

Loyalty of the Wolf forms part of a four bottle set which also includes Spirit of the Bear, Wings of the Eagle and a travel retail version of Viking Pride.

A 14 year old, this is regarded as the 'sweet and complex' expression in the series.

Haig's Dimple Golden Selection

John Haig & Co was established in 1824 with the foundation of the Cameronbridge distillery. Already part of a great distilling dynasty, John's uncles had all been distillery owners, and his aunt had been married to John Jameson in Dublin. John Haig & Co were one of the five founding members of DCL in 1877, although were run independently from it until 1919. Best known for its Gold Label and Dimple blends, which were sold all over the world, the firm were also granted the licences to the Glenkinchie, Mannochmore and Glenlossie malt distilleries by DCL, but never bottled their single malts. The company's prominence declined in the latter half of the 20th century, but Diageo have revived the Haig name it in recent times as the single grain brand for the Cameronbridge distillery.

Dimple is a premium blend produced by Haig's, which has a higher malt influence from Linkwood and Glenkinchie than its sister blend Haig's Gold.

Heaven Hill 1999 Malts of Scotland Sherry Butt

This is a sherry matured bourbon from Heaven Hill, distilled in their first year at Bernheim. Bottled in 2019, this is a very well-aged product from the company, rarely seen bottled using the Heaven Hill brand.

Malts of Scotland is a German independent bottler, founded in 2005 by whisky enthusiast and connoisseur, Thomas Ewers. The company also bottles rum through its Isla del Ron brand.

Bernheim is a historic Kentucky distillery. It was established by the Bernheim Brothers in the late 19th century, before passing into the hands of the Schenley company following the repeal of Prohibition. When Schenley were bought over by United Distillers in 1987, the distillery was rebuilt as the new owners looked to consolidate their production to a single facility. When United Distillers became Diageo in 1997, the new parent company were interested in bourbon, and sold the distillery to Heaven Hill. Heaven Hill were established in 1935, but their long-serving Bardstown distillery was lost in a devastating fire in 1996. Homeless for three years, the company acquired Bernheim in 1999, and have produced all of their whiskey there ever since.

One of 533 bottles.

Highland Park 12 Year Old 1970s / Ferraretto Import

Highland Park was built by David Robertson all the way back in 1798. The distillery's relationship with blenders, Robertson & Baxter, saw it acquired by Highland Distillers in 1937, who were subsequently bought by Edrington in 1999, who run it today. The modern Highland Park single malt brand was first officially bottled in the 1970s, with the release of an 8 year old age statement, but distillery bottlings first appeared around the 1950s. The look of the brand has changed many times over the years, but its cult following and popularity has never diminished. It remains one of the most recognisable single malts in the world to this day.

This 12 year old malt was bottled in the early 1970s. This is the first iteration of the Highland Park single malt brand introduced by Highland Distillers. When this 12 year old age-statement was first bottled in the 1960s, the labels shared the same aesthetic with the company's other distilleries, Tamdhu and Glenrothes.

Hennessy Privilege VSOP Cognac / 200th Anniversary

When the Irish Jacobite, Richard Hennessy, founded a distillery in 1765, he could not have possibly foreseen the scale to which his fledgling business would grow. Hennessy found himself in the right place at the right time as trade in alcoholic spirits was booming, extremely popular not only with the French but also with many people within the British Empire. In addition, Hennessy and the other cognac producers at the time also benefitted from rum shortages due to the Seven Years War. Fast forward to the 1970s and Kilian Hennessy, a fifth-generation descendant of Richard became the CEO of the family business. In 1971 she oversaw the merger of the business with French wine giant, Moët & Chandon, which created one of the biggest drinks companies in the world. The business was further strengthened in 1987 by the merger with fashion house, Louis Vuitton to create LVMH, however due to a managerial crisis the following year, Guinness (now Diageo) also came on board by securing a 34% share. Today Hennessy sell around 50 million bottles of cognac per year and account for more than 40% of the world’s supply.

The term V.S.O.P (Very Superior Old Pale) or “Reserve” indicates that the youngest element in this cognac will be aged for a minimum of four years. 

Haig's Dimple 21 Year Old Royal Sovereign Pewter Decanter

John Haig & Co was established in 1824 with the foundation of the Cameronbridge distillery. Already part of a great distilling dynasty, John's uncles had all been distillery owners, and his aunt had been married to John Jameson in Dublin. John Haig & Co were one of the five founding members of DCL in 1877, although were run independently from it until 1919. Best known for its Gold Label and Dimple blends, which were sold all over the world, the firm were also granted the licences to the Glenkinchie, Mannochmore and Glenlossie malt distilleries by DCL, but never bottled their single malts. The company's prominence declined in the latter half of the 20th century, but Diageo have revived the Haig name it in recent times as the single grain brand for the Cameronbridge distillery.

This is a 1980s bottling of the Dimple blend in an unusual pewter clad bottle, designed by Royal Holland Pewter.

Hennessy XO Cognac circa 1970s

When the Irish Jacobite, Richard Hennessy, founded a distillery in 1765, he could not have possibly foreseen the scale to which his fledgling business would grow. Hennessy found himself in the right place at the right time as trade in alcoholic spirits was booming, extremely popular not only with the French but also with many people within the British Empire. In addition, Hennessy and the other cognac producers at the time also benefitted from rum shortages due to the Seven Years War. Fast forward to the 1970s and Kilian Hennessy, a fifth-generation descendant of Richard became the CEO of the family business. In 1971 she oversaw the merger of the business with French wine giant, Moët & Chandon, which created one of the biggest drinks companies in the world. The business was further strengthened in 1987 by the merger with fashion house, Louis Vuitton to create LVMH, however due to a managerial crisis the following year, Guinness (now Diageo) also came on board by securing a 34% share. Today Hennessy sell around 50 million bottles of cognac per year and account for more than 40% of the world’s supply.

This is an older bottling of the brand's XO expression.

Please note there is no ABV or volume stated.

Hennessy XO Cognac circa 1960s

When the Irish Jacobite, Richard Hennessy, founded a distillery in 1765, he could not have possibly foreseen the scale to which his fledgling business would grow. Hennessy found himself in the right place at the right time as trade in alcoholic spirits was booming, extremely popular not only with the French but also with many people within the British Empire. In addition, Hennessy and the other cognac producers at the time also benefitted from rum shortages due to the Seven Years War. Fast forward to the 1970s and Kilian Hennessy, a fifth-generation descendant of Richard became the CEO of the family business. In 1971 she oversaw the merger of the business with French wine giant, Moët & Chandon, which created one of the biggest drinks companies in the world. The business was further strengthened in 1987 by the merger with fashion house, Louis Vuitton to create LVMH, however due to a managerial crisis the following year, Guinness (now Diageo) also came on board by securing a 34% share. Today Hennessy sell around 50 million bottles of cognac per year and account for more than 40% of the world’s supply.

This is an older bottling of the brand's XO expression.

Please note there is no ABV or volume stated.