April 2025 Auction

Glenfiddich 1977 Rare Collection 39 Year Old #22742

Glenfiddich was an early advocate of the single malt Scotch category, and their faith is rewarded today by being one of the best-selling Scotch brands in the world. The distillery was built by William Grant in 1886, distilling its first spirit on Christmas day the following year. Today it is still part of the family-owned, William Grant & Sons. They became the first distillery to actively market their single malt brand in 1963, and were the first to open their facility to visitors. Glenfiddich was an important trailblazer in the whisky industry, who's contribution cannot be forgotten. The scale of their operation today is a testament to this.

The Rare Collection from Glenfiddich was first introduced in the early 2000s and included a sought-after annual batch release of 40 year old single malt, as well as the famous 1937 vintage, genuinely one of the world's rarest bottles of whisky. This incarnation sees the label revised for its single cask series, replacing the Vintage Reserve line during the 2008 rebranding of the distillery's portfolio.

This was distilled in 1977 and bottled from single cask #22742.

One of 166 bottles.

Glen Scotia 25 Year Old 2017 release

Despite having been mothballed several times throughout its history, Glen Scotia is a proud survivor of the early 20th century desolation of Campbeltown, once known as \"the whisky capital of the world.” The Kintyre peninsula formerly boasted over 30 distilleries, but by the end of the 1920s, only this and Springbank remained. Shut for most of the 1990s before being re-opened by Loch Lomond Distillers, today it is one of only three in the region, with an increasingly prominent portfolio of distillery bottlings in comparison to its quiet output under previous owners.

This is the distillery's premium 25 year old expression, added to the distillery core range in 2017.

Three Ships 15 Year Old 75cl

Distilled at the James Sedgwick distillery in Wellington, South Africa.

This is a 15 year old blended whisky which was finished in Pinotage cask.

One of 4000 bottles.

Dupeyron Hors d'Age Napoleon Armagnac 1 Litre

Armagnac is a style of brandy produced in the southwest of France, using the short alambic-armagnacais still which tends to produce richer spirits than that of Cognac. The impurities found in the spirit owing to these short stills require a long ageing period in order to reveal their silky richnesses within - thus well-aged Armagnacs can be a thing of utter beauty.

Three Ships 15 Year Old 75cl

Distilled at the James Sedgwick distillery in Wellington, South Africa.

This is a 15 year old blended whisky which was finished in Pinotage cask.

One of 4000 bottles.

Glen Grant 10 Year Old 1980s / Giovinetti Import

Glen Grant is one of Speyside's most recognised distilleries. It was built in 1839 by James and John Grant, and was a huge facility for its time. Its size increased exponentially over time, in the hands of John's son, John \"The Major\" Grant (who also built the short-lived Caperdonich next-door), and twice in the 1970s following the merger with The Glenlivet Distillers and its subsequent takeover by Seagram. Glen Grant was bottled as a single malt as early as the late-19th century, and developed a global export market. None perhaps as important as in Italy, where their agent in the 1960s, Armando Giovinetti, turned it into the nation's favourite whisky, after discovering the palate preferences of his countrymen for very young single malts. So loved is Glen Grant in Italy, that the distillery is now owned by Gruppo Campari, who bought it from Pernod Ricard in 2006.

This particular 10 year old is from the 1980s and was imported to Italy by Giovinetti.

Three Ships 15 Year Old 75cl

Distilled at the James Sedgwick distillery in Wellington, South Africa.

This is a 15 year old blended whisky which was finished in Pinotage cask.

One of 4000 bottles.

Tomatin 1989 Gordon and MacPhail 32 Year Old Batch #22/025

Tomatin was once the largest distillery in Scotland, with an expansion in 1976 bringing its still count to a whopping 23 (with a capacity for 10 million litres). An over-stretch at the time, it was forced into liquidation in 1985, never having run at full capacity. The following year it became Scotland's first ever Japanese-owned distillery after it was saved by a consortium of long-term customers. Nowadays it provides the heart to the popular Antiquary blend in addition to continuing to produce a highly regarded single malt.

This whisky was distilled in 1989 and aged in a single refill American oak cask before being bottled in 2021.

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.

The Connoisseurs Choice label is one of the most recognisable independent bottlings on the market, and this release follows the 2018 rejuvenation of the brand, which saw it reimagined as a premium single casks range.

One of 217 bottles.

Three Ships 15 Year Old 75cl

Distilled at the James Sedgwick distillery in Wellington, South Africa.

This is a 15 year old blended whisky which was finished in Pinotage cask.

One of 4000 bottles.

Talisker 1979 Cadenhead's Bond Reserve 21 Year Old 

Wm. Cadenhead is Scotland’s oldest independent bottler, founded in 1842 by George Duncan. His brother William Cadenhead joined the company in 1952, taking over after George’s death in 1958. The company got into the whisky bottling business after 1904, when his nephew Robert Duthie took over, and since its sale to J&A Mitchell in 1972, Wm. Cadenhead has become on of the most sought after names in whisky. Its Authentic Collection is the flagship brand, but the portfolio of the company has expanded in recent years with labels like this.

This is a 1979 vintage Talisker, bottled in September 2000. One of 300 bottles.

For a long time, Talisker was the sole distillery on Scotland’s iconic Isle of Skye. Renowned for the quality of its output, the distillery has rarely changed hands, joining DCL (now Diageo) back in 1916. Despite this, releases were not the most common. An 8 year old was bottled officially and Gordon & MacPhail produced what are now classic and sought after vintage bottlings under official license from the distillery. When a 10 year old expression became a founding pillar of United Distillers’ Classic Malts range, the popularity of the distillery exploded, and it is now one of the most revered and exported in Scotland. As such, independent bottlings like this are scarce, and particularly sought after when they appear.

Three Ships 15 Year Old 75cl

Distilled at the James Sedgwick distillery in Wellington, South Africa.

This is a 15 year old blended whisky which was finished in Pinotage cask.

One of 4000 bottles.

Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX

Despite being owned by blenders, MacDonald & Muir, for most of the 20th century, Glenmorangie had an early focus on bottling its single malt. Some records show that its single malt was being sold as early as the late 19th century. This became the distillery's main output in 1959, and with the unique flavours derived from Scotland's tallest stills, coupled with their pioneering use of wood finishing, Glenmorangie is now one of the world's biggest selling malts. As a result, the distillery portfolio over the years has been extensive, and little has been spared for independent bottlers.

Released in 2009, Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX was the first of the distillery's Private Collection bottlings. The whisky has been finished in casks formerly containing Pedro Ximénez sherry.

Tobermory 15 Year Old Macnab 1980s

This is a rare single malt from the Isle of Mull's Tobermory distillery. Opened way back in 1798, it was originally known as Ledaig. It was dormant for the majority of the 20th century, shut down by DCL in 1930, and when it re-opened in 1972, it did so as again as Ledaig distillery. Its revival was only brief however, closing down in 1975. When the distillery was again re-opened in 1979, it was now known as Tobermory. Its production in former years had generally been peated whisky like this, and the single malt was still bottled under the brand name of Ledaig. The newly revived company began producing non-peated as well, for the provision of a blended malt which they marketed under the Tobermory name. Burn Stewart discontinued the blend when they took over in 1993, opting to continue the production of both styles as two distinct single malt brands. The un-peated single malt took over the Tobermory name, while the traditional peated style fittingly retained the historic Ledaig name.

Glenmorangie Finealta

Despite being owned by blenders, MacDonald & Muir, for most of the 20th century, Glenmorangie had an early focus on bottling its single malt. Some records show that its single malt was being sold as early as the late 19th century. This became the distillery's main output in 1959, and with the unique flavours derived from Scotland's tallest stills, coupled with their pioneering use of wood finishing, Glenmorangie is now one of the world's biggest selling malts. As a result, the distillery portfolio over the years has been extensive, and little has been spared for independent bottlers.

The second private edition released from Glenmorangie, recreating a recipe Glenmorangie had from 1903 which was slightly peated. Matured using a combination of bourbon and Oloroso sherry oak.

Three Ships 15 Year Old 75cl

Distilled at the James Sedgwick distillery in Wellington, South Africa.

This is a 15 year old blended whisky which was finished in Pinotage cask.

One of 4000 bottles.

Tomatin 18 Year Old 

Tomatin was once the largest distillery in Scotland, with an expansion in 1976 bringing its still count to a whopping 23 (with a capacity for 10 million litres). An over-stretch at the time, it was forced into liquidation in 1985, never having run at full capacity. The following year it became Scotland's first ever Japanese-owned distillery after it was saved by a consortium of long-term customers. Nowadays it provides the heart to the popular Antiquary blend in addition to continuing to produce a highly regarded single malt.

An older style 18 year old from Highland distillery Tomatin. A more recent expression of this Whisky won Best Highland Single Malt 13-20 Year Old in the 2014 World Whiskies Awards.

Tomatin 18 Year Old 

Tomatin was once the largest distillery in Scotland, with an expansion in 1976 bringing its still count to a whopping 23 (with a capacity for 10 million litres). An over-stretch at the time, it was forced into liquidation in 1985, never having run at full capacity. The following year it became Scotland's first ever Japanese-owned distillery after it was saved by a consortium of long-term customers. Nowadays it provides the heart to the popular Antiquary blend in addition to continuing to produce a highly regarded single malt.

An older style 18 year old from Highland distillery Tomatin. A more recent expression of this Whisky won Best Highland Single Malt 13-20 Year Old in the 2014 World Whiskies Awards.

Tomatin 18 Year Old 

Tomatin was once the largest distillery in Scotland, with an expansion in 1976 bringing its still count to a whopping 23 (with a capacity for 10 million litres). An over-stretch at the time, it was forced into liquidation in 1985, never having run at full capacity. The following year it became Scotland's first ever Japanese-owned distillery after it was saved by a consortium of long-term customers. Nowadays it provides the heart to the popular Antiquary blend in addition to continuing to produce a highly regarded single malt.

An older style 18 year old from Highland distillery Tomatin. A more recent expression of this Whisky won Best Highland Single Malt 13-20 Year Old in the 2014 World Whiskies Awards.

Glenlivet 20 Year Old 1970s / Baretto Import

Well-known as the oldest licensed distillery in Scotland, for many years ‘Glenlivet’ was a byword for quality, with many single malts using the Glenlivet suffix in attempt to reap the benefits of associating themselves with the Banffshire distillery. Indeed, owners Pernod Ricard now put a heavy focus on the brand being ‘The Glenlivet’, encouraging their consumers not to accept any imitations. Glenlivet is in a long-running battle with Glenfiddich for the title of best-selling single malt, with both now selling over a million cases a year.  

An excellent example of well-aged Glenlivet from the early 1970s, specially reserved by the distillery for Baretto Imports in Italy.

One of 2,400.

Glenlivet Triple Cask Matured Rare Cask 1 Litre

Well-known as the oldest licensed distillery in Scotland, for many years ‘Glenlivet’ was a byword for quality, with many single malts using the Glenlivet suffix in an attempt to reap the benefits of associating themselves with the Banffshire distillery. Indeed, owners Pernod-Ricard now put a heavy focus on the brand being ‘The Glenlivet’, encouraging their consumers not to accept any imitations. Glenlivet is in a long-running battle with Glenfiddich for the title of best-selling single malt, with both now selling over a million cases a year. George Smith secured a license to legally distil at Glenlivet in 1824, and it remained family-run until 1978 when Seagram bought a controlling stake in what had by then become The Glenlivet Distilleries Ltd, and counting assets such as Glen Grant, Benriach and Longmorn among its portfolio. When Seagram collapsed in 2001, Pernod-Ricard acquired its sizeable Chivas Brothers Scotch whisky division, with Glenlivet the crown jewel in an empire rivalled only by Diageo.

Part of the distillery's Travel Retail range, this Glenlivet has been matured in three different casks; American white oak casks, sherry casks, and 'traditional' casks.

Glenlivet 15 Year Old 1970s / Baretto Import

Well-known as the oldest licensed distillery in Scotland, for many years ‘Glenlivet’ was a byword for quality, with many single malts using the Glenlivet suffix in an attempt to reap the benefits of associating themselves with the Banffshire distillery. Indeed, owners Pernod-Ricard now put a heavy focus on the brand being ‘The Glenlivet’, encouraging their consumers not to accept any imitations. Glenlivet is in a long-running battle with Glenfiddich for the title of best-selling single malt, with both now selling over a million cases a year. George Smith secured a license to legally distil at Glenlivet in 1824, and it remained family-run until 1978 when Seagram bought a controlling stake in what had by then become The Glenlivet Distilleries Ltd, and counting assets such as Glen Grant, Benriach and Longmorn among its portfolio. When Seagram collapsed in 2001, Pernod-Ricard acquired its sizeable Chivas Brothers Scotch whisky division, with Glenlivet the crown jewel in an empire rivalled only by Diageo.

This 15 year old was officially imported by the Baretto brothers for Italy. 

Glenlivet 21 Year Old Triple Cask Finish / The Sample Room Collection

Well-known as the oldest licensed distillery in Scotland, for many years ‘Glenlivet’ was a byword for quality, with many single malts using the Glenlivet suffix in an attempt to reap the benefits of associating themselves with the Banffshire distillery. Indeed, owners Pernod-Ricard now put a heavy focus on the brand being ‘The Glenlivet’, encouraging their consumers not to accept any imitations. Glenlivet is in a long-running battle with Glenfiddich for the title of best-selling single malt, with both now selling over a million cases a year. George Smith secured a license to legally distil at Glenlivet in 1824, and it remained family-run until 1978 when Seagram bought a controlling stake in what had by then become The Glenlivet Distilleries Ltd, and counting assets such as Glen Grant, Benriach and Longmorn among its portfolio. When Seagram collapsed in 2001, Pernod-Ricard acquired its sizeable Chivas Brothers Scotch whisky division, with Glenlivet the crown jewel in an empire rivalled only by Diageo.

This smalll-batch 21 year old has been finished in a combination of first-fill Oloroso caksks, Cognac casks and Colheita vintage Port casks. It was bottled as part of the distillery's Sample Room Collection.

Glenlivet 12 Year Old 1970s / Baretto Import

Well-known as the oldest licensed distillery in Scotland, for many years ‘Glenlivet’ was a byword for quality, with many single malts using the Glenlivet suffix in an attempt to reap the benefits of associating themselves with the Banffshire distillery. Indeed, owners Pernod-Ricard now put a heavy focus on the brand being ‘The Glenlivet’, encouraging their consumers not to accept any imitations. Glenlivet is in a long-running battle with Glenfiddich for the title of best-selling single malt, with both now selling over a million cases a year. George Smith secured a license to legally distil at Glenlivet in 1824, and it remained family-run until 1978 when Seagram bought a controlling stake in what had by then become The Glenlivet Distilleries Ltd, and counting assets such as Glen Grant, Benriach and Longmorn among its portfolio. When Seagram collapsed in 2001, Pernod-Ricard acquired its sizeable Chivas Brothers Scotch whisky division, with Glenlivet the crown jewel in an empire rivalled only by Diageo.

The 12 year old was the entry level Glenlivet expression for many decades, eventually being replaced by the Founder's Reserve in 2015. The expression returned in an elevated spot in the core range in 2018, before being promptly rebranded as the 12 year old Double Oak the following year, as the distillery's entire permanent portfolio of releases was overhauled.

Tomatin 18 Year Old 

Tomatin was once the largest distillery in Scotland, with an expansion in 1976 bringing its still count to a whopping 23 (with a capacity for 10 million litres). An over-stretch at the time, it was forced into liquidation in 1985, never having run at full capacity. The following year it became Scotland's first ever Japanese-owned distillery after it was saved by a consortium of long-term customers. Nowadays it provides the heart to the popular Antiquary blend in addition to continuing to produce a highly regarded single malt.

An older style 18 year old from Highland distillery Tomatin. A more recent expression of this Whisky won Best Highland Single Malt 13-20 Year Old in the 2014 World Whiskies Awards.

Tomatin 18 Year Old 

Tomatin was once the largest distillery in Scotland, with an expansion in 1976 bringing its still count to a whopping 23 (with a capacity for 10 million litres). An over-stretch at the time, it was forced into liquidation in 1985, never having run at full capacity. The following year it became Scotland's first ever Japanese-owned distillery after it was saved by a consortium of long-term customers. Nowadays it provides the heart to the popular Antiquary blend in addition to continuing to produce a highly regarded single malt.

An older style 18 year old from Highland distillery Tomatin. A more recent expression of this Whisky won Best Highland Single Malt 13-20 Year Old in the 2014 World Whiskies Awards.

Glen Garioch 1968 Single Cask 29 Year Old #7

Glen Garioch is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland. For most of the 20th century it was self-sufficient, malting its own barley using peat from Pitsligo, giving it a unique smoky character. In fact, in 1968 it was short-listed by then-owners DCL, to convert to heavily peated production in order to make up for a shortfall on Islay caused by a drought. In an odd twist of fate, the decision was instead made to re-open Brora for the job, and close Glen Garioch down. Morrison Bowmore then sprang to its rescue, restarting production in 1973. The maltings and distillery were shut down again by Beam Suntory in 1995, and only the latter resumed operations two years later, with contemporary Glen Garioch becoming an un-peated single malt. These pre-1995 vintages are worth investigating while you can.

This whisky was distilled on 18th May 1968 and aged in single hogshead #7 for 29 years.

Glen Grant 10 Year Old 1980s / Seagram Italia Import

Glen Grant is one of Speyside's most recognised distilleries. It was built in 1839 by James and John Grant, and was a huge facility for its time. Its size increased exponentially over time, in the hands of John's son, John \"The Major\" Grant (who also built the short-lived Caperdonich next-door), and twice in the 1970s following the merger with The Glenlivet Distillers and its subsequent takeover by Seagram. Glen Grant was bottled as a single malt as early as the late-19th century, and developed a global export market. None perhaps as important as in Italy, where their agent in the 1960s, Armando Giovinetti, turned it into the nation's favourite whisky, after discovering the palate preferences of his countrymen for very young single malts. So loved is Glen Grant in Italy, that the distillery is now owned by Gruppo Campari, who bought it from Pernod Ricard in 2006.

An older bottle of the former core expression from this popular Speyside malt.

Glenfarclas 2014 Christmas Edition 2024 / The Whisky Club

Glenfarclas is considered by many to be one of the finest distilleries in Speyside. Its direct-fired stills produce a heavy single malt that is almost exclusively matured in Jerez sherry casks. The distillery focuses on single malt over blends, and a cool microclimate around the distillery that means that their casks are particularly stingy to the \"angels,\" resulting in an incredible depth of stock. Glenfarclas also feel they share some credit for the modern day love of cask strength whisky, introducing their acclaimed 105 proof expressions back in 1968.

Glenfarclas has a long history of releasing Christmas Edition bottlings, primarily for the German market. This release was distilled in 2014 and entirely matured in Oloroso casks. It was bottled for the 2024 festive season, however this release was made exclusive to The Whisky Club in Australia.

Glenesk 1983 Duncan Taylor 25 Year Old #4931

Known as Glenesk from 1980-85, and prior to that as Hillside since 1964, this distillery produced both malt and grain at different stages in its history. It is not often seen officially bottled, but has contributed to several Rare Malts Selection releases. Distilling ceased there entirely in 1985, and the site operates exclusively as a maltings now.

A single cask bottling from this long closed Highland distillery.

Distilled in November 1983 and bottled in September 2009 from single cask #4931.

Duncan Taylor was founded in Glasgow in 1938 as a cask broker and trading company. Its modern history began in 2001 when a former Glendronach employee, Euan Shand, purchased the firm and moved it to Huntly in Aberdeenshire, using the impressive cask portfolio it has amassed over the 20th century to become one of the premier independent bottlers in Scotland.

One of only 294 bottles.

Glenfiddich Classic / Mercian Import

Glenfiddich was an early advocate of the single malt Scotch category, and their faith is rewarded today by being one of the best-selling Scotch brands in the world. The distillery was built by William Grant in 1886, distilling its first spirit on Christmas day the following year. Today it is still part of the family-owned, William Grant & Sons. They became the first distillery to actively market their single malt brand in 1963, and were the first to open their facility to visitors. Glenfiddich was an important trailblazer in the whisky industry, who's contribution cannot be forgotten. The scale of their operation today is a testament to this.

The Glenfiddich Classic was introduced in 1992 and bottled until 1998. The expression is matured in bourbon wood prior to finishing in sherry casks. It was replaced in the core range by the 15 year old Solera Reserve.

Togouchi Momotaro Limited Edition Set 3 x 70cl

This Togouchi limited edition set contains two non-age stement blended whiskies and one single cask blended whisky. The single cask expression was matured in a bourbon barrel, yielding only 235 bottles in July 2020.

The whole set of three bottles draws its inspiration from Momotarō, a famous Japanese fairy tale that tells the origin story of Japan’s lush, rich countryside.

This lot has a 3 bottle shipping fee.

Gilbey's London Dry Gin circa 1960s / Cinzano Import

A lovely old bottling of Gilbey's London Dry Gin.

This is a Cinzano import for the Italian market.