April 2025 Auction

Bowmore 1966 Samaroli Bouquet

Islay's Bowmore distillery and renowned Italian bottler, the late Silvano Samaroli, are both legends in the world of the whisky. The 1966 Bouquet is the glittering supernova that is created when these two key elements of whisky history collide, at just the perfect moment in time. Regarded by many as the one of, if not the best whisky ever bottled, it is not often one of these absolute gems is brought to market.

The Bouquet is rated in first place on WhiskyBase.com's Top 1000 whiskies of all time, occasionally trading places only with another Samaroli epic, the Laphroaig 1967, also bottled for him by R.W. Duthie. Emmanuel Dron, whisky author and owner of the famous Auld Alliance bar in Singapore recently opened a bottle of the Bouquet for customers in that very venue, with enthusiasts and connoisseurs flocking from all over Asia to sample a drop of this liquid gold. And if you still need convincing, the seasoned palate of Serge Valentin of WhiskyFun.com awarded this Bowmore a staggering rating of 97 points. He writes:

\"Wow! Not an easy, sexy old Bowmore at all, almost a ‘bugger’ and you have to sort of tame it, but when you manage to do so, it’s just splendid. One of the very few total winners I’ve been lucky to be allowed to taste.\"

The coming together of this cask of Bowmore and Silvano Samaroli is one of those rare, chance meetings that go on to write the greatest stories. The aptly named Bouquet represents almost the resplendent blossoming of the long-growing Italian love affair with single malt Scotch whisky. Distilled in 1966, a golden era in production at Bowmore distillery, and the time when Armando Giovinetti was hard at work pushing single malt whisky in his native Italy. Samaroli founded his bottling company in Rome just two years later, in 1968. Giovinetti believed lighter, younger whisky, the Glen Grant 5 year old specifically, was best positioned to capture the hearts and taste buds of the Grappa favouring Italian public. The forward-thinking Samaroli had other ideas though. A kindred spirit with his contemporaries at W.M. Cadenhead, he believed wholeheartedly in the bottling of cask strength whisky, and Silvano's first releases were a collaborative effort with Scotland's oldest independent bottler. These were released in 1979, and were closely followed by the acclaimed Flowers series in 1981, a direct precursor to this, the Bouquet. The Flowers series, bottled with ornate illustrative labels (hand-drawn by Samaroli himself), were a sensation and finally provided Samaroli with the platform and audience he knew his whisky deserved, and in 1984, he rewarded their faith in his product with a whisky he felt they deserved, and it is possibly the greatest ever bottled.

One of 720 bottles.

Bowmore 1964 Fino Cask 37 Year Old 75cl

Islay’s oldest working distillery, Bowmore was established in 1779 and is now regarded as one of the most popular malts not only on Islay, but in the whole of Scotland. The distillery was acquired by Stanley P. Morrison in 1963, ushering in an era of iconic single malts, including the legendary Black Bowmore, credited by many as the genesis of whisky collecting, bottled in 1993. The distillery was bought under the control Suntory the year after (they had been stakeholders since 1989), and it remains one of the most collectible brands in Scotch whisky today. Bowmore is one of the few remaining Scottish distilleries to use its own floor maltings, providing them with 40% of their requirements.

The unique microclimate of the No.1 Vaults warehouse at Bowmore distillery means casks share very little with the angels, and has allowed the distillery to bottle some spectacular age-statements over the years. These early Morrison Bowmore era vintages are considered classic in the whisky world.

This Bowmore was distilled on 5th November 1964 and matured in Fino Sherry casks for 37 years. It was bottled in 2002.

The bottle is displayed in an individual oak presentation case, hand crafted by the Master Cabinet Makers of Charles Kirkby & Sons of Sheffield, England. Each case has an individually numbered brass plaque which corresponds with the bottle number on the back label. 

One of just 300 produced.

Please note there is a common flaw with the printed lettering on the inside of the doors of these boxes. The laquer is prone to melting on to the faux leather furnishing, making the surface incredibly sticky and potentially damaging to the contents of the box.

Please note that due to the size and weight of this lot, it will carry a three-bottle shipping fee.

Bowmore 1964 Fino Cask 37 Year Old

Islay’s oldest working distillery, Bowmore was established in 1779 and is now regarded as one of the most popular malts not only on Islay, but in the whole of Scotland. The distillery was acquired by Stanley P. Morrison in 1963, ushering in an era of iconic single malts, including the legendary Black Bowmore, credited by many as the genesis of whisky collecting, bottled in 1993. The distillery was bought under the control Suntory the year after (they had been stakeholders since 1989), and it remains one of the most collectible brands in Scotch whisky today. Bowmore is one of the few remaining Scottish distilleries to use its own floor maltings, providing them with 40% of their requirements.

The unique microclimate of the No.1 Vaults warehouse at Bowmore distillery means casks share very little with the angels, and has allowed the distillery to bottle some spectacular age-statements over the years. These early Morrison Bowmore era vintages are considered classic in the whisky world.

This Bowmore was distilled on 5th November 1964 and matured in Fino Sherry casks for 37 years. It was bottled in 2002.

The bottle is displayed in an individual oak presentation case, hand crafted by the Master Cabinet Makers of Charles Kirkby & Sons of Sheffield, England. Each case has an individually numbered brass plaque which corresponds with the bottle number on the back label. 

One of just 300 produced.

Please note that due to the size and weight of this lot, it will carry a two-bottle shipping fee.

Bowmore 1966 Single Cask 50 Year Old

Islay’s oldest working distillery, Bowmore was established in 1779 and is now regarded as one of the most popular malts not only on Islay, but in the whole of Scotland. The distillery was acquired by Stanley P. Morrison in 1963, ushering in an era of iconic single malts, including the legendary Black Bowmore, credited by many as the genesis of whisky collecting, bottled in 1993. The distillery was bought under the control Suntory the year after (they had been stakeholders since 1989), and it remains one of the most collectible brands in Scotch whisky today. Bowmore is one of the few remaining Scottish distilleries to use its own floor maltings, providing them with 40% of their requirements.

The unique microclimate of the No.1 Vaults warehouse at Bowmore distillery means casks share very little with the angels, and has allowed the distillery to bottle some spectacular age-statements over the years. These early Morrison Bowmore era vintages are considered classics.

This Bowmore was distilled in 1966 and matured for an incredible 50 years in single bourbon hogshead #5675. Released in 2017, this was drawn from the same vintage that also produced what is revered by many as the greatest whisky ever bottled, the Samaroli Bouquet.

Presented in an elegant decanter and ornate wooden display case, this is one of just 74 bottles.

Please note due to the size and weight of this lot, it will carry a ten-bottle shipping fee.

Bowmore 1965 Oloroso Sherry Cask 52 Year Old 

Islay’s oldest working distillery, Bowmore was established in 1779 and is now regarded as one of the most popular malts not only on Islay, but in the whole of Scotland. The distillery was acquired by Stanley P. Morrison in 1963, ushering in an era of iconic single malts, including the legendary Black Bowmore, credited by many as the genesis of whisky collecting, bottled in 1995. The distillery was bought under the control Suntory the year prior (they had been stakeholders since 1989), and it remains one of the most collectible brands in Scotch whisky today. Bowmore is one of the few remaining Scottish distilleries to use its own floor maltings, providing them with 40% of their requirements. 

The unique microclimate of the No.1 Vaults warehouse at Bowmore distillery means casks share very little with the angels, and has allowed the distillery to bottle some spectacular age-statements over the years. These early Morrison Bowmore era vintages are considered classics.

A spectacular whisky, this 1965 vintage Bowmore was produced just after the distillery had its steam-heated stills installed. Since then it has been maturing at the distillery in a single Oloroso sherry cask for over 52 years!

This is the third release in Bowmore's fifty-year Vault series and is immaculately presented in a hand crafted Scottish oak cabinet.

The decanter is one of only 232 released globally.

Please note due to the size and weight of this lot, it will carry a ten-bottle shipping fee.

Clynelish Cadenhead's 23 Year Old 

A fantastic bottling of Clynelish, bottled by William Cadenhead in 1989. Incredibly rare, the majority of these were re-labelled with the more commonly seen white label by the Italian importer, Sestante.

Clynelish distillery as it is recognised today, was built in 1967 to replace the smaller distillery next-door, which was the original site of that name. The first distillery was closed, but later re-opened, changing its name to Brora (but that’s another story). Clynelish is part of the Diageo stable, having been taken over by DCL in 1912. Despite being an important part of the Johnnie Walker blends, it has long been bottled as a single malt.

Bowmore 1964 Oloroso Cask 38 Year Old 75cl

Islay’s oldest working distillery, Bowmore was established in 1779 and is now regarded as one of the most popular malts not only on Islay, but in the whole of Scotland. The distillery was acquired by Stanley P. Morrison in 1963, ushering in an era of iconic single malts, including the legendary Black Bowmore, credited by many as the genesis of whisky collecting, bottled in 1993. The distillery was bought under the control Suntory the year after (they had been stakeholders since 1989), and it remains one of the most collectible brands in Scotch whisky today. Bowmore is one of the few remaining Scottish distilleries to use its own floor maltings, providing them with 40% of their requirements.

The unique microclimate of the No.1 Vaults warehouse at Bowmore distillery means casks share very little with the angels, and has allowed the distillery to bottle some spectacular age-statements over the years. This 38 year old is one of them.

Distilled in 1964, just a year after the Morrison's takeover of the distillery, this is regarded by many as a golden vintage, as are a number from the decade. This release was drawn from the same batch that produced the Black Bowmore, and was part of a trilogy which also contained a bourbon and a Fino sherry cask release.

One of 300 bottles.

Please note there is a common flaw with the printed lettering on the inside of the doors of these boxes. The laquer is prone to melting on to the faux leather furnishing, making the surface incredibly sticky and potentially damaging to the contents of the box.

Please note due to the size and weight of this lot, it will carry an eight-bottle shipping fee.

Bowmore 1964 Bourbon Cask 38 Year Old 75cl

Islay’s oldest working distillery, Bowmore was established in 1779 and is now regarded as one of the most popular malts not only on Islay, but in the whole of Scotland. The distillery was acquired by Stanley P. Morrison in 1963, ushering in an era of iconic single malts, including the legendary Black Bowmore, credited by many as the genesis of whisky collecting, bottled in 1993. The distillery was bought under the control Suntory the year prior (they had been stakeholders since 1989), and it remains one of the most collectible brands in Scotch whisky today. Bowmore is one of the few remaining Scottish distilleries to use its own floor maltings, providing them with 40% of their requirements. 

The unique microclimate of the No.1 Vaults warehouse at Bowmore distillery means casks share very little with the angels, and has allowed the distillery to bottle some spectacular age-statements over the years. These early Morrison Bowmore era vintages are considered classics.

Distilled in November 1964, this was matured in bourbon casks for 38 years. The bottle is displayed in an individual oak presentation case, hand crafted by the Master Cabinet Makers of Charles Kirkby & Sons of Sheffield, England. Each case has an individually numbered brass plaque which corresponds with the bottle number on the back label. 

One of just 300 bottles.

Please note there is a common flaw with the printed lettering on the inside of the doors of these boxes. The laquer is prone to melting on to the faux leather furnishing, making the surface incredibly sticky and potentially damaging to the contents of the box.

Please note that due to the size and weight of this lot, it will carry a eight-bottle shipping fee.

Caol Ila 1968 Samaroli Full Proof

Caol Ila distillery was built in 1846 by Hector Henderson, who was bought out from the venture a little over 10 year later by Bulloch Lade. The blending firm merged with DCL (now Diageo) in 1927, who still run the distillery today. In 1972 the original site was demolished and replaced by a new one. When distilling resumed in 1974, Caol Ila was the largest producer of single malt on the Isle of Islay. Despite this, due to its importance in popular blends such as Johnnie Walker, its single malt brand disappeared under United Distillers, and it was not until 2002 that it would return, when the 12 year old was revived by Diageo. The Flora & Fauna release was well-regarded in the meantime, but it was independent releases like this that gave the best opportunity to sample this much-loved single malt.

This fantastic Italian import bottling of Caol Ila was distilled in 1968, prior to the expansion in the early 1970s. This is the only Samaroli bottling from the old version of the distillery and is highly sought after.

Samaroli is perhaps Italy's most revered independent bottler of Scotch whisky. With an impeccable taste in single cask whiskies, and an eye for aesthetics (if not English spelling at times!), he is regarded by many as a visionary. Many of his bottles now occupy deserved spots on the pantheon of whisky greats.

Silvano's early bottlings were filled for him Scotland by R.W. Duthie, a relationship that lasted until the early 1990s. This was bottled by Duthie & Co for Samaroli in 1982.

Cask: Bunnahabhain Moine 2006 Hogshead #800054 / Stored at Inveralmond Bond

This hogshead cask of Bunnahabhain Moine single malt spirit was filled on 1st December 2006 and is currently maturing at a bonded warehouse in Inveralmond, Perth.

The following are the results of a cask regauge on 9th November 2024.

• New Bulk: 184.6 Litre
• Strength: 53.2%
• Regauged Litres of Alcohol: 98.8 

*IMPORTANT NOTICE: This cask will need to be moved from it's current location within 30 days of the auction ending.

The buyer of any cask which is stored at this location must have an existing account with the company that owns the warehouse. Please note that the buyer will also be fully responsible for all fees associated with the transfer of ownership of the cask.

Title of ownership for sold lots shall be passed on to the buyer within 14 days of the receipt of funds PROVIDED THAT a Buyer meets, and can demonstrate they meet, HMRC requirements for owning duty-suspended goods.  In short: a UK resident revenue trader must have a valid Owners of Warehoused Goods Regulations Certificate (“WOWGR”).  A UK resident who is not a revenue trader does not require a WOWGR but must make arrangements with the warehousekeeper storing the cask.  Non-UK residents should appoint a UK Duty Representative to act for them.  Further details and guidance can be found via the below websites.

HMRC Excise Notice 196

HMRC Excise Notice 206

Caol Ila 1969 Gordon and MacPhail 15 Year Old Cask Strength Celtic Label / Intertrade Import

Caol Ila distillery was built in 1846 by Hector Henderson, who was bought out from the venture a little over 10 year later by Bulloch Lade. The blending firm merged with DCL (now Diageo) in 1927, who still run the distillery today. In 1972 the original site was demolished and replaced by a new one. When distilling resumed in 1974, Caol Ila was the largest producer of single malt on the Isle of Islay. Despite this, due to its importance in popular blends such as Johnnie Walker, its single malt brand disappeared under United Distillers, and it was not until 2002 that it would return, when the 12 year old was revived by Diageo. The Flora & Fauna release was well-regarded in the meantime, but it was independent releases like this that gave the best opportunity to sample this much-loved single malt.

This Caol Ila was distilled in 1969 and matured for 15 years.

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 Celtic Label series, an Italian exclusive range bottled by Gordon & MacPhail for Italian importers Giuseppe Meregalli, Donini and Nadi Fiori's Intertrade.

Cask: Island Single Malt 2008 Hogshead #44 / stored at Inveralmond Bond

This island single malt was sourced from one of Scotland's oldest distilleries still in operation, and one famed for its popular Viking aesthetic.

Distilled on 4th December 2008, this whisky is currently maturing in Hogshead #44 at a bonded warehouse in Inveralmond, Perth.

The following are the results of a cask regauge on 7th April 2025:

• Bulk Litres: 230.0
• Strength: 61.20%
• Regauged Litres of Alcohol: 140.7

*IMPORTANT NOTICE: The buyer of any cask which is stored at this location must have an existing account with the company that owns the warehouse. Please note that the buyer will also be fully responsible for all fees associated with the transfer of ownership of the cask.

Title of ownership for sold lots shall be passed on to the buyer within 14 days of the receipt of funds PROVIDED THAT a Buyer meets, and can demonstrate they meet, HMRC requirements for owning duty-suspended goods.  In short: a UK resident revenue trader must have a valid Owners of Warehoused Goods Regulations Certificate (“WOWGR”).  A UK resident who is not a revenue trader does not require a WOWGR but must make arrangements with the warehousekeeper storing the cask.  Non-UK residents should appoint a UK Duty Representative to act for them.  Further details and guidance can be found via the below websites.

HMRC Excise Notice 196

HMRC Excise Notice 206

Cask: Island Single Malt 2008 Hogshead #38 / stored at Inveralmond Bond

This island single malt was sourced from one of Scotland's oldest distilleries still in operation, and one famed for its popular Viking aesthetic.

Distilled on 4th December 2008, this whisky is currently maturing in Hogshead #38 at a bonded warehouse in Inveralmond, Perth.

The following are the results of a cask regauge on 7th April 2025:

• Bulk Litres: 220.8
• Strength: 64.10%
• Regauged Litres of Alcohol: 141.5

*IMPORTANT NOTICE: The buyer of any cask which is stored at this location must have an existing account with the company that owns the warehouse. Please note that the buyer will also be fully responsible for all fees associated with the transfer of ownership of the cask.

Title of ownership for sold lots shall be passed on to the buyer within 14 days of the receipt of funds PROVIDED THAT a Buyer meets, and can demonstrate they meet, HMRC requirements for owning duty-suspended goods.  In short: a UK resident revenue trader must have a valid Owners of Warehoused Goods Regulations Certificate (“WOWGR”).  A UK resident who is not a revenue trader does not require a WOWGR but must make arrangements with the warehousekeeper storing the cask.  Non-UK residents should appoint a UK Duty Representative to act for them.  Further details and guidance can be found via the below websites.

HMRC Excise Notice 196

HMRC Excise Notice 206

Clynelish 1972 Gordon and MacPhail Private Collection

Clynelish distillery as it is recognised today, was built in 1967 to replace the smaller distillery next-door, which was the original site of that name. The first distillery was closed, but later re-opened, changing its name to Brora (but that’s another story). Clynelish is part of the Diageo stable, having been taken over by DCL in 1925. Despite being an important part of the Johnnie Walker blends, it has long been bottled as a single malt.

This Clynelish was distilled in May 1972 and matured in single refill American oak hogshead #5335. It was bottled by Gordon & MacPhail in November 2022 as part of their Private Collection, which replaced the Rare Old range in 2018.

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.

One of 135 bottles. 

Bowmore 1965 Sherry Casks Full Strength / Soffiantino Import

Islay’s oldest working distillery, Bowmore was established in 1779 and is now regarded as one of the most popular malts not only on Islay, but in the whole of Scotland. The distillery was acquired by Stanley P. Morrison in 1963, ushering in an era of iconic single malts, including the legendary Black Bowmore, credited by many as the genesis of whisky collecting, bottled in 1993. The distillery was bought under the control Suntory the year after (they had been stakeholders since 1989), and it remains one of the most collectible brands in Scotch whisky today. Bowmore is one of the few remaining Scottish distilleries to use its own floor maltings, providing them with 40% of their requirements.

A 1965 vintage, sherry cask matured Bowmore, bottled some time in the late 1980s. This series of sherry cask Bowmore vintages come highly recommended by those lucky enough to try them.

This particular bottle is a full strength version imported by Soffiantino for the Italian market.

Caol Ila 1969 Intertrade 18 Year Old Cask Strength

Intertrade was established in Italy in the early 1980s by Nadi Fiori, the owner of the Taverna degli Artisti bar in Rimini. The company was a collaboration with beer distributors, the Turatello Brothers, and the Intertrade name appears on Fiori's bottlings up to around 1989. Fiori selected his whiskies from the Gordon & MacPhail catalogue, but as a collector himself, and a contemporary of his fellow connoisseur countrymen, Silvano Samaroli and Ernesto Mainardi, he knew the importance striking label designs and requested many of his bottlings at cask strength. Whether under the Intertrade, Turatello or High Spirits banner, Fiori's bottlings are some of the most sought after on the market.

This was distilled in June 1969 and bottled in June 1987.

Caol Ila distillery was built in 1846 by Hector Henderson, who was bought out from the venture a little over 10 year later by Bulloch Lade. The blending firm merged with DCL (now Diageo) in 1927, who still run the distillery today. In 1972 the original site was demolished and replaced by a new one. When distilling resumed in 1974, Caol Ila was the largest producer of single malt on the Isle of Islay. Despite this, due to its importance in popular blends such as Johnnie Walker, its single malt brand disappeared under United Distillers, and it was not until 2002 that it would return, when the 12 year old was revived by Diageo. The Flora & Fauna release was well-regarded in the meantime, but it was independent releases like this that gave the best opportunity to sample this much-loved single malt.

One of 273 bottles.

Balvenie 25 Year Old Rare Marriages / Ellie Mercer Chess Set

Balvenie was built by William Grant in 1892 and remains part of his family's company to this day. In the early part of its history, its purpose was primarily for the provision of malt for Grant's blends, however following the global success of Glenfiddich, the Balvenie single malt brand was launched in 1973. It remained a rarity though, and it was not until the opening of Kininvie in 1990, and later Ailsa Bay in Girvan, that the distillery was given the freedom to focus on its single malt. Today it is one of the best recognised brands in the world. In 1993 they launched the 12 year old \"DoubleWood,\" an expression credited with pioneering the use of cask-finishing, and this has become a key motif for the distillery's output in recent times.

Released in 2021 as released as part of its Rare Marriages series, this 25 year old is a marriage of European and American oak casks.

This particular bottle is presented alongside on elegant chess set, the result of a 2025 collaboration with contemporary artist Ellie Mercer. Mercer is based in London, and is known for sculptural jewellery pieces utilising wood, metals and resin. This minimalist oak chessboard features ornate cuboid chess pieces crafted from brass and resin. Mercer also created a small set of Balvenie-themed chessboards for Raffles Bar.

These sets were available exclusively from London retailers Fortnum & Mason.

Please note due to the size and weight of this lot, it will carry a ten-bottle shipping fee.

Clynelish 12 Year Old Ainslie and Heilbron Cask Strength 1969 / Edward and Edward

The original Clynelish distillery was built by the Duke of Sutherland in 1819. Prized by blenders, the distillery found itself in the hands of DCL in 1925 when they acquired shareholders, Ainslie & Heilbron and John Walker & Sons. The distillery remains an important part of Diageo blends to this day, however nowadays it is produced at a new Clynelish, opened by DCL in 1967. The original distillery was briefly run in tandem with new one, known as Clynelish B (and the new one Clynelish A), until being closed down in early 1968. Although operating under the same name, the original Clynelish has a distinct profile, particularly prior to its modernisation in the 1960s. Its single malt is increasingly revered, not least due to its re-opening in 1969 as Brora distillery. Having closed again in 1983, the distillery became legendary in the years that followed, with both original Clynelish and Brora becoming huge collector's items. In 2017 it was announced that Diageo planned to re-open this formerly lost gem.

As was often the case with the distilleries in the DCL portfolio, Clynelish was licensed to one of the blending companies within its portfolio. In this case it was Ainslie & Heilbron, a constituent of whom, James Ainslie & Co, had owned the distillery until 1912. When DCL were succeeded by United Distillers, one of the new company's first orders of business was to regain control of the distribution of its single malts, taking the licenses back from the blending houses. Clynelish single malt was not bottled again until 1991 when it became part of the Flora & Fauna range, and it would not be until 2002 that it was bottled with its own unique brand again.

This rare Ainslie & Heilbron bottling was produced in the 1969 on behalf of the legendary Italian bar owner, Edoardo Giaccone.

Giaccone was something of a trailblazer, and was importing specially bottled official single malts for his bar from the late 1960s, this is one of his earliest. He opened the famous venue in 1958, and it has been called a few different things over the years, including Garten, Edward & Edward (during the period this was imported), and La Taverna del Comandante.

Edoardo set the stage for later legendary bottlers such as Silvano Samaroli, Nadi Fiori and Ernesto Mainardi. Moon Import founder, Pepi Mongiardino said, \"he was the first person I visited\" when he became the distributor for Bruichladdich in 1981. Giaccone did not have any of his own labels or series, but was the first person in Italy to have official bottlings produced exclusively for him. Through his bar, Italy was treated to exclusive releases from Clynelish, Bowmore, Dalmore, Highland Park and even Jack Daniel's.

This 12 year old was bottle at a cask strength of 56.9%, at his request. Clynelish bottled three batches of this for Giaccone in 1969, 1971 and 1973.

Balvenie 1961 Vintage Cask #4194

Balvenie was built by William Grant in 1892 and remains part of his family's company to this day. In the early part of its history, its purpose was primarily for the provision of malt for Grant's blends, however following the global success of Glenfiddich, the Balvenie single malt brand was launched in 1973. It remained a rarity though, and it was not until the opening of Kininvie in 1990, and later Ailsa Bay in Girvan, that the distillery was given the freedom to focus on its single malt. Today it is one of the best recognised brands in the world. In 1993 they launched the 12 year old \"DoubleWood,\" an expression credited with pioneering the use of cask-finishing, and this has become a key motif for the distillery's output in recent times.

The vintage cask range of whiskies from Balvenie are a fantastic insight into single casks released from this popular distillery.

This was distilled on 14th June 1961 and aged in cask #4194, before being bottled on 14th September 1999.

One of just 141 bottles.

Bowmore 1966 Duncan Taylor 40 Year Old

Islay’s oldest working distillery, Bowmore was established in 1779 and is now regarded as one of the most popular malts not only on Islay, but in the whole of Scotland. The distillery was acquired by Stanley P. Morrison in 1963, ushering in an era of iconic single malts, including the legendary Black Bowmore, credited by many as the genesis of whisky collecting, bottled in 1995. The distillery was bought under the control Suntory the year prior (they had been stakeholders since 1989), and it remains one of the most collectible brands in Scotch whisky today. Bowmore is one of the few remaining Scottish distilleries to use its own floor maltings, providing them with 40% of their requirements. The unique microclimate in their iconic No.1 vaults shares very little with the angels, meaning casks are readily available for independent labels like this, many of which are spectacular.

This Bowmore was distilled in May 1966 and matured in single cask #3317 for 40 years. It was bottled by Duncan Taylor in May 2006 under their Rare Auld.

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 171 bottles.

Caol Ila 1968 Gordon and MacPhail Original 'Cask'

Caol Ila distillery was built in 1846 by Hector Henderson, who was bought out from the venture a little over 10 year later by Bulloch Lade. The blending firm merged with DCL (now Diageo) in 1927, who still run the distillery today. In 1972 the original site was demolished and replaced by a new one. When distilling resumed in 1974, Caol Ila was the largest producer of single malt on the Isle of Islay. Despite this, due to its importance in popular blends such as Johnnie Walker, its single malt brand disappeared under United Distillers, and it was not until 2002 that it would return, when the 12 year old was revived by Diageo. The Flora & Fauna release was well-regarded in the meantime, but it was independent releases like this that gave the best opportunity to sample this much-loved single malt.

This vintage is from Gordon & MacPhail's Original 'Cask' series, which represented their first foray into cask strength bottlings in order to keep up with the market trend in preference for these in the late 1980s.

1968 vintage Caol ila are particularly special as it was the final year of distilation before they stopped using direct-firing stills, changing the profile of later expressions.

Bowmore 1971 Sestante 18 Year Old / 57.3%

Islay’s oldest working distillery, Bowmore was established in 1779 and is now regarded as one of the most popular malts not only on Islay, but in the whole of Scotland. The distillery was acquired by Stanley P. Morrison in 1963, ushering in an era of iconic single malts, including the legendary Black Bowmore, credited by many as the genesis of whisky collecting, bottled in 1993. The distillery was bought under the control Suntory the year after (they had been stakeholders since 1989), and it remains one of the most collectible brands in Scotch whisky today. Bowmore is one of the few remaining Scottish distilleries to use its own floor maltings, providing them with 40% of their requirements. The unique microclimate in their iconic No.1 vaults shares very little with the angels, meaning casks are readily available for independent labels like this, many of which are spectacular.

A spectacular 1971 bottling of Bowmore which appears to have been matured in sherry casks, bottled by the renowned Italian importer, Sestante.

The Sestante import company was founded in the 1970s by Ernesto Mainardi, and he bottled his first single casks under the name in 1985. Alongside his contemporary, Silvano Samaroli, Mainardi pioneered giving his customers a choice of both standard 40-46% bottlings, and cask strength releases from the same casks. Along with his other brand, Silver Seal, Mainardi's bottlings are incredibly sought after.

This is one of two cask strength 18 year olds with this label, the other bottled at 57.1% ABV. This one was well reviewed by Serge at WhiskyFun, scoring an impressive 94 points.

Brora 1977 SMWS 19 Year Old 61.5

'An Islay by another name'

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.

This whisky was distilled in February 1977 and aged for 19 years.

Brora distillery (originally known as Clynelish) was built by the Duke of Sutherland in 1819. Prized by blenders, the distillery found itself in the hands of DCL in 1925 when they acquired shareholders, Ainslie & Heilbron and John Walker & Sons. DCL closed the distillery in 1967 after opening a new, larger Clynelish next-door, but re-opened the first site, now renamed as Brora the following year. Bottlings of the whisky it produced between then and its second closure in 1983 are now increasingly sought after. Official bottlings of Brora did not appear until 1995, long after its closure, but independent bottlings like this were produced from the late 1980s. In 2017 it was announced that Diageo planned to re-open this formerly lost gem, and the revived distillery filled its first casks on 19th May 2021.

Bowmore Bicentenary Cask Strength / Fecchio & Frassa

Islay’s oldest working distillery, Bowmore was established in 1779 and is now regarded as one of the most popular malts not only on Islay, but in the whole of Scotland. The distillery was acquired by Stanley P. Morrison in 1963, ushering in an era of iconic single malts, including the legendary Black Bowmore, credited by many as the genesis of whisky collecting, bottled in 1993. The distillery was bought under the control Suntory the year after (they had been stakeholders since 1989), and it remains one of the most collectible brands in Scotch whisky today. Bowmore is one of the few remaining Scottish distilleries to use its own floor maltings, providing them with 40% of their requirements.

This is an extremely rare Bowmore released for their Bicentenary in 1979, created for Fecchio & Frassa and 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%. 

There are two other releases bearing this label as well, a pair of 1969 vintage single sherry casks bottled exclusively for Mr. Federico Minnetti.

Caperdonich 1969 Duncan Taylor 50 Year Old

Caperdonich distillery was built next-door to Glen Grant in 1892, and for much of its history was known simply as Glen Grant 2. Expansion via additional distillery has been a method used by several producers over the years, but Glen Grant was the first. Glen Grant 2 was only open for 4 years after being built, and remained closed until 1965 when demand in Italy for Glen Grant single malt meant the second distillery was once again required to meet the needs of the blenders. Now legally required to have a different name, the site was christened Caperdonich. Glen Grant sold it on to Seagram in 1977, who continued to use it for blending purposes until they were wound up in the early 2000s. Pernod-Ricard acquired many of their assets in the Scotch industry in 2001, including Caperdonich which they shut down the following year. Its single malt was only briefly officially bottled while in operation, with further distillery bottlings only appearing from Pernod-Ricard in recent years. Production in its later years was high however, and many independent bottlings of this hidden Speyside gem have been produced.

This Caperdonich was distilled in October 1969 and matured for 50 years in single cask #3253. It was bottled by Duncan Taylor in April 2020 

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 88 bottles.

Please note, due to size and weight, this lot will incur a 4 bottle shipping fee.

Clynelish 1973 Prestonfield House 33 Year Old / 1st Bottling

Clynelish distillery as it is recognised today, was built in 1967 to replace the smaller distillery next-door, which was the original site of that name. The first distillery was closed, but later re-opened, changing its name to Brora (but that's another story). Clynelish is part of the Diageo stable, having been taken over by DCL in 1925. Despite being an important part of the Johnnie Walker blends, it has long been bottled as a single malt.

Prestonfield House have released a number of excellent whiskies over the years, this Clynelish is certainly one of them!

The second 1973 vintage bottled for them in 2006 at 33 years old.

One of 405 bottles drawn from cask #8912 and bottled by Signatory Vintage for The Prestonfield Whisky Co.

The label features an image of the eponymous Prestonfield Hotel and one of their famous peacocks which roam the grounds.

Cask #8912 was awarded an incredible score of 95 points (an all time best for Clynelish) by Serge Valetin of WhiskyFun.

Bowmore 1973 43 Year Old​

Islay’s oldest working distillery, Bowmore was established in 1779 and is now regarded as one of the most popular malts not only on Islay, but in the whole of Scotland. The distillery was acquired by Stanley P. Morrison in 1963, ushering in an era of iconic single malts, including the legendary Black Bowmore, credited by many as the genesis of whisky collecting, bottled in 1995. The distillery was bought under the control Suntory the year prior (they had been stakeholders since 1989), and it remains one of the most collectible brands in Scotch whisky today. Bowmore is one of the few remaining Scottish distilleries to use its own floor maltings, providing them with 40% of their requirements. 

The unique microclimate of the No.1 Vaults warehouse at Bowmore distillery means casks share very little with the angels, and has allowed the distillery to bottle some spectacular age-statements over the years. These early Morrison Bowmore era vintages are considered classics.

A 2016 super-premium bottling,this is a vatting the last 6 remaining bourbon hogsheads from 1973, and joined the ranks of some impressive bottles from that vintage. 

Casks 3883-3888 were distilled on the 10th of May 1973 and bottled on the 2nd of June 2016 at a staggering 43 years old.

Clynelish 1977 Gordon and MacPhail Private Collection

Clynelish distillery as it is recognised today, was built in 1967 to replace the smaller distillery next-door, which was the original site of that name. The first distillery was closed, but later re-opened, changing its name to Brora (but that’s another story). Clynelish is part of the Diageo stable, having been taken over by DCL in 1925. Despite being an important part of the Johnnie Walker blends, it has long been bottled as a single malt.

This Clynelish was distilled in March 1977 and matured in single refill American oak hogshead #2069. It was bottled by Gordon & MacPhail in November 2024 as part of their Private Collection, which replaced the Rare Old range in 2018.

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.

One of 96 bottles. 

Bowmore 1957 Hart Brothers 31 Year Old Sherry Wood

The Hart Brothers bottling company was founded in 1964 when Iain and Donald Hart incorporated as a wine and spirit merchant and Scotch whisky blenders. They have been bottling independent single malts since the 1980s.

Islay’s oldest working distillery, Bowmore was established in 1779 and is now regarded as one of the most popular malts not only on Islay, but in the whole of Scotland. The distillery was acquired by Stanley P. Morrison in 1963, ushering in an era of iconic single malts, including the legendary Black Bowmore, credited by many as the genesis of whisky collecting, bottled in 1995. The distillery was bought under the control Suntory the year prior (they had been stakeholders since 1989), and it remains one of the most collectible brands in Scotch whisky today. Bowmore is one of the few remaining Scottish distilleries to use its own floor maltings, providing them with 40% of their requirements. The unique microclimate in their iconic No.1 vaults shares very little with the angels, meaning casks are readily available for independent labels like this, many of which are spectacular.

This incredible release is a pre-Morrison's vintage, distilled back in 1957. The unique microclimate of the No.1 Vaults warehouse at Bowmore distillery means casks share very little with the angels, and has allowed the distillery, and independents like this, to bottle some spectacular age-statements over the years.

Bowmore 39 Year Old White Tiger of the West

Islay’s oldest working distillery, Bowmore was established in 1779 and is now regarded as one of the most popular malts not only on Islay, but in the whole of Scotland. The distillery was acquired by Stanley P. Morrison in 1963, ushering in an era of iconic single malts, including the legendary Black Bowmore, credited by many as the genesis of whisky collecting, bottled in 1993. The distillery was bought under the control Suntory the year after (they had been stakeholders since 1989), and it remains one of the most collectible brands in Scotch whisky today. Bowmore is one of the few remaining Scottish distilleries to use its own floor maltings, providing them with 40% of their requirements.

Spanning across four different bottlings and titled the Four Guardians, this series celebrates the animals of Chinese mythology. The full collection includes:

• The Azure Dragon of the East
• The Vermilion Bird of the South
• The White Tiger of the West
• The Black Turtle (Black Warrior) of the North

This elegant and well-aged single malt was produced in 2022 and resulted in just 888 bottles.

Balvenie 1966 Vintage Cask #6426 75cl / US Import

Balvenie was built by William Grant in 1892 and remains part of his family's company to this day. In the early part of its history, its purpose was primarily for the provision of malt for Grant's blends, however following the global success of Glenfiddich, the Balvenie single malt brand was launched in 1973. It remained a rarity though, and it was not until the opening of Kininvie in 1990, and later Ailsa Bay in Girvan, that the distillery was given the freedom to focus on its single malt. Today it is one of the best recognised brands in the world. In 1993 they launched the 12 year old \"DoubleWood,\" an expression credited with pioneering the use of cask-finishing, and this has become a key motif for the distillery's output in recent times.

The vintage cask range of whiskies from Balvenie are a fantastic insight into single casks released from this popular Speysider.

Distilled in 21st May 1966 and bottled on 15th December 1997 this is a specially selected single cask Balvenie, from cask #6426.

One of 228 bottles. 

Balvenie Rose 16 Year Old / 1st Edition 53.4%

The Balvenie Rose was created to celebrate the long history of Balvenie Castle.  Margaret Douglas 'The Fair Maid of Galloway' married in turn, two of the infamous Black Douglases.  Following the murder of William Douglas at the hands of James II the Black Douglases rebelled against the Stewart King and were defeated loosing their titles and estates.  The king however was taken by Magaret's beauty and reinstated her in Balvenie Castle with an annual rent of a single red rose.

Two batches of the Balvenie Rose were released and sold exclusively at Balvenie distillery, each batch consisted of 4 refill American oak casks which were finished in a single first fill port pipe. This is the first bottling from 2008 and has a cask strength of 53.4%.