April 2025 Auction

Bache Gabrielsen 1969 Petite Champagne Cognac 51 Year Old

In 1931 Thomas Bache-Gabrielsen had the opportunity to select a Cognac from the prestigious area, Grand Champagne. The Cognac was carefully matured in Limousin French oak casks and then stored in demi-johns for several decades before being blended by Jean-Philippe Bergier to create Celeste.

One of 120 bottles.

Ben Nevis 1996 Milroy's 25 Year Old

Ben Nevis distillery was built by \"Long\" John MacDonald in 1825, and was so popular by the end of the 19th century that at one point the estate employed over 200 people. After a series of closures and re-openings at the beginning of the 20th, it was eventually bought by former Canadian bootlegger, Joseph Hobbs. He installed a coffey still there in 1955, making Ben Nevis Scotland's first dual-operation distillery, and began to blend its malt and grain before filling it to cask. Sporadic closures again followed Hobb's death, with stability finally ensured in 1989 when it was bought by long-term customers, Nikka Whisky of Japan. Its turbulent history means there were few distillery bottlings until the launch of the 10 year old single malt in 1996.

This Ben Nevis was distilled in February 1996 and matured in single butt #20 for 25 years. It was bottled by Milroys of Soho in June 2021.

Milroys of Soho is a legendary bottle shop located on Greek Street in London. The store was foundered by John & Mary Milroy in 1964, but it was not until John's brother Wallace joined the company four years later that their focus on whisky was to catch up with their interest in wine. In that year alone, their single malt catalogue increased from just three to well over 30. Their dedication to this unfashionable style of whisky (at the time) continues to be rewarded today, with the Greek Street store still a cornerstone of London's whisky world.

Bimber Single Marsala Cask #298/9 / Canary Wharf

The founders of London's Bimber distillery, Dariusz and Ewelina, moved from Poland to the UK in 2003, opening their distillery in the Park Royal area of west London twelve years later. Plazewski inherited his passion for whisky from his grandfather, who also distilled his own spirits. The company’s first casks were laid down on the 26th May 2016, and three years later they released their first single malt in September 2019. This became the first whisky to be distilled and bottled in London for over a century. The distillery carries a “farm-to-bottle” approach by sourcing 100% of its barley from a single producer and using traditional floor maltings and slow fermentation techniques. Distillation takes place via a 1,000-litre wash still and a 600-litre spirit still that were both crafted by Hoga of Spain.

This single cask release is part of the Spirit of the Underground series which was launched in collaboration with Transport for London in May 2021. Each release will celebrate a different one of the underground network’s stations. 

First opened in 1863, the London Underground is regarded by many historians as one of the greatest engineering achievements of all time. Simply known to many as The Tube, the network is still being expanded today as the city of London grows. When the Spirit of the Underground series was first released, the number of stations was 270.

One of 320 bottles.

Yamazaki 2003 Single Bota Corta Cask #3038 19cl / TWS

Suntory’s flagship distillery, Yamazaki was founded by Shinjiro Torii in 1923. The town of Yamazaki was chosen to be the site of Japan’s first commercial distillery due to its very ‘Scottish’ climate, and with it being an area where three rivers converge. In its early days, Yamazaki produced both malt and grain for Suntory's blends, but the opening of the Chita distillery in 1972 allowed the company to focus on its single malt brand. It is now one of the world's most desirable. The first spirit ran from the stills in 1924, on 11th November at 11:11am.

This whisky was distilled in 2003 and aged in ex-Spanish oak Bota Corta cask #ADDY3038. It was bottled exclusively for the Whisky Shop in 2014.

Yamazaki 2009 Spanish Oak 50cl / The Essence of Suntory

Suntory’s flagship distillery, Yamazaki was founded by Shinjiro Torii in 1923. The town of Yamazaki was chosen to be the site of Japan’s first commercial distillery due to its very ‘Scottish’ climate, and with it being an area where three rivers converge. In its early days, Yamazaki produced both malt and grain for Suntory's blends, but the opening of the Chita distillery in 1972 allowed the company to focus on its single malt brand. It is now one of the world's most desirable. The first spirit ran from the stills in 1924, on 11th November at 11:11am.

Part of the 2019 additions to The Essence of Suntory Whisky series, this is a Spanish oak matured single malt, produced at their flagship Yamazaki distillery.

Balvenie Classic 1980s

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.  

This is a non-age statement iteration of the Balvenie Classic. Like the Founder's Reserve bottlings from the same era, these were produced using now iconic cognac-style bottles, and are increasingly collectible.

First released in 1983, the Classic was one of the world's first whiskies to have undergone a secondary maturation, or \"finishing.\" In this case it was sherry wood. The expression was rebranded as the \"DoubleWood\" and switched to a 12 year old age statement in 1993.

Ben Nevis 1997 Alambic Classique 22 Year Old #199

Ben Nevis distillery was built by \"Long\" John MacDonald in 1825, and was so popular by the end of the 19th century that at one point the estate employed over 200 people. After a series of closure and re-openings at the beginning of the 20th, it was eventually bought by former Canadian bootlegger, Joseph Hobbs. He installed a coffey still there in 1955, making Ben Nevis Scotland's first dual-operation distillery, and began to blend its malt and grain before filling it to cask. Sporadic closures again followed Hobb's death, with stability finally ensured in 1989 when it was bought by long-term customers, Nikka Whisky of Japan. Its turbulent history means there were few distillery bottlings until the launch of the 10 year old single malt in 1996, but casks had long been making their way to independent labels, and many of them are very highly praised.

This Ben Nevis was distilled in 1997 and matured for 22 years in refill Sherry butt #199. It was bottled by Alambic Classique in February 1997.

Alambic Classique are a German wholesaler and importer based in Bad Wörishofen, Germany. Established in 1981, the company deals in speciality spirts including whisky, rum, cognac, armagnac and more. The company started bottling its own brands in 2005. Single malts from Ben Nevis and Ledaig have always been firm favourites, and the portfolio also includes Single Cask, Small Batch, Double-Matured and Very Old vintage bottlings from many different distilleries. A lesser known bottler, Alambic Classique have targeted specialist retailers and small restaurants to represent their releases, which over the years has made them difficult to come by.

One of only 481 bottles.

Bowmore 21 Year Old Pedro Ximénez Finish

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.

A 2019 travel retail exclusive, this Bowmore has been matured initially in traditional bourbon casks, then in Spanish Pedro Ximénez casks.

One of 2,500 bottles.

Balvenie 17 Year Old New Oak First Bottling

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.

Originally released in 2007, a year after the New Wood 17 year old release. The New Oak is a marriage of Balvenie from bourbon and sherry wood vatted together in new American oak.

Bushmills 1975 Millennium Malt Single Cask #161 / The Children's Wish

The Old Bushmills distillery in Northern Ireland is the world's oldest licensed whiskey producer, granted a license to distil whisky in 1608. The modern iteration of the distillery was built in 1885, following a fire. Old Bushmills was bought by the Irish Distillers group in 1971, giving them a full monopoly on the production of whiskey on the island, lasting until 1987 when Cooley was opened by the Teeling family. Diageo later bought the site in 2005, before trading it 9 years later with Casa Cuervo in exchange for a stake in one of their Tequila brands. 

The Millennium Malt range was a batch of single casks, all distilled in 1975 and bottled around the turn of the century. Each one had a privately customised label. 

Blanton's Single Barrel dumped 1991

Blanton's is a bourbon brand from the portfolio of Age International, the company formed by former Fleischmann's Distilling director's, Bob Baranaskas and Ferdie Falke. They had approached Schenley in the early 1980s with a view to purchasing its Old Charter brand, but were instead offered Ancient Age and the George T. Stagg distillery where it was produced. The deal was completed in 1983, two years before the retirement of George T. Stagg master distiller, Elmer T. Lee, who had served there for 36 years, working his way from the bottom up. One of his final pioneering triumphs before doing so was the introduction of mass produced single barrel bourbon, specifically through the creation of the Blanton's brand in 1984.

Normally a 6 to 8 year old bourbon, it is aged in Warehouse H at Buffalo Trace, which is the only metal-clad warehouse at the distillery, commissioned for construction by Albert B. Blanton, after whom the whiskey is named. The warehouse was built shortly after prohibition and being metal, transfers heat quicker than brick warehouses, allowing for more rapid ageing.

The popularity of these products was particularly high in Japan, coinciding with a market boom for American whiskey there in the 1980s. In 1991, with Age International in some financial trouble, a Japanese company called Takaro Shuzo stepped in and acquired a 22.5% stake in the company. In an unusual series of events, they then scuppered a deal the following year that was to see the remaining shares sold to Heublein (a subsidiary of Grand Metropolitan). Their deal the year before had included a 30 day right of refusal to purchase the shares for themselves should they be put up for sale. With the deal all but done, the Japanese company stepped in on the final day of the window to acquire full control of the company. As it turned out, their only interest was in the brands, and they had used the 30 days to negotiate a deal with the Sazerac Company of  New Orleans. This saw the American company take ownership of the distillery (which they renamed Buffalo Trace in 1999), as well as the exclusive production and US distribution rights for the Age International labels. This is an arrangement that is still in place today.

This is a 1991 bottling.

Since 1999, bottles of Blanton's have one of 8 different stoppers, each depicting a horse and jockey at a different stage of finishing a race. The designs are all lettered so that a complete set laid out side by side will spell \"BLANTON'S.\"

Please note due to the fragility of Blanton’s bottle seal and packaging, Whisky Auctioneer cannot accept responsibility for any damage and/or leakage during transit.

Bunnahabhain 1979 Glenscoma 16 Year Old

This whisky was distilled in 1979 and bottled at cask strength in 1995 fo SCOMA GmbH.

An austere piece of Victorian architecture on the north-east coast of Islay, Bunnahabhain is a relative outsider on the island, traditionally known for producing an un-peated single malt. The majority of this was used for blending, as was its initial intended purpose. The distillery was shut for 2 years in 1982 following the market downturn of the period, and despite being revived at low production, it was eventually officially bottled as a single malt later that decade, with the self-deprecating tag-line, \"the un-pronounceable malt.\" 

Bowmore 2004 SMWS 20 Year Old 3.353

'Please accept our apologies...'

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 on 16th February 2004 and laid to rest in an ex-Bourbon cask, with a finish in a second-fill ex-Oloroso hogshead.

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.

One of only 248 bottles.

Blair Athol 1988 Artist Collection #4 25 Year Old Batch #2

Blair Athol distillery is one of Scotland's oldest, dating back into the late 18th century. Its modern story begins when it was closed down by Peter Mackenzie in 1932, and was purchased by Arthur Bell & Sons the following year. Distilling recommenced in 1949, and with Blair Athol malt at its heart, Bell's became one of the world's best-selling whiskies. Despite its importance to the blend, Blair Athol was also bottled as a single malt under the Bell's banner in the 1970s and 1980s. New owners, Guinness, were less interested in this when they took over in 1985, but their subsequent iteration, United Distillers, brought a back distillery bottling with the Flora & Fauna release. Despite its popularity, Blair Athol has yet to be bottled under its own single malt brand. Other official bottlings from the Diageo era are very rare too, however the distillery has regularly provided casks to independent companies, many of whom have bottled some exceptional releases.

This Blair Athol was distilled in 1988 and aged in single second-fill sherry butt #6857. It was bottled by Signatory Vintage in 2013 as part of the LMDW Artist Collection series. The label features artwork by Albane Simon.

La Maison du Whisky, aka LMDW, was founded in 1956 by Georges Benitah and is now one of the largest whisky and rum importers and distributors in France, and known the world over. They opened their first shop in Paris at the legendary 20 Rue d'Anjou in 1968, importing their first Scotch malt whiskies in the 1970s. They are known for their expertise in not only Scotch, but Japanese whisky and rum too, and their collaborative bottlings, as well as their own independent labels like this one, are highly prized.

One of only 459 bottles.

Bowmore Devil's Casks 10 Year Old Batch #1

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.

Released in October 2013, this Bowmore barely even reached retailer shelves. The Devil is rumoured to have escaped Bowmore town in one of the distillery's casks after being chased from the famous church up the hill, which famously has no corners so and therefore no hiding places. 

This release was matured exclusively in first fill sherry casks and bottled at cask strength. It was very limited, with only 540 bottles available in the UK and no more than 6,000 worldwide.

Bimber Single Sherry Cask #444 / Liverpool Street

The founders of London's Bimber distillery, Dariusz and Ewelina, moved from Poland to the UK in 2003, opening their distillery in the Park Royal area of west London twelve years later. Plazewski inherited his passion for whisky from his grandfather, who also distilled his own spirits. The company’s first casks were laid down on the 26th May 2016, and three years later they released their first single malt in September 2019. This became the first whisky to be distilled and bottled in London for over a century. The distillery carries a “farm-to-bottle” approach by sourcing 100% of its barley from a single producer and using traditional floor maltings and slow fermentation techniques. Distillation takes place via a 1,000-litre wash still and a 600-litre spirit still that were both crafted by Hoga of Spain.

This single cask release is part of the Spirit of the Underground series which was launched in collaboration with Transport for London in May 2021. Each release will celebrate a different one of the underground network’s stations. 

First opened in 1863, the London Underground is regarded by many historians as one of the greatest engineering achievements of all time. Simply known to many as The Tube, the network is still being expanded today as the city of London grows. When the Spirit of the Underground series was first released, the number of stations was 270.

Release number 7 in the series includes: Liverpool Street, Euston, Knightsbridge and Westminster. This whisky has been aged in single Pedro Ximénez sherry cask #444 and was bottled in March 2025.

One of 298 bottles.

Benriach 1986 Peated Single Cask 23 Year Old #3182 75cl / Binny's

Benriach is a distillery with long-standing transatlantic connections. It was procured by Seagram in 1978, the former Canadian drinks empire, and is now in the hands of the Brown-Forman corporation, via Billy Walker who rescued it from a brief mothballing in 2002. Walker bottled some of the peated whisky that Seagram had begun producing there for its blends in 1983, and the positive reaction to these means the distillery now produces both a peated and unpeated single malt. Benriach is one of only seven distilleries in Scotland to still operate its own in-house floor maltings.

Distilled in March 1986 and then bottled in October 2009 after finishing in Pedro Ximenez hogshead #3182. The cask was specially selected by The Plowed Society for Binny's Beverage Depot in Chicago.

One of 314 bottles.

Ben Bracken 1973 47 Year Old Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt

This single malt was distilled at an undisclosed Speyside distillery in 1973 and matured for 47 years. It was bottled at cask strength by the Scottish Independent Distillers Ltd, under the popular Ben Bracken label.

One of 480 bottles.

Bulleit Kentucky Straight Bourbon Thoroughbred

The Bulleit brand was established in 1987 by Tom Bulleit, with the intention of distilling it to his great-grandfather, Augustus' recipe from the early 19th century. Bulleit is a high rye bourbon, and early batches were sourced from Ancient Age distillery (now known as Buffalo Trace).

The brand was purchased by Seagram's  in 1997, who moved production to their Four Roses distillery in Lawrenceburg. Seagram's were dissolved not long after, with the Bulleit label being picked up by Diageo, who continue to source the bourbon from Four Roses today.

A Bulleit distillery was opened in 2017, and eventually the product on the shelves will have been distilled there.

Balvenie Classic 1980s

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.  

This is a non-age statement iteration of the Balvenie Classic. Like the Founder's Reserve bottlings from the same era, these were produced using now iconic cognac-style bottles, and are increasingly collectible.

First released in 1983, the Classic was one of the world's first whiskies to have undergone a secondary maturation, or \"finishing.\" In this case it was sherry wood. The expression was rebranded as the \"DoubleWood\" and switched to a 12 year old age statement in 1993.

Bruichladdich 21 Year Old 1990s

Like its Islay neighbour Bunnahabhain, Bruichladdich has traditionally been an un-peated single malt, mostly owing to its requirements by the blenders who owned it. The last of these was Whyte and Mackay, who eventually shut it down in 1995, deeming it surplus to requirements. They sold the distillery to Murray McDavid in 2001, who launched the peated Port Charlotte and heavily-peated Octomore single malts in 2006 and 2008. A recommissioned Lomond still also now produces the popular Botanist gin there.

This 21 year old is a Whyte and Mackay era bottling from the 1990s.

Blood Oath Kentucky Straight Bourbon 2019 / Pact No.5

Luxco was established as the David Sherman Corporation in 1958 by David Sherman Sr. and Paul A. Lux. David Sherman was one of the many companies that profited from the initial United Distillers investment and subsequent Diageo divestment in bourbon, acquiring the Ezra Brooks brand from United Distillers in 1993 after they closed down the Medley distillery where it was made to focus on Bernheim and its brands. They then later added the struggling Rebel Yell and David Nicholson brands (both formerly produced at the legendary Stitzel-Weller) in 1999 and 2000, the result of Diageo selling Bernheim to Heaven Hill and looking to offload its other unwanted brands. The company was renamed Luxco in 2006 and has successfully rejuvenated both the images and reputations of the historic brands that it now markets. Initially without a distillery and contracting production to Heaven Hill, they opened the Lux Row distillery in Kentucky in 2018. In early 2021 it was announced that Luxco would be acquired by MGP, who’s Indiana distillery will provide it with whiskey for its brands until the 1m litre capacity Lux Row has enough mature stock to be fully self-sustaining.

This is the fifth in the popular Blood Oath series, produced by Luxco using sourced bourbon from neighbouring distilleries.

The 2019 release is a blend of three different whiskies...

• 13 year old mahogany bourbon
• 11 year old wheated bourbon
• 8 year old bourbon fnished in Caribbean rum barrels

Yamazaki 2003 Single Bota Corta Cask #3038 19cl / TWS

Suntory’s flagship distillery, Yamazaki was founded by Shinjiro Torii in 1923. The town of Yamazaki was chosen to be the site of Japan’s first commercial distillery due to its very ‘Scottish’ climate, and with it being an area where three rivers converge. In its early days, Yamazaki produced both malt and grain for Suntory's blends, but the opening of the Chita distillery in 1972 allowed the company to focus on its single malt brand. It is now one of the world's most desirable. The first spirit ran from the stills in 1924, on 11th November at 11:11am.

This whisky was distilled in 2003 and aged in ex-Spanish oak Bota Corta cask #ADDY3038. It was bottled exclusively for the Whisky Shop in 2014.

Bowmore Devil's Casks 10 Year Old Batch #2

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.

This is the second release in the incredibly popular Devil's Cask Small Batch Releases, matured exclusively in first fill sherry casks.

\"Where The Devil is He?\" - The story goes the devil was spotted in the circular church at Bowmore, the villagers chased the devil into Bowmore Distillery where, as legend goes, the devil escaped in a cask.

Yamazaki 2005 Peated Malt 50cl / The Essence of Suntory

Suntory’s flagship distillery, Yamazaki was founded by Shinjiro Torii in 1923. The town of Yamazaki was chosen to be the site of Japan’s first commercial distillery due to its very ‘Scottish’ climate, and with it being an area where three rivers converge. In its early days, Yamazaki produced both malt and grain for Suntory's blends, but the opening of the Chita distillery in 1972 allowed the company to focus on its single malt brand. It is now one of the world's most desirable. The first spirit ran from the stills in 1924, on 11th November at 11:11am.

Part of the 2018 series, The Essence of Suntory Whisky, this Yamazaki was distilled in 2005 from peated malt.

Bruichladdich 1990 Rare Cask Series 27 Year Old / HB '90

Like its island neighbour Bunnahabhain distillery, Bruichladdich has traditionally been an un-peated single malt, mostly owing to its requirements by the blenders who owned it. The last of these was Whyte & Mackay, who eventually shut it down in 1995, deeming it surplus to requirements. They sold the distillery to Murray McDavid in 2001, who launched the peated Port Charlotte and heavily-peated Octomore single malts in 2006 and 2008. A recommissioned Lomond still also now produces the popular Botanist gin there.

This expression was first filled into Bourbon casks for 17 years before being moved to French wine casks in 2007 for a further 10 years. 

One of 12,000 bottles released exclusively for Travel Retail.

Bruichladdich 27 Year Old Stillman's Dram

Like its island neighbour Bunnahabhain distillery, Bruichladdich has traditionally been an un-peated single malt, mostly owing to its requirements by the blenders who owned it. The last of these was Whyte and Mackay, who eventually shut it down in 1995, deeming it surplus to requirements. They sold the distillery to Murray McDavid in 2001, who launched the peated Port Charlotte and heavily-peated Octomore single malts in 2006 and 2008. A recommissioned Lomond still also now produces the popular Botanist gin there. 

This was bottled within The Stillman's Dram series of whiskies, a premium range of limited editions which showcased impressive age-statements from the old Whyte & Mackay distillery portfolio, which also includes Jura, Tamnavulin and Dalmore.

Balvenie Classic 1980s

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.  

This is a non-age statement iteration of the Balvenie Classic. Like the Founder's Reserve bottlings from the same era, these were produced using now iconic cognac-style bottles, and are increasingly collectible.

First released in 1983, the Classic was one of the world's first whiskies to have undergone a secondary maturation, or \"finishing.\" In this case it was sherry wood. The expression was rebranded as the \"DoubleWood\" and switched to a 12 year old age statement in 1993.

Blair Athol 10 Year Old Manager's Dram 2019

Blair Athol distillery is one of Scotland's oldest, dating back into the late 18th century. Its modern story begins when it was closed down by Peter Mackenzie in 1932, and was purchased by Arthur Bell & Sons the following year. Distilling recommenced in 1949, and with Blair Athol malt at its heart, Bell's became one of the world's best-selling whiskies. Despite its importance to the Bell's blend, Blair Athol was also bottled as a single malt in the 1970s and 1980s. New owners, Guinness, were less interested in this when they took over in 1985, but their modern iteration, Diageo, brought a distillery bottling back as part of their Flora & Fauna series. One of the more popular, it has been retained as a permanent release. Other official bottlings from the Diageo era are very rare, however the distillery has regularly provided casks to independent companies, many of whom have bottled some exceptional releases. 

This is a 10 year old, bottled as part of the Manager's Dram series. Selected by the distillery manager and bottled in October 2019.

The Manager’s Dram series of whiskies were bottled exclusively for employees of what is now known as Diageo.  These whiskies were selected by the respective distillery managers within Diageo malt distilling and bottled at natural cask strength.

Bowmore Darkest

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 Bowmore Darkest was introduced in 1999, and is a non-age statement vatting of whisky, finished for three years in Oloroso sherry casks. It was incredibly popular among Bowmore fans, so much so that it survived the 2007 shake up of the core range. It was repackaged as a 15 year old, replacing the much-loved 17 year old (which became a travel retail exclusive) in the process.

Bimber Single Moscatel Cask #435 / Knightsbridge

The founders of London's Bimber distillery, Dariusz and Ewelina, moved from Poland to the UK in 2003, opening their distillery in the Park Royal area of west London twelve years later. Plazewski inherited his passion for whisky from his grandfather, who also distilled his own spirits. The company’s first casks were laid down on the 26th May 2016, and three years later they released their first single malt in September 2019. This became the first whisky to be distilled and bottled in London for over a century. The distillery carries a “farm-to-bottle” approach by sourcing 100% of its barley from a single producer and using traditional floor maltings and slow fermentation techniques. Distillation takes place via a 1,000-litre wash still and a 600-litre spirit still that were both crafted by Hoga of Spain.

This single cask release is part of the Spirit of the Underground series which was launched in collaboration with Transport for London in May 2021. Each release will celebrate a different one of the underground network’s stations. 

First opened in 1863, the London Underground is regarded by many historians as one of the greatest engineering achievements of all time. Simply known to many as The Tube, the network is still being expanded today as the city of London grows. When the Spirit of the Underground series was first released, the number of stations was 270.

This was among the seventh release in the series, alongside Liverpool Street, Euston, and Westminster. The whisky itself has been matured in single Moscatel cask #435, and bottled in March 2025.

One of 209 bottles.

Bunnahabhain 1980 First Cask 19 Year Old #5648

An austere piece of Victorian architecture on the north-east coast of Islay, Bunnahabhain is a relative outsider on the island, traditionally known for producing an un-peated single malt. The majority of this was used for blending, as was its initial intended purpose. The distillery was shut for 2 years in 1982 following the market downturn of the period, and despite being revived at low production, it was eventually officially bottled as a single malt later that decade, with the self-deprecating tag-line, \"the un-pronounceable malt.\"

This Bunnahabhain was distilled in April 1980 and matured in single cask #5648 for 19 years. It was bottled by Direct Wines as part of their First Cask series.

The First Cask range is a no-frills collection of independent releases, simplistically labelled but with a real focus on high quality cask selection. The brand was produced by Direct Wines, a firm established in Windsor in 1973 and the casks are provided by Signatory Vintage. Often sold in mixed cases through Direct Wines' global distribution network, these bottles can be found all over the world yet have retained the allure of being a relatively boutique label, with many examples incredibly sought after.