April 2025 Auction

Blanton's Single Barrel dumped 2024 70cl

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 2024 bottling.

Since 1999, every bottle of Blanton's has 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 \"BLANTONS.\" 

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.

Blood Oath Kentucky Straight Bourbon 2021 70cl / Pact No.7

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

The 2021 release is a blend of the following three whiskies...

• A Single 14 Year Old Bourbon
• A Single 8 Year Old Bourbon
• A Single 8 Year Old Bourbon Finished in ex-Sauternes casks 

Pack No.7 resulted in a total of 5,100 bottles, 1,400 of which were held back for a Trilogy Pack.

Blanton's Single Barrel dumped 2023 70cl

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 2023 bottling.

Since 1999, every bottle of Blanton's has 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 \"BLANTONS.\" 

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.

Blair Athol 12 Year Old Flora and Fauna

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 back a distillery bottling with this 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.

Following on from the successful introduction of the Classic Malts range in 1988 (at the time only six expressions), United Distillers sought to build on this by releasing a further 22 single malts in 1991. These became affectionately known as the Flora & Fauna series, a term coined by whisky writer, Michael Jackson, in reference to their labels. The range showcased the lesser-seen distilleries from the company’s extensive portfolio at the time, with the intent of using collective branding to help them raise each other’s profiles. Despite four further additions in 2001, only a handful of these are still permanent distillery bottlings, making it a highly collectible series.

Blanton's Single Barrel dumped 2023 70cl

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 2023 bottling.

Since 1999, every bottle of Blanton's has 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 \"BLANTONS.\" 

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.

Bivrost Midgard Ninth Release 50cl

Several distilleries over the years have laid claim to the accolade of the world's most northerly whisky producer. The current flag-bearer, and likely the last, is the Aurora Spirit distillery. It is located within the Arctic Circle, not far from the town of Lyngseidet in Norway. Surrounded by the Lyngen Alps, nearby fjords, and with views of the arctic wilderness and Northern Lights, the setting is truly stunning. As if the environs were not enough, the workings of the distillery are no less intriguing. It was built within a disused NATO Cold War base, and the maturation of its whisky takes place within its network of underground tunnels.

The distillery's spirits are bottled under the Bivrost brand, and this whisky is their ninth release of arctic single malt. The distillery plans to launch its first permanent Bivrost range in 2025, and until then has launched a series of limited editions, two per year, as part of a collectible series based on the nine worlds of Norse mythology. This is the final release.

Titled Midgard, this release comprises whisky distilled in 2018-2020.

The whisky itself was distilled using a wash of pilsner malt, made from Planet and Popino Nordic barley, and was created with water sourced from the distillery's local spring. The spirit was distilled in Aurora Spirit's bespoke copper pot and column still, which produces a new make spirit of 75% ABV after 8 to 10 hours. Maturation takes place in bourbon casks and a variety of Oloroso sherry oak casks, mostly comprised of European oak, with small amounts of American and Spanish oak utilised too.

The release was a total of 6,265 bottles, the first 20 of which were exclusively auctioned here at Whisky Auctioneer though our May 2024 Auction.

Bivrost Midgard Ninth Release 50cl

Several distilleries over the years have laid claim to the accolade of the world's most northerly whisky producer. The current flag-bearer, and likely the last, is the Aurora Spirit distillery. It is located within the Arctic Circle, not far from the town of Lyngseidet in Norway. Surrounded by the Lyngen Alps, nearby fjords, and with views of the arctic wilderness and Northern Lights, the setting is truly stunning. As if the environs were not enough, the workings of the distillery are no less intriguing. It was built within a disused NATO Cold War base, and the maturation of its whisky takes place within its network of underground tunnels.

The distillery's spirits are bottled under the Bivrost brand, and this whisky is their ninth release of arctic single malt. The distillery plans to launch its first permanent Bivrost range in 2025, and until then has launched a series of limited editions, two per year, as part of a collectible series based on the nine worlds of Norse mythology. This is the final release.

Titled Midgard, this release comprises whisky distilled in 2018-2020.

The whisky itself was distilled using a wash of pilsner malt, made from Planet and Popino Nordic barley, and was created with water sourced from the distillery's local spring. The spirit was distilled in Aurora Spirit's bespoke copper pot and column still, which produces a new make spirit of 75% ABV after 8 to 10 hours. Maturation takes place in bourbon casks and a variety of Oloroso sherry oak casks, mostly comprised of European oak, with small amounts of American and Spanish oak utilised too.

The release was a total of 6,265 bottles, the first 20 of which were exclusively auctioned here at Whisky Auctioneer though our May 2024 Auction.

Bivrost Alfheim Eighth Release 50cl

Several distilleries over the years have laid claim to the accolade of the world's most northerly whisky producer, the current flag-bearer, and likely the last is the Aurora Spirit distillery. It is located far within the Arctic Circle, not far from the town of Lyngseidet in Norway. Surrounded by the Lyngen Alps, nearby fjords and with views of the arctic wilderness and Northern Lights, the setting is truly stunning. As if the environs were not enough, the workings of the distillery are no less intriguing. It was built within a disused NATO Cold War base, and the maturation of its whisky takes place within its network of underground tunnels.

The distillery's spirits are bottled under the Bivrost brand, and this whisky is their eighth release of arctic single malt. The distillery plans to launch its first permanent Bivrost range in 2025, and until then will launch a series of limited editions, two per year as part of a collectible series based on the nine worlds of Norse mythology. 

Titled Alfheim, this release comprises whisky distilled in 2018-2020.

The whisky itself was distilled using a wash of pilsner malt, made from Planet and Popino Nordic barley, and was created with water sourced from the distillery's local spring. The spirit was distilled in Aurora Spirit's bespoke copper pot and column still, which produces a new make spirit of 75% ABV after 8 to 10 hours. Maturation takes place in Virgin American, Chinquapin and Colombian oak casks. 

The release was a total of 4,508 bottles, the first 20 of which were exclusively auctioned here at Whisky Auctioneer though our October 2023 Auction.

Bimber Single Bourbon Cask #194 / Belgium Edition - Top Malts

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 Bimber was matured in single bourbon cask #194, and selected for this Belgium Edition, made excluisve to Top Malts.

One of 257 bottles.

Bushmills 10 Year Old

The Old Bushmills distillery in Northern Ireland is the world's oldest licensed whiskey producer, granted a license to distill 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.

Balvenie 17 Year Old Islay Cask

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 2003, this was the very first of the Balvenie 17 Year Old expressions.

''In the making of The Balvenie Islay Cask, David Stewart selected Balvenie single malt which had matured in traditional oak casks for at least 17 years and transferred it into 94 casks which had previously held Islay single malt. After six months he felt the casks had imparted the desired delicate amount of peaty notes, typical of Islay, whilst retaining the distinctively honeyed character of The Balvenie.''

Balvenie 16 Year Old French Oak

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.

Launched in early 2022, this 16 year old was initially matured in American oak casks, then finished in Pineau des Charentes casks.

Bailie Nicol Jarvie Scotch Whisky

This now-discontinued blended Scotch whisky hails from Leith, Edinburgh. The blend allegedly had 60% malt content, which have matured for at least 8 years.

Bailie Nicol Jarvie Scotch Whisky

This now-discontinued blended Scotch whisky hails from Leith, Edinburgh. The blend allegedly had 60% malt content, which have matured for at least 8 years.

Balvenie 2003 Peat Week 14 Year Old

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. 

Every year since 2003, Balvenie has dedicated a week per year to the production of a heavily peated whisky, this whisky is the product of that first year. It was aged 14 years exclusively in American oak.

Bailie Nicol Jarvie Scotch Whisky

This now-discontinued blended Scotch whisky hails from Leith, Edinburgh. The blend allegedly had 60% malt content, which have matured for at least 8 years.

Blanton's Single Barrel dumped 2022 Limited Edition #29 70cl / LMDW

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 the 2022 limited edition bottling produced for French spirit merchants, La Maison du Whisky.

Since 1999, every bottle of Blanton's has 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 \"BLANTONS.\" 

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.

Ben Wyvis 1972 The Final Resurrection 27 Year Old

Ben Wyvis is one of the shortest-lived distilleries of the modern age, constructed within the Invergordon grain complex in 1965. Invergordon was built just four years earlier, and both were tasked with providing fillings for the Whyte & Mackay blend which was soaring in popularity at the time. Ben Wyvis was a malt distillery, producing an unpeated new make. The expanding distillery portfolio of Invergordon Distillers later that decade, inlcuding the building of Tamnavulin and acquisition of Bruichladdich, left Ben Wyvis surplus to requirements. It was demolished after just 11 years of production, and very few single malt bottlings have ever been produced.

Distilled at Ben Wyvis in 1972, this is one of the final bottlings Invergordon Distillers released from this very rare distillery, consisting of the final three casks of the company's stock (#744, #1058 and #1059)

One of 471 bottles.

Blanton's Single Barrel dumped 2022 Limited Edition #29 70cl / LMDW

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 the 2022 limited edition bottling produced for French spirit merchants, La Maison du Whisky.

Since 1999, every bottle of Blanton's has 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 \"BLANTONS.\" 

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.

Booker's 7 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon #2015-02 70cl

The Booker's brand is a subsidiary of Jim Beam and was named after former master distiller, Booker Noe. His son Fred is now the current master distiller and is on record as having said, \"if you’re drinking Booker’s, you better have your pajamas on!” Jim Beam have two distilleries in Kentucky where they produce their bourbon, but Booker's is the only brand produced exclusively at one of them; the Boston Road plant, now also known as the Booker Noe distillery. Booker's was launched in 1992 and is part of the Jim Beam Small Batch collection, alongside Baker's, Knob Creek and Basil Hayden.

This Booker's was matured for 7 years and bottled at cask strength in 2015.

Batch #2015-02.

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.

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.

Balvenie Tun 1858 Batch #2

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 2013, a marriage of nine traditional oak casks and three European oak sherry butts created the second limited edition Balvenie Tun 1858, exclusive for the Taiwanese market.

As with the Balvenie Tun 1401, these whiskies are hand-selected by Malt Master David Stewart.

Ballechin 2005 Single Caroni Rum Cask Finish #906 / LMDW

Ballechin is the heavily peated single malt produced at Edradour. When Signatory Vintage took over the distillery in 2002, they installed former Laphroaig distillery manager, Iain Henderson, as Director of Operations, and inspired by his previous place of work, the first peated distillation at Edradour took place in 2003. Generally matured in a range of different wine casks, the first bottlings were turned out in 2006.

This whisky was distilled in 2005 and aged first in single cask #906 before finishing in a ex-Caroni rum cask. It was bottled at cask strength in 2016 for La Maison du Whisky.

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.

Ballechin 2005 Single Caroni Rum Cask Finish #906 / LMDW

Ballechin is the heavily peated single malt produced at Edradour. When Signatory Vintage took over the distillery in 2002, they installed former Laphroaig distillery manager, Iain Henderson, as Director of Operations, and inspired by his previous place of work, the first peated distillation at Edradour took place in 2003. Generally matured in a range of different wine casks, the first bottlings were turned out in 2006.

This whisky was distilled in 2005 and aged first in single cask #906 before finishing in a ex-Caroni rum cask. It was bottled at cask strength in 2016 for La Maison du Whisky.

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.

Bisquit 3 Star Cognac 1970s

A classic bottle of Bisquit cognac from the 1970s. The term V.S. (Very Special) or \"Three Star\" indicates that the youngest element in this cognac will be aged for a minimum of two years.

Bisquit 3 Star Cognac 1970s

A classic bottle of Bisquit cognac from the 1970s. The term V.S. (Very Special) or \"Three Star\" indicates that the youngest element in this cognac will be aged for a minimum of two years.

Balvenie 12 Year Old Signature Batch #1

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 the first batch of the Signature, which David Stewart crafted to mark his 45th year in the whisky industry. Matured in the three most traditional cask types: first fill bourbon, refill bourbon and sherry.

When it was launched in 2007, this was intended as a replacement for the Founder's Reserve, which was discontinued two years later. The series only spanned five batches however, the last of these appearing in 2013.

Bodach Aislig 1980 Murray McDavid 35 Year Old Crafted Blend

Murray McDavid were founded in 1996 by Mark Reynier, Simon Coughlin and ex-Springbank distillery Director, Gordon Wright. The company bought re-opened Bruichladdich distillery in December 2000, hiring Jim McEwan as Master Distiller. The company was purchased by Remy Cointreau in 2012, with the Murray McDavid brand eventually returning to Scottish hands the following year. Murray McDavid is famed for coining the term \"ACE-ing\" (additional cask enhancement) in relation to their cask finishing process, something they continue to use to great effect to this day.

Released in October 2015, this 35 year old blended whisky from Murray McDavid contains whisky from 'all 5 whisky regions'. It was initially matured in a bourbon barrel, then finished in a sherry cask.

From the Murray McDavid website we know this blend includes whisky from Glenrothes, Glengoyne, Bunnahabhain, Tamdhu, Port Dundas, Cameronbridge and North British distilleries.

One of 370 bottles.

Ballantine's Finest Scotch Whisky

Currently produced by Pernod-Ricard as part of its Chivas Brothers arm, Ballantine's is one of the top three best-selling blends in the world. The brand's origins date back to 1827 when George Ballantine established a wine and spirits shop in Edinburgh, moving into the whisky blending business in 1865. The flagship Ballantine's Finest was first launched in 1910. Its popularity caught the eye of Canadian distilling giants, Hiram Walker, in 1936. They were cash-rich having capitalised on US prohibition in the previous decade and were looking to make a move into the Scotch industry, also acquiring the Miltonduff and Glenburgie distilleries. Today the Ballantine's name is still so strong that Chivas Brothers market both of their single malts under its brand.

The core expression from Ballantine's, a light and delicate blend. 

Ben Nevis 1997 Hidden Spirits 24 Year Old / Sansibar 10th Anniversary

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 in single cask #BN9721S for 24 years. It was selected by and bottled by Hidden Spirits for Sansibar's 10th Anniversary.

Following the lead of esteemed countrymen such as Samaroli and Moon Import in the 1980s, Hidden Spirits is part of a new generation of independent Italian bottlers. Founded by Andrea Ferrari, the company operates an online store for fine and rare collectible spirits, as well as bottling some very respected independent single malts and rum.

Bushmills Black Bush 1980s

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.

Black Bush was originally the slang name for Bushmills Liqueur, which became so ubiquitous that it only made sense to rename the product. This is a blend containing 80% malt whiskey matured for up to seven years in Spanish Oloroso sherry casks and American bourbon barrels.