April 2025 Auction

Brora 1982 SMWS 21 Year Old 61.19

'Butterscotch and scented smoke'

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.

This Brora was distilled in March 1982 and matured in a single cask for 21 years. It was bottled by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society in February 2004.

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.

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.\" 

Balvenie 1997 DCS Compendium 19 Year Old Chapter #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.

This bottle forms part of the second release of the five-part DCS Compendium, which is a tribute to renowned malt master, David Stewart. Each chapter contains five casks selected by David himself.

The Chapter 2 releases were bottled in 2016. This is a 19 year old, matured in a European oak port puncheon filled on 6th August 1997. It was bottled from cask #7951 in September 2016.

One of only 265 bottles.

Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch #5

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 Tun 1401 batches were bottled between 2010 and 2013 before being replaced with Tun 1509. Named after The Balvenie’s traditional oak marrying vessel, these whiskies were hand-selected by Malt Master, David Stewart.

Released in 2012, the fifth batch of Balvenie's popular Tun 1401 series is a vatting of five traditional whisky casks and four sherry butts, married together in the famous Tun 1401.

Balvenie 30 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. 

Launched in 2014, this is a well respected 30 year old from Balvenie.

Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch #5

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 Tun 1401 batches were bottled between 2010 and 2013 before being replaced with Tun 1509. Named after The Balvenie’s traditional oak marrying vessel, these whiskies were hand-selected by Malt Master, David Stewart.

Released in 2012, the fifth batch of Balvenie's popular Tun 1401 series is a vatting of five traditional whisky casks and four sherry butts, married together in the famous Tun 1401.

Balvenie Tun 1509 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.

The first batch of the Balvenie Tun 1509 was bottled in 2014, replacing the 1401 range.

This release is a combination of 42 casks: 35 traditional American oak barrels and 7 European oak sherry butts. These were married in Tun 1509 for several months before bottling.

Brora 30 Year Old 2009 Release

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. It was never bottled officially as Brora during its years of operation, and the Rare Malts Selection in 1995 were the first distillery bottlings to bear the name. In 2017 it was announced that Diageo planned to re-open this formerly lost gem, and the revived distillery filled its first casks on 19^th May 2021.

The Rare Malts Selection releases were there followed by an annual distillery bottling as part of the Diageo Special Releases each year, beginning in 2002, with the last one in 2017.

One of 2,652 bottles. 

Balvenie 1989 Single Barrel 25 Year Old #1864

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 25 year old Single Barrel is part of what the distillery now calls its Connoisseur Range, and is elevated slightly above their core portfolio in prestige.

This was distillede in 1989 and aged for 25 years in a traditional oak cask. It was bottled in 2015.

One of 'no more than 300' bottles.

Bunnahabhain 2001 Wilson and Morgan 15 Year Old Cask Strength

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 2001 and matured for 15 years in sherry wood. It was bottled at cask strength by Wilson & Morgan.

Wilson & Morgan was founded in Italy in 1992 by Fabio Rossi, the son of prolific importer Mario Rossi Jr, who began distributing Scotch whisky back in the 1960s. His son’s company was one of a new generation of Italian bottlers established in the 1990s, which aimed to replicate the successes of predecessors like Samaroli and Moon Import.

Bunnahabhain 2004 High Spirits 13 Year Old / Life is a Circus

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 is from an unusual collection of 10 independent bottlings produced by High Spirits . Each bottle is presented with a label depicting circus acts around the world.​

High Spirits are the second bottling company started by Nadi Fiori, co-founder of the acclaimed Intertrade. Like many of his contemporaries, his bottlings are known for their artistic labels. In 2008 High Spirits bottled a series for the renowned collector, Valentino Zagatti to celebrate his 50th year of buying whisky. These and many of the earlier High Spirits releases are highly collectible.

Bowmore 8 Year Old pre-2007

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 young but refreshing expression of Bowmore, this was produced in the mid-2000s and most commonly sold in the Italian market.

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.

Balvenie 15 Year Old Madeira Cask Finish

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 15 year old Balvenie, finished in Madeira casks, was released exclusively for Travel Retail.

Ballantine's 17 Year Old 1980s / Spirit Import

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.

Spirit import for the Italian market.

Benrinnes 2006 SMWS 17 Year Old 36.217

'Heaven And Earth'

Until 2007, Benrinnes had a unique triple distillation process that resulted in a single malt highly prized by blenders for its distinct \"meaty\" quality. So much so in fact, that none was spared for an official distillery bottling until United Distillers introduced the 15 year old Flora & Fauna release. Thankfully, the distillery has always featured in the catalogues of independent bottlers, giving ample opportunity to experience this sought after single malt.

This Benrinnes was distilled in August 2006 and initially matured in a bourbon hogshead, then in a single first-fill Pedro Ximenez barrique. It was bottled by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

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.

One of 518 bottles.

Bowmore 25 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.

This is the modern bottling of the revered 25 year old Bowmore, a staple of the core range since the 1990s.

Bimber Single Bourbon Cask #322 / Euston

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 ex-bourbon cask #322 and was bottled in March 2025.

One of 257 bottles.

Bell's Extra Special 1990s

The history of Arthur Bell & Sons dates back to the mid-19th century, but it was not until the 1930s that they became a big name player in the Scotch industry, acquiring the Blair Athol and Dufftown distilleries from P. Mackenzie & Co in 1932, and Inchgower from Moray Town Council four years later. The company placed its focus on the domestic market, and commanded 35% of it by the 1970s, with Bell's Extra Special the best-selling brand in Scotland. The firm was bought over by Guinness in 1985, who in turn procured DCL the following year. Today Bell's blends are still produced by its modern iteration, Diageo.

Bushmills Black Bush 1990s

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.

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.

Braes of Glenlivet 1979 Signatory Vintage 18 Year Old

Braes of Glenlivet was built by Seagram in 1973, who reportedly were seeking to replicate the quality of the neighbouring Glenlivet distillery. So much so in fact, that the distillery name needed to be changed to Braeval in 1994 to avoid any confusion between the two. Pernod-Ricard acquired the distillery in 2001 after Seagram collapsed, and promptly mothballed it until 2008. Occasional distillery bottlings have appeared since, but there has never been a permanent range, and most of its single malt has been bottled by independent labels like this.

This whisky was distilled on 29th November 1979 and aged in single sherry cask #9293 for 18 years. It was bottled at cask strength in October 1998.

Signatory Vintage were established in 1988 by Andrew Symington and are one of Scotland's most prolific independent bottlers. Their offices and bottling facility are located next to Edradour distillery, which they have also owned since 2002.

One of 468 bottles.

Banff 1975 SMWS 24 Year Old 67.5

A distillery almost as synonymous with fire as it is with whisky, Banff experienced four separate blazes during its chequered history, including a bombing by the Luftwaffe in 1941. The distillery operated until 1983 when it was closed by DCL (now Diageo) after a downturn in the market lead to an oversupply. Unsurprisingly, it caught fire in the process of being dismantled and has never re-opened. Its malt was predominantly reserved for blending in its time, but it has contributed to some particularly sought after independent releases over the years.

This Banff was distilled in December 1975 and matured in a single cask for 24 years. It was bottled by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society in February 2000.

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.

E. Patry 1939 Calvados Hors d'Age 

This is a Calvados from E. Patry. Calvados is a type of Brandy named after its home region in Normandy, northern France. It is made from apples (and sometimes pear) cider distilled into Brandy.

This calvados was from the 1939 millésime, and bottled 45 years later.

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.

Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch #6 75cl / US 

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 2012, the sixth batch of Balvenie's popular Tun 1401 series is a vatting of seven traditional whisky casks and two sherry butts, married together in the famous Tun 1401, a traditional oak marrying vessel. 

Batch #6 was made exclusive to the United States.

Edradour 1991 Straight From The Cask 11 Year Old #289 50cl

For a long time Edradour was Scotland's smallest distillery. Owned by William Whitely for much of the 20th century, it contributed malt for their King's Ransom blend, which had developed a strong sales network in the US with dubious Mafia boss, Frank Costello, as its representative. The distillery was eventually sold to Campbell Distillers in 1982, who opened it up to visitors and bottled its first official single malt in 1986. Despite its small size, the distillery has always found itself interested parties, with independent bottlers-turned-distillers, Signatory Vintage, purchasing it in 2002 when it was deemed surplus to requirements by Campbell Distillers parent firm, Pernod-Ricard.

This Edradour was distilled in October 1991 and matured in single sherry butt #289 for 11 years. It was bottled in August 2003.

One of 902 bottles.

English Whisky Co 2007 Chapter 9 Peated

Established in 2006, St George’s in Norfolk was the in England to produce single malt whisky. With Iain Henderson, formerly of Laphroaig and Edradour in charge, the distillery produced both peated and non-peated single malts, marketing both under this English Whisky Co, brand. Its first release in 2009 was the first legal English whisky in over a century. The brand is now simply known as The English, after it was relaunched in 2016.

This peated whisky was distilled in May 2007 and laid to rest in four first-fill bourbon casks for a minimum of three years before being bottled in June 2010.

Bruichladdich Links 14 Year Old / 18th Green, Royal Troon

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.

The Bruichladdich Links collection was created in partnership with Graeme Baxter the famous Golf Course artist. The series features nine whiskies featuring different golf courses. This bottle depicts the 18th hole at Royal Troon.

One of 12,000 bottles. 

Bruichladdich Links 14 Year Old / Old Course, St Andrews

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.

The Bruichladdich Links collection was created in partnership with Graeme Baxter the famous Golf Course artist. The series features nine whiskies featuring different golf courses. This is perhaps the most famous in the world, The Old Course at St Andrews.

One of 12,000 bottles.

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 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.