April 2025 Auction

Penderyn Peated

The first Welsh whisky brand, Swn Y Mor, was devised in the 1970s by The Welsh Whisky Company. However, neither the firm nor the rest of the country actually had a distillery at the time. The product was a somewhat controversial blend of Scotch malt and grain whiskies, and an eventual court case with the Scotch whisky industry. Three of the company directors were then jailed for Duty fraud, but all was not lost. A development funding grant from the EU had been used to develop a new type of spirit still, a project led by David Faraday at the University of Surrey. The result of this was the installation of a Faraday still at The Welsh Whisky Company's new Gwalia distillery in the Brecon Beacons national park, where today this increasingly popular Penderyn single malt is distilled.

This core range single malt is finished in ex-Islay casks.

Penderyn Icons of Wales #11 / Patagonia

The first Welsh whisky brand, Swn Y Mor, was devised in the 1970s by The Welsh Whisky Company. However, neither the firm nor the rest of the country actually had a distillery at the time. The product was a somewhat controversial blend of Scotch malt and grain whiskies, and an eventual court case with the Scotch whisky industry. Three of the company directors were then jailed for Duty fraud, but all was not lost. A development funding grant from the EU had been used to develop a new type of spirit still, a project led by David Faraday at the University of Surrey. The result of this was the installation of a Faraday still at The Welsh Whisky Company's new Gwalia distillery in the Brecon Beacons national park, where today this increasingly popular Penderyn single malt is distilled.

This is number 11 of 50 in the Icons of Wales series, each of which celebrates Wales and its people throughout the world.

This edition is the distillery's first blended malt, and celebrates the first group of Welsh emigrants that travelled from Liverpool to Patagonia, aboard the Mimosa in 1865. 

Penderyn Icons of Wales #9 / The Headliner - David Lloyd George

The first Welsh whisky brand, Swn Y Mor, was devised in the 1970s by The Welsh Whisky Company. The firm however, nor the rest of the country actually had a distillery at the time. The product was a somewhat controversial blend of Scotch malt and grain whiskies, and an eventual court case with the Scotch whisky industry. Three of the company directors were then jailed for Duty fraud, but all was not lost! A development funding grant from the EU had been used to develop a new type of spirit still, a project led by David Faraday at the University of Surrey. The result of this was the installation of a Faraday still at The Welsh Whisky Company's new Gwalia distillery in the Brecon Beacons national park, where today this increasingly popular Penderyn single malt is distilled.

This Jamaican Rum & Ruby port cask matured Welsh whisky is number 9 of 50 in the Icons of Wales series, each of which celebrates Wales and its people throughout the world. This particular edition, titled 'The Headliner', celebrates the only Welsh Prime Minister, David Lloyd George. Lloyd George's introduction of the '3 years and one day' rule which demanded whiskies be matured in a cask for this time frame as a minimum, contributed immensely to whisky's transition in to a premium product and shape the industry as we know it today.

Poit Dhubh 12 Year Old 1980s

Praban na Linne was founded in 1976 by Sir Iain Noble, a fierce proponent of the Gaelic language. He was the co-founder of the Edinburgh merchant bank, and believed Gaelic was the key to unlock economic regeneration in the Highlands and Islands. This was one of his projects, and the company is based on the Isle of Skye. They produce three whiskies, this Poit Dubh blended malt, and Te Bheag and Mac Na Mara blended Scotch whiskies. Noble was also the driving force behind the Gaelic speaking distillery on the Isle of Skye, Torabhaig, but did not live to see it completed.

Pinwinnie 12 Year Old Royale Scotch Whisky 1980s

Increasingly harder and harder to find, Pinwinnie blended whisky was produced by the Pinwinnie Distillery of Airdrie, Scotland and was a popular brand of Inver House Distillers. Pinwinnie was discontinued before the turn of the millennium. 

This is a bottle of the 12 year old bottled during the 1980s featuring the plastic capsule. 

Port Ellen 1982 McGibbon's Provenance 18 Year Old

For decades Port Ellen was the lost jewel in the Islay crown, closed down by DCL (now Diageo) in 1983 due to an oversupply of peated whisky for blending and a perceived lack of interest in it as a single malt. However, it developed a legendary status over the years and in 2017 Diageo eventually announced plans to re-open it. The work was completed in 2024, and the first spirit was distilled in March that year. A very rare 12 year old bottled for attendees of the visit of Queen Elizabeth II in 1980 is believed to have been the only distillery bottling produced in its first years of operation. Diageo have bottled more since, but it is the independent companies that have given the whisky world the best chance to sample this sought-after single malt.

This Port Ellen was distilled in 1982 and matured for 18 years. It was bottled by Douglas McGibbon & Co. in 2001 under their McGibbon's Provenance label.

Douglas McGibbon & Co were established in 1947 becoming a subsidiary of independent bottler, Douglas Laing, in 1950. They are perhaps best known for their McGibbon's blend and its golf-themed decanters, but for many years produced this Provenance brand for single malts as well. When Douglas Laing was carved up between brothers Stewart and Fred in 2013, the McGibbon's and Provenance brands were retained by Fred as part of Douglas Laing firm, with other notable labels such as the Old Malt Cask going the other way, to Stewart's newly founded Hunter Laing. Nowadays the Provenance brand is part of the main Douglas Laing portfolio, with Douglas McGibbon the named bottler on Clan Denny releases.

Prince Hubert de Polignac Three Star Cognac 1.5 litre

A larger bottling of Three Star cognac, produced by Prince Hubert de Polignac.  

Please note: due to the size and weight of this lot, it will incur a 2 bottle shipping fee

Four Roses 6 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon 70cl 1990s / Barton & Guestier Import

The origins of the Four Roses brand are historically hazy, with some speculating that it has been sold since the 1860s. The brand name itself was trademarked in 1888 by the Paul Jones company. At the onset of Prohibition, Paul Jones purchased the Frankfort Distillery, reorganising their company as part of it in order to use its medicinal license to continue to bottle Four Roses bourbon. The Four Roses distillery we know today was built in Lawrenceburg in 1910 by JTS Brown & Sons. Known back then as the Old Prentice, it is one of the Kentucky distilleries on the National Register of Historic Buildings for its distinctive Spanish mission style architecture. It was re-opened in 1933 after the repeal of Prohibition, Seagram purchased the Frankfort Distillery in 1943, and the Old Prentice distillery three years later, moving the production on the Four Roses brand there, renaming the plant after it in the process. When Seagram was wound up in the early 2000s, the distillery and its brands were bought by Japanese firm, Kirin, who continue to produce Four Roses to great acclaim.

This is a 1990s bottling of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey from the Four Roses distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. It was produced for the French market and imported by Barton & Guestier.

Famille Vallein-Tercinier Lot 86 Maltbarn 33 Year Old Cognac

Vallein Tercinier was established in 1850 by Georges Vallein, and today remains in the same family five generations down the line. For over a century and a half the family have developed a global reputation for fine cognac and the quality of its blending. They have also purposely steered clear of expanding to a size where they would no longer be a boutique producer, meaning they have never become a household name, but those who know their cognac will happily consider the house as a “best kept secret.\" Today the Maison is ran by Catherine and Louis Tercinier who have embraced a mixture of modern production techniques and traditions gathered from 170 years’ worth of experience.

This 33 year old was bottled for independent label, Maltbarn.

Famille Vallein-Tercinier Lot 90 Maltbarn 28 Year Old Cognac / 50 Year Anniversary of GlobeCore

Vallein Tercinier was established in 1850 by Georges Vallein, and today remains in the same family five generations down the line. For over a century and a half the family have developed a global reputation for fine cognac and the quality of its blending. They have also purposely steered clear of expanding to a size where they would no longer be a boutique producer, meaning they have never become a household name, but those who know their cognac will happily consider the house as a “best kept secret.\" Today the Maison is ran by Catherine and Louis Tercinier who have embraced a mixture of modern production techniques and traditions gathered from 170 years’ worth of experience.

This 28 year old was bottled for independent label, Maltbarn.

Famous Grouse 1992 Vintage Malt

Originally launched alongside The Grouse Brand in 1896, The Famous Grouse was the third blend registered by Matthew Gloag & Sons, following on from the Brig o' Perth the year earlier. Priced lowest, The Famous Grouse proved to be the most popular of the three, and was officially trademarked by the company in 1905. Today is has become one of the most recognisable brands in the whole Scotch whisky world, and under the ownership of Highland Distillers became the first blend to have its own visitor centre, formerly located at the Glenturret distillery. The brand passed from the Gloag family to Highland Distillers in 1970, and is now owned by Edrington. Despite having lost its spiritual home with the sale of Glenturret in 2019, The Famous Grouse remains as popular as ever.

A vintage edition of the popular Famous Grouse blend. Produced entirely of single malts distilled in 1992. This particular whisky was bottled in 2003.

Paul Giraud Grande Champagne Cognac 'Fleur et Fruit' / Shinanoya

A single cask Cognac from the Grande Champagne region. 

Paul Giraud Grande Champagne Cognac 'Fleur et Fruit' / Shinanoya

A single cask Cognac from the Grande Champagne region. 

Fettercairn 16 Year Old

Fettercairn distillery was built in 1825 and aside froma brief period in mothballs in the 1930s, has been in operation ever since. It was re-opened from that closure in 1939 by Associated Scottish Distilleries, the Scotch arm of the post-Prohibition drinks giant in the US, National Distillers. When ASD ceased trading in 1954 the distillery passed through various hands before being bought by Whyte & Mackay in 1973. Despite being an important contributor to their blends, they also pushed Fettercairn as a single malt brand, known as \"Old Fettercairn\" until 2002 when the prefix was dropped.

This 16 year old whisky was formally an annual batch release. This is now a core-range product. 

Prunier Lot 1961 59 Year Old Cognac / The Whisky Jury

The Maison of Prunier can trace its history back over eleven generations. They are renowned for their high quality bottlings, some of which carry lengthy age-statements. 

This incredible liquid was distilled in 1961 and matured for over 59 years. It was bottled in 2021 at cask strength, and selected by The Whisky Jury.

One of only 42 bottles.

Flower of Scotland / Edinburgh and Leith Victuallers Golf Club 2005

An unusual bottling of single Highland malt whisky, named Flower of Scotland.

Produced by Rutherglen Scotch Whisky Co. Ltd. specially for The Edinburgh and Leith Licensed Victuallers Golf Club season 2005.

Famous Grouse 1987 Vintage Malt 12 Year Old

Originally launched alongside The Grouse Brand in 1896, The Famous Grouse was the third blend registered by Matthew Gloag & Sons, following on from the Brig o' Perth the year earlier. Priced lowest, The Famous Grouse proved to be the most popular of the three, and was officially trademarked by the company in 1905. Today is has become one of the most recognisable brands in the whole Scotch whisky world, and under the ownership of Highland Distillers became the first blend to have its own visitor centre, formerly located at the Glenturret distillery. The brand passed from the Gloag family to Highland Distillers in 1970, and is now owned by Edrington. Despite having lost its spiritual home with the sale of Glenturret in 2019, The Famous Grouse remains as popular as ever.

This is a premium blended malt produced from whiskies distilled in 1987 and bottled at 12 years old.

Penderyn Icons of Wales #8 / Hiraeth

The first Welsh whisky brand, Swn Y Mor, was devised in the 1970s by The Welsh Whisky Company. The firm however, nor the rest of the country actually had a distillery at the time. The product was a somewhat controversial blend of Scotch malt and grain whiskies, and an eventual court case with the Scotch whisky industry. Three of the company directors were then jailed for Duty fraud, but all was not lost! A development funding grant from the EU had been used to develop a new type of spirit still, a project led by David Faraday at the University of Surrey. The result of this was the installation of a Faraday still at The Welsh Whisky Company's new Gwalia distillery in the Brecon Beacons national park, where today this increasingly popular Penderyn single malt is distilled.

This is number 8 of 50 in the Icons of Wales series, each of which celebrates Wales and its people throughout the world. This particular edition lauds Hiraeth, a Welsh word that has no direct English translation, however means something akin to a nostalgic memory of Wales. As the bottle states, it is \"A longing for your homeland, your heritage and your very being\". 

Petite Champagne Cognac 1973 Whisky Agency 42 Year Old

A 1973 vintage very fine old cognac from the Whisky Agency, bottled in 2016 at 42 years old.

The Whisky Agency was founded in Germany by Carsten Ehrlich, who is also the driving force behind The Whisky Fair in Limburg, one of the world's most renowned annual whisky gatherings. Their passion is unquestionable, and they have a regular release schedule of high quality single casks, often in collaboration with some of the most respected whisky bars and retailers. The Whisky Agency's labels include The Perfect Dram, Liquid Library, Private Stock, and Liquid Sun.

One of 483 bottles.

Paul Giraud Heritage Grande Champagne Cognac

A single cask Cognac from the Grand Champagne region. 

Port Ellen 1979 28 Year Old 7th Release 20cl

For decades Port Ellen was the lost jewel in the Islay crown, closed down by DCL (now Diageo) in 1983 due to an oversupply of peated whisky for blending and a perceived lack of interest in it as a single malt. However, it developed a legendary status over the years and in 2017 Diageo eventually announced plans to re-open it. The work was completed in 2024, and the first spirit was distilled in March that year. A very rare 12 year old bottled for attendees of the visit of Queen Elizabeth II in 1980 is believed to have been the only distillery bottling produced in its first years of operation. Diageo then bottled the first publicly available distillery bottlings as part of the Rare Malts Selection, followed by the annual special releases.

The seventh edition of the incredibly popular Port Ellen annual releases. This was distilled in 1979 and matured for 28 years. It was bottled at cask strength in 2007.

Port Ellen 1974 Intertrade 14 Year Old Cask Strength / Nadi Fiori Collection - Signed

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

A 14 year old Port Ellen, this was distilled in May 1974 and bottled by Gordon & MacPhail in July 1988. This is one of many vintage Port Ellen bottled by Nadi Fiori with this label style.

For decades Port Ellen was the lost jewel in the Islay crown, closed down by DCL (now Diageo) in 1983 due to an oversupply of peated whisky for blending and a perceived lack of interest in it as a single malt. However, it developed a legendary status over the years and in 2017 Diageo eventually announced plans to re-open it. The work was completed in 2024, and the first spirit was distilled in March that year. A very rare 12 year old bottled for attendees of the visit of Queen Elizabeth II in 1980 is believed to have been the only distillery bottling produced in its first years of operation. Diageo have bottled more since, but it is the independent companies that have given the whisky world the best chance to sample this sought-after single malt.

One of only 570 bottles.

This particular bottle has been signed by Nadi Fiori.

Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year Old Family Reserve 2024

The Old Rip Van Winkle brand was a pre-prohibition bourbon label, revived by the Van Winkle family after they were forced to sell their Stitzel-Weller distillery by its board of directors. New owners, Somerset Imports, granted Julian Van Winkle II (son of the famous 'Pappy') the continued use of an office at the distillery, and first option on purchasing casks to bottle his new brand with. When he died and the business passed to his son, Julian III, this courtesy was no longer extended, and he moved bottling to the old Hoffman distillery in Lawrenceburg in 1983, renaming it Old Commonwealth. He was still able to buy Stitzel-Weller stock though, and introduced the famous Pappy Van Winkle range in homage to his grandfather, using well-aged barrels from the distillery the now-legendary figure once so lovingly ran. When Stitzel-Weller was closed down by United Distillers in 1992, it was only a matter of time before stock would run out. This necessitated a partnership between Julian Van Winkle III and Buffalo Trace distillery in 2002, seeing all bottling move there, initially using the remaining Stitzel-Weller barrels, with these eventually replaced by Buffalo Trace distilled stock. The product from all eras is revered, and the brand is considered to be the first premium bourbon line to have been produced in the US.

The 20 year old has become quite legendary, particularly after the theft of 65 three-bottle cases in 2013. It is also the expression which first brought the Van Winkle brand to prominence after being awarded an unprecedented score of 99 at the Beverage Testing Institute in 1996. This bottle is the 2024 release.

A historic distillery, Buffalo Trace was built in 1812 Harrison Blanton. It was then purchased by the legendary Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr in 1870, who named it OFC (Old Fashioned Copper) and invested heavily in its modernisation. So much so in fact that he declared himself bankrupt after just seven years, and George T. Stagg stepped in to rescue it, becoming its owner in 1878. He ran the distillery until his retirement in the 1890s, and it was renamed in his honour in 1904. Having survived Prohibition, it was bought up by the Schenley company in 1933, who ran it as part of their extensive portfolio for the next fifty years, eventually selling it to Age International. The latter's new Japanese ownership in 1992 had no interest in it (only in its brands), and immediately sold it to the Sazerac company, who renamed it Buffalo Trace in 1999.

Laser code: L2424901 19:40M

Proof and Wood 2001 Blame Canada! 22 Year Old Canadian Rye Whiskey 70cl

This rye whiskey was distilled in 2001 from a mashbill of 91% rye and 9% corn. It was matured in single barrel #1 for 22 years.

Titled Blame Canada!, it was bottled by Proof and Wood Ventures, the second start-up from the people that brought us Redemption Whiskey.

Four Roses Barrel Strength Small Batch 2018 70cl / 130th Anniversary

The origins of the Four Roses brand are historically hazy, with some speculating that it has been sold since the 1860s. The brand name itself was trademarked in 1888 by the Paul Jones company. At the onset of Prohibition, Paul Jones purchased the Frankfort Distillery, reorganising their company as part of it in order to use its medicinal license to continue to bottle Four Roses bourbon. The Four Roses distillery we know today was built in Lawrenceburg in 1910 by JTS Brown & Sons. Known back then as the Old Prentice, it is one of the Kentucky distilleries on the National Register of Historic Buildings for its distinctive Spanish mission style architecture. It was re-opened in 1933 after the repeal of Prohibition, Seagram purchased the Frankfort Distillery in 1943, and the Old Prentice distillery three years later, moving the production on the Four Roses brand there, renaming the plant after it in the process. When Seagram was wound up in the early 2000s, the distillery and its brands were bought by Japanese firm, Kirin, who continue to produce Four Roses to great acclaim.

This is the 2018 limited edition barrel strength, small batch release from Four Roses, which celebrates the 130th anniversary of the Four Roses trademark.

One of 3,804 bottles.

Penderyn Icons of Wales #5 / Bryn Terfel

The first Welsh whisky brand, Swn Y Mor, was devised in the 1970s by The Welsh Whisky Company. The firm however, nor the rest of the country actually had a distillery at the time. The product was a somewhat controversial blend of Scotch malt and grain whiskies, and an eventual court case with the Scotch whisky industry. Three of the company directors were then jailed for Duty fraud, but all was not lost! A development funding grant from the EU had been used to develop a new type of spirit still, a project led by David Faraday at the University of Surrey. The result of this was the installation of a Faraday still at The Welsh Whisky Company's new Gwalia distillery in the Brecon Beacons national park, where today this increasingly popular Penderyn single malt is distilled.

This is number 5 of 50 in the Icons of Wales series, each of which celebrates Wales and its people throughout the world. This particular edition lauds opera singer, Bryn Terfel.

Port Ellen 1978 37 Year Old 16th Release

For decades Port Ellen was the lost jewel in the Islay crown, closed down by DCL (now Diageo) in 1983 due to an oversupply of peated whisky for blending and a perceived lack of interest in it as a single malt. However, it developed a legendary status over the years and in 2017 Diageo eventually announced plans to re-open it. The work was completed in 2024, and the first spirit was distilled in March that year. A very rare 12 year old bottled for attendees of the visit of Queen Elizabeth II in 1980 is believed to have been the only distillery bottling produced in its first years of operation. Diageo then bottled the first publicly available distillery bottlings as part of the Rare Malts Selection, followed by the annual special releases.

This is the sixteenth edition of the incredibly popular Port Ellen annual releases. It was distilled in 1978 and bottled 37 years later in 2016.

Limited to 2,940 bottles.

Port Ellen 1979 25 Year Old 5th Release

For decades Port Ellen was the lost jewel in the Islay crown, closed down by DCL (now Diageo) in 1983 due to an oversupply of peated whisky for blending and a perceived lack of interest in it as a single malt. However, it developed a legendary status over the years and in 2017 Diageo eventually announced plans to re-open it. The work was completed in 2024, and the first spirit was distilled in March that year. A very rare 12 year old bottled for attendees of the visit of Queen Elizabeth II in 1980 is believed to have been the only distillery bottling produced in its first years of operation. Diageo then bottled the first publicly available distillery bottlings as part of the Rare Malts Selection, followed by the annual special releases.

This is the fifth edition of the incredibly popular Port Ellen annual releases. It was distilled in 1979 and bottled 25 years later in 2005.

One of 5,280 bottles.

Ungava Canadian Gin

This Canadian gin is distilled from a number of Northern canadian botanicals, includin nordic juniper, labrador tea, crowberry, cloudberry and  wild rose hip.

Famous Grouse 1980s / Cinzano Import

Originally launched alongside The Grouse Brand in 1896, The Famous Grouse was the third blend registered by Matthew Gloag & Sons, following on from the Brig o' Perth the year earlier. Priced lowest, The Famous Grouse proved to be the most popular of the three, and was officially trademarked by the company in 1905. Today is has become one of the most recognisable brands in the whole Scotch whisky world, and under the ownership of Highland Distillers became the first blend to have its own visitor centre, formerly located at the Glenturret distillery. The brand passed from the Gloag family to Highland Distillers in 1970, and is now owned by Edrington. Despite having lost its spiritual home with the sale of Glenturret in 2019, The Famous Grouse remains as popular as ever.

A Famous Grouse bottled in the 1980s.

Four Pillars Christmas Gin / Experimental Series 2018

This is a bottle of Australian gin, produced for Christmas 2018. Bottled as part of the brand's Experimental Series, this complex gin was produced with the brand's classic botanicals, with the addition of a number of Christmas puddings. It was also partially-matured in 80 year old Muscat barrels.

Platte Valley 5 Year Old 100% Straight Corn Whiskey

A 1990s bottling of straight whiskey with a mashbill of 100% corn.

Distilled and bottled by the McCormick Distilling Co in Weston, Missouri. This brand is alive and well today, although it is now distilled in Illinois.