December 2015 Auction

Macallan 62 Year Old Lalique Decanter / The Spiritual Home

There are very few whiskies as elegant and impressive as this.

The decanter was designed by Marc Larminaux from Lalique and captured the legacy of Rene Lalique and Easter Elchies House, The Spiritual Home of Macallan.  The side of this amazing bottle displays the initials JEG as displayed on the original date stone shown on Easter Elchies House, the initals of Captain John Grant who oversaw the building of the manor house in the late 1700s.  Other aspects of Easter Elchies House are depicted in the decanter such as the 'crow-steps' interpreted in the neck of the decanter and of course the stopper represents the chimneys.

American oak casks, seasoned with sherry were chosen and filled in November 1950.  After 62 years of maturation, only 400 decanters of this incredibly rare Macallan were ever produced.

The oldest officially bottled Macallan is the 64 year old Macallan Lalique 'Cire Perdue' which achieved a record price at auction in 2010 at $460,000.

Please note that there very faint scuff marks (too faint for photos) on the front of the box. 

Highland Park 50 Year Old

One of the most talked about releases of recent years, this 50 year old is the oldest whisky bottled by Highland Park.

This incredibly rare bottling of Highland Park was bottled from a combination of five refill casks from 1960.  The casks were married together to 'harmonise' their flavours before being bottled, a process Highland Park calls 'cask harmonisation'.

The bottle has been designed by New York based Jeweller Maeve Gillies who grew up in Edinburgh.  The bottle which is created from hand-crafted sterling silver is inspired by the forces of nature and in particular the sea, using her jewellery making expertise the bottle features a metallic 'net' design, a piece of Orkney sandstone carved with the Highland Park logo and a hidden silver replica of the Rose Window from St Magnus Cathedral.  

One of only 275 bottles produced.

Outer packaging is included.

Glenfiddich 50 Year Old

A fantastic bottle to be present in our Christmas, extended auction.  This famous bottling of Glenfiddich was bottled in 1991 and limited to an incredible 500 bottles, in the early 1990s one of these bottles was auctioned for charity and officailly became the most expensive bottle of whisky ever sold at auction. selling for 99,999,99 Lira in an Italian charity auction.

The release was restricted to only nine casks laid down originally in the 1930s, one cask was laid down for each of William Grant's nine children, who helped to build Glenfiddich distillery in the 1880s.  After laying undisturbed, these nine casks were bottled on the 26th July 1991 and presented in a hand made oak box with a brass plaque.

Each bottle was signed by Alexander Grant Gordon the former Chairman and great gradnson of the companies founder and is presented with a certificate and an appointment as a Freeman of Glenfiddich distillery.

Bowmore 1964 Black Bowmore 42 Year Old

Arguably the most famous of all Bowmore's, one of the most collectible and most memorable whiskies on the market.  The Black Bowmore is an icon of whisky collecting, whisky drinking and whisky investing!

This is the first of the more recent releases from this famous Bowmore vintage, officially released in 2007 at 42 years of age in an impressive wooden presentation case.

The Black Bowmore was followed by the slightly older, Gold and White Bowmore's.

Bottle number 150 of 827. 

Macallan 1973 Fine and Rare

The Macallan Fine and Rare Series of whiskies was designed to represent the very best vintages / whisky that Macallan had to offer, dating back as far as 1926.

This Fine and Rare Macallan was distilled in 1973 and bottled in 2003 from cask #6098.

The condition of this box and bottle is pristine.

Macallan 1946 Select Reserve 52 Year Old

A truly stunning bottle of Macallan distilled in 1946 and matured for over half a century until bottling, this is bottle number 2093. 

This 52 year old whisky is presented in an elegant lockable hard wood case accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

Karuizawa 1981 and 1983 Single Cask 2 x 70cl

Two very rare single cask Karuizawa's originally bottled in 2012.

• Distilled in 1981 and matured in a single Sherry Butt #2042 and bottled at 56.7%
• Distilled in 1983 and matured in a single Sherry Butt #2233 and bottled at 59.4%

Please note there will be aa charge for shipping two bottles. 

Karuizawa 1968 Single Cask #6955

Distilled in 1968 in the now long closed Japanese distillery of Karuizawa, this single cask was bottled on 17th June 2010. 

42 Year old Karuizawa is extremley rare. 

Kawasaki 1980 33 Year Old Single Cask #6165 / 1 of 60 bottles

We all know how popular closed Japanese distilleries are at the moment, this is very rare bottling comes from the lost grain distillery, Kawasaki.  Kawasaki only produced whisky for approximately 20-25 years and was closed in the early 1980s, there have been very very few single cask bottlings from this distillery which makes this even special.  

Distilled in 1980 and bottled as part of Nonjatta's (http://www.nonjatta.com/) Ghost Series bottlings with each label in the series depicting art work created by Tasio Yoshitoshi's 'New Forms of 36 Ghosts'.  

Bottled from a single sherry cask number #6165, which is cause for attention as only 60 bottles were drawn from the cask - this is bottle number 38. 

Please note conditon of the box. 

Karuizawa SMWS Collection 6 x 70cl

Karuizawa 1984 SMWS 132.1 28 Year Old 59.9% 70cl

Like all Karuizawa's this has become incredibly sought after, the first bottling of Karuizawa for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

Otherwise known as 'Secret Moonlight Garden Dram'.

This Karuizawa was distilled on 30th August 1984 and bottled as a 28 year old, matured exclusively in a single refill ex-sherry butt yielded 229 bottles.

Karuizawa 1991 SMWS 132.2 22 Year Old 62.4% 70cl

Otherwise known as 'Stunning Panaorama of Exotic Fruits'.

This Karuizawa was distilled on 4th September 1999 and bottled as a 22 year old in 2013.  

A single refill ex-sherry butt yielded 355 bottles.

Karuizawa 1993 SMWS 132.3 20 Year Old 61.1% 70cl

This 'Dark, Mysterious and Seductive' Karuizawa was distilled on 21st July 1993 and bottled as a 20 year old in 2013.  

A single refill ex-sherry butt that yielded 344 bottles.

Karuizawa 1996 SMWS 132.4 17 Year Old 61.2% 70cl

Otherwise known as 'Stunning Panaorama of Exotic Fruits'.

This Karuizawa was distilled on 4th September 1999 and bottled as a 17 year old in 2013.  

A single refill ex-sherry butt yielded 346 bottles.

Karuizawa 1999 SMWS 132.5 14 Year Old 58.6% 70cl

Otherwise known as 'Sweet and Darkly Beguiling'.

This Karuizawa was distilled on 25th June 1999 and bottled as a 14 year old in 2013.  

A single refill ex-sherry butt yielded 495 bottles.

Karuizawa 2000 SMWS 132.6 12 Year Old 63% 70cl

Perhaps slightly more bizarre this whisky is otherwise known as 'Nite Nurse Nipped by Piranhas'.

Distilled on 31st December 2000 and bottled in 2013 this 12 year old Karuizawa was matured in a refill ex-sherry butt yielding 553 bottles.

Please note there will be a charge for shipping six bottles. 

Bowmore 1964 White Bowmore 43 Year Old

The second in this famous series, the White Bowmore was matured strictly in bourbon casks, to create a comparison to the more famous Oloroso casks

Bottled at 42.8%

Bottle number 205 of 732. 

Black Bowmore Final Edition

An icon of the whisky world, it's hard to fathom where whisky collecting would be today without the Black Bowmore. 

Distilled on the 5^th November 1964 and matured within Oloroso sherry casks then bottled in 1995, this is the last of three Black Bowmores released in the mid-nineties. 

This is bottle number 1212 of 1812.

Hennessy Timeless / Baccarat Crystal Decanter

We are lucky to have an amazing selection of Cognac in our latest auction, this is perhaps the pinnacle of the selection.  

The Hennessy Timeless was created in 1999 to showcase Hennessy's past and future and is presented in a beautiful and elegant Baccarat crystal decanter.

Hennessy was founded in 1765 by Irishman Richard Hennessy, Captain in the French Army. It took Hennessy just a few years to dominate the market and actually they have never lost their leading position since. Hennessy house the most impressive collection of vintage Cognac's within their cellar, this cognac was carefully crafted using a combination of the finest 11 vintages from the 20th century:

• 1900
• 1918
• 1929
• 1939
• 1947
• 1953
• 1959
• 1961
• 1970
• 1983
• 1990

One of only 2000 bottles. 

Please note there is no box.

Hanyu 1988 Queen Of Clubs Single Cask #7003

Distilled in 1988 and bottled in 2008 from cask number 7003. 

Initially matured in hogshead prior to being finished in a new American oak hogshead.

Bottle number 88 of 330. 

Springbank Door Gods

A very interesting lot for our latest auction, this is a combination of the first and second edition Springbank 'Door Gods' released exclusively for the Single Malt Club China, Taiwanese market.

These four single cask, cask strength whiskies were named according to a Chinese custom, where each household is decorated with paintings to bring luck and happiness.  Paintings of these 'Door Gods' are placed on external doors and can be in many forms such as, military, civilian, animal or child gods.  The paintings are usually brightly coloured and exaggerated, this lot has two scrolls depicting the most commonly used Door Gods, of 'Chin Chiong and Yu Chi Gong'.

The First Edition

These whiskies are released with a wealth of information, relating to their luxiourious nature and rarity.  The first edition is two single casks selected by Charles Maclean, world reknowned whisky critic and author.  The Door God scrolls artwork was provided by New Year art collector 'Yin Qi' and replicated for this limited release of 246 editions.

Both whiskies were drawn from a single fresh port hogshead, with cask numbers #150 and 449.  Cask #150 was distilled on 2nd December 1994 and bottled on 18th June 2013 at 18 years old with a strength of 52.5%.  Cask #449 was distilled on 1st December 1994 and bottled on 18th June 2013 at 17 years old at a strength of 50.9%

Limited to only 246 bottles.

The Second Edition

The second release of the Door God series was released early 2015, following the success of the first release.  This release depicts the civil gods 'Jia Guan' and 'Jin Jue',  the word 'Jue' has a double meaning of a drinking vessel while also refering to ranks of nobility.  The civil gods in modern times are focused on advancement of careers and positions.

This time around the whiskies were drawn from two sherry casks both filled in 1996 and bottled at 18 years old, with cask numbers #590 and #12/405-14.  Cask #590 was released at a strength of 55.6% while cask #12/405-14, a sherry hogshead was released at a strength of 52.7%.

Limited to only 228 bottles.

Please note there is a shipping charge for 4 bottles with this lot.

Karuizawa 1980 33 Year Old J'avance Vers Le Futur Single Cask #6431

As with many of the Karuizawa bottlings that we list in our auctions, the labels are fantastic! 

J'avance Vers Le Futur was a single cask bottled exclusively for La Maison Du Whisky (www.whisky.fr) and was distilled in January 1980 and bottled in July 2013 aged 33 years.

Single cask #6431 is an ex-bourbon cask.

Karuizawa 1973 31 Year Old Single Cask #4799

Distilled in 1973 and bottled in November 2005 after being matured sherry butt 4799.

One of 528 bottles.

Please note condition of the label and box.

Karuizawa 1984 30 Year Old Cask Single Cask #7843 / Samurai

Karuizawa is unique, there are so few releases in the last couple of years of this legendary malt which just goes to show how scarce and exclusive these single cask offerings are.

This is one of three Karuizawa single casks all branded under the Samaurai range available in this auction.

Distilled in 1984 and matured for 30 years until bottling in 2015, limited to only 458 bottles.

Karuizawa 1984 30 Year Old Cask Single Cask #3139 / Samurai

Karuizawa is unique, there are so few releases in the last couple of years of this legendary malt which just goes to show how scarce and exclusive these single cask offerings are.

This is one of three Karuizawa single casks all branded under the Samaurai range available in this auction.

Distilled in 1984 and matured for 30 years until bottling in 2014, limited to only 494 bottles.

Karuizawa 1983 29 Year Old Noh Single Cask #8552

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim, this one perhaps more than most!

It is amazing that we still see single casks of Karuizawa being released, this 1983 vintage was bottled in 2013 as a 29 year from a sherry butt.

Only 130 bottles were produced.

Laphroaig 40 Year Old

Distilled in 1960, this 40 year old was the official release following the 1960 vintage 40 year old at Oddbins.

The casks were matured in Warehouse #1 for 40 years, prior to bottling on 29th May 2001.  A mere 3,300 bottles of this Laphroaig 40 year old were made available and it remains the oldest official release of Laphroaig to date.

This is bottle number 1354.

This lot includes a pair of Wellington Boots signed by John Campbell.

Karuizawa 1971 36 Year Old Single Cask #6878

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim.  This particular Karuizawa was distilled in 1971 and bottled on the 15^th January 2008 was fortunate enough to be matured in sherry butt #6878. 

Only 430 bottles were released. 

Dalmore 40 Year Old

The oldest release within Dalmore's Rare and Prestigious range, this 40 year old is matured in the classic Dalmore combination of American oak and Gonzalez Byass sherry casks.

One of only 1,000 bottles produced and released in a very elegant leather bound case.

Distilled on 21st March 1966.

Karuizawa 30 Year Old Single Cask #5347

One of the recent Karuizawa bottlings exclusive to attendees of The Whisky Show, London and carries a stunning depiction of a Geisha, only half though - the other half is found on a sister bottling from the bourbon cask #8897.

Produced from single sherry cask #5347.

Karuizawa 29 Year Old Single Cask #8897

One of the recent Karuizawa bottlings exclusive to attendees of The Whisky Show, London and carries a stunning depiction of a Geisha, only half though - the other half is found on a sister bottling from a sherry cask #5347.

Produced from single bourbon cask #8897.

Macallan Raffles Hotel Singapore

Another incredibly rare Macallan to turn up in this months auction, this time bottled exclusively for the Raffles Hotel, Singapore.

Please note the inside of the box. 

Hanyu 1986 Two Of Hearts Single Cask #482

Hanyu is a closed Japanese distillery that received a new lease of life from Ichiro Akuto, who bottled the last of the stock in the iconic card range. 

Distilled in 1986 and bottled in 2009, after being aged in a hogshead then finished in a Madeira hogshead.  

Bottle number 5 of 309. 

Please note condition of the labels. 

Karuizawa 1980 33 Year Old Single Cask #6431 / Pour Quoi? Faut il 

As with many of the Karuizawa bottlings that we list in our auctions, the labels are fantastic! 

Pour Quoi Faut il was a single cask bottled exclusively for La Maison Du Whisky (www.whisky.fr) and was distilled in March 1980 and bottled in July 2013 aged 33 years.

Single cask #4556 is an ex-bourbon cask.

Karuizawa 1981 31 Year Old Noh Single Cask #348

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim, this one perhaps more than most!

It is amazing that we still see single casks of Karuizawa being released, this 1981 vintage was bottled in 2013 as a 31 year from a sherry butt.

Only 207 bottles were produced.

Karuizawa 1996 Ghost Series Single Cask #3681

This closed Japanese distillery is currently the hottest thing in single malt. 

Distilled in 1996 and matured in a single sherry cask until 2013 as part of the Ghost Series. 

Bottle number 45 of 140. 

Balvenie 40 Year Old

A remarkable bottle and presentation, the Balvenie 40 year old is a stunning whisky that has been highly acclaimed around the World.  

Produced in it's seventh generation this 40 year old was a marriage of three American oak casks and three sherry butts.

Karuizawa 1980 32 Year Old Noh Cask Single Cask #3565

As with many of the Karuizawa bottlings that we list in our auctions, the labels are fantastic! 

This is a single cask distilled in 1980 and bottled in 2013.

Single cask #3565 an sherry butt that yielded 335 bottles.

Please note condition of seal.