February 2014 Auction

Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch #1 (Distillery Exclusive)

The original Balvenie Tun 1401  hand-selected by Malt Master David Stewart. Four traditional whisky casks and two sherry butts are combined and rested for several months in Tun 1401 – The Balvenie’s traditional oak marrying vessel.

Batch 1 of the Balvenie Tun 1401 was only available at Balvenie distillery and consists of the casks shown below.

Bottle Ref No. 55 / 336

Seven traditional whisky casks
(1966, 1974, 1978 and 1988)
#2385
#17707
#13234
#3402
 

Two sherry butts
(1973 and 1972)
#5238
#8555

Macallan Royal Wedding

The first of the Royal releases from Macallan is a limited edition bottling of only 1,000 bottles celebrating the Royal Marriage of Prince William to Catherine Middleton on 29th April 2011.

Bottled from two casks, both filled on 29th April – one from 1996 and one from 1999.

The creation of this special bottle follows the release of a commemorative edition to mark the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. This comprised two casks, one from each of their birth years. At the time, the bottle sold out and today is highly sought-after by collectors of The Macallan around the world.

In keeping with this original bottling, The Macallan commissioned the creative force behind the 1981 bottle, David Holmes, who was also one of the architects of our advertising campaign in the 1980s and the early 1990s, to create the label and packaging design.

Macallan Diamond Jubilee

Released in 2012 this specially designed bottle bears a unique image of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II created by the sculptor Arnold Martin.

The contents of this bottle were specially chosen for the months it was drawn from the casks, 6th February, the Queen's accession and the first week in June, traditionally when the Jubilees are celebrated.  Bottled at 52% in line with the year of the Queen's accession, only 2,012 bottles were released.

Replacement box is also available in this lot.

Macallan Diamond Jubilee

Released in 2012 this specially designed bottle bears a unique image of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II created by the sculptor Arnold Martin.

The contents of this bottle were specially chosen for the months it was drawn from the casks, 6th February, the Queen's accession and the first week in June, traditionally when the Jubilees are celebrated.  Bottled at 52% in line with the year of the Queen's accession, only 2,012 bottles were released.

Replacement box is also available in this lot.

Ardbeg 1972 32 Year Old Single Cask 866 (Oddbins Exclusive)

An oddbins exclusive, this rare, desirable Ardbeg was distilled on the 24th March 1972 and was matured in a bourbon cask, prior to being bottled on 24th August 2004.

This 32 year old whisky came from cask #866 yielding 239 bottles.

Macallan Coronation

The latest in the Macallan royal bottlings, this release from June 2013 consists of two 35cl bottles with a box designed by David Holmes. One bottle depicts the queen from 1953, matured solely in American oak sherry seasoned casks, while the other matured in Spanish sherry seasoned casks.   Only 1,953 boxes were produced to convey the date of the coronation in 1953.

Only available on Macallan’s website or at the distillery this quickly became one of the fastest selling releases of 2013. 

Bottled at 55.7% (1953 image)

Bottled at 58.1% (2013 image)

Macallan 1959 (26 2/3rds fl oz)

Distilled in 1959 this very old bottling of Macallan was bottled by Gordon and Macphail at 80 proof.

Macallan Coronation

The latest in the Macallan royal bottlings, this release from June 2013 consists of two 35cl bottles with a box designed by David Holmes. One bottle depicts the queen from 1953, matured solely in American oak sherry seasoned casks, while the other matured in Spanish sherry seasoned casks.   Only 1,953 boxes were produced to convey the date of the coronation in 1953.

Only available on Macallan’s website or at the distillery this quickly became one of the fastest selling releases of 2013. 

Bottled at 55.7% (1953 image)

Bottled at 58.1% (2013 image)

Ardbeg Kildalton 1980

Quite simply a legendary Ardbeg released in 2004, this was a combination of experimental unpeated Ardbeg and lightly peated Ardbeg.  It is known that between 1979 and 1981 these experiements took place.

We have yet to see any from 1979.

Only a mere 1,300 bottles of Kildalton were bottled and it is certainly a popular collectors item now.

Please note the cap rotates.

Bowmore 1966 38 Year Old Duncan Taylor 

Distilled in May 1966, matured for 38 years until bottling in July 2004.  

Single cask #3303 and bottle number 13 of 179.

Macallan 1995 Easter Elchies 2009

The 2009 Easter Elchies bottling was from a single sherry hogshead cask #14016, distilled in 1995 and bottled in 2009.

Macallan 1963 75.7cl (26 2/3rd fl oz)

Good condition bottle of Macallan distilled in 1963 and bottled prior to January 1st 1981, at 26 2/3rd fluid ounces (75.7cl).

The bottle is in good condition, the neck label is coming slightly loose and there is a slight crease to the label at the bottom corner.  The box is also in good condition with the exception of the creases and tears to the very top (as shown in the photo).

Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch #9 (US Exclusive) 75cl

From the distillery website, this was inspired by and produced in one of the oldest warehouses at our distillery, Batch 9 is a skillful marriage of some of the rarest treasures from Warehouse 24. It represents an unrepeatable selection of spirits sourced from eleven traditional whisky casks and three sherry butts, whose ages span a number of decades, and which have all been hand-selected by David Stewart. The whisky rested for several months in Tun 1401 – one of the distillery’s unique marrying vessels – to create a single malt that is greater than the sum of its already precious parts.

This expression was exclusively available in the U.S. market, and follows the hugely successful Batch 3 and Batch 6.

Please note this is a 75cl bottle.

Eleven traditional whisky casks

15921
5034
5249
55
12871
15326
6564
5826
13461
1635
939

Three sherry butts
12612
13572
13135

Ardbeg Very Young 1998

The first in Ardbeg’s \"Young\" series on their \"path to peaty maturity\", tracing Ardbeg’s path to their new 10 year old. 

It was bottled in 2004.

Ardbeg 1990 Cask Strength [Bottled 2004]

A very limited 1,140 bottles of this cask strength Ardbeg were released in 2004 for the Japanese market and for the Ardbeg distillery.

It was bottled on the 8th April 2004 as a 13 year old.

Bunnahabhain 1968 42 Year Old Silver Seal

This bottle carries a stunning and colourful label. Distilled in 1968 and matured for 42 years prior to bottle in 2011.

This Bunnahabhain was exclusive to Whisy Antique and is bottle number 62 of 219, rated very highly by Serge Valentin scoring 90 points on Whisky Fun.

Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 8

A marriage of 9 American Oak casks and 3 European Oak Sherry casks went into creating Batch 8, a limited release of 2,700 bottles. A very highly sought after range from Balvenie.

As with the previous releases of Balvenie Tun 1401, these whiskies are hand-selected by Malt Master David Stewart. Nine traditional whisky casks and two sherry butts are combined and rested for several months in Tun 1401 – The Balvenie’s traditional oak marrying vessel.

The expression consists of the casks shown below.

Seven traditional whisky casks   
#15917
#14827
#7049
#15338
#6333
#5825
#1636
#887
#486

Three sherry butts
#12614
#13148
#8587

Banff 1974 Samaroli 35th Anniversary

There were only 360 bottles of this 29 year old whisky from the closed Banff distillery. Bottled for the Italian company Samaroli, this is a rare whisky from a rare distillery. Bottle 326 of 360.

Millburn 1975 25 Year Old Rare Malt

The Rare Malt Selection is a historic selection of single malt whiskies from operational and lost distilleries that were released by Diageo between 1995 and 2005.

Millburn  distilled in 1975 and bottled in the October 2001,at 61.9%

Bottle number 6156.

Bruichladdich 1990 Valinch Laddie Flu 

A distillery only bottle that was distilled in 1990 and bottled at cask strength in 2009. Cask number 24 that was finished in a Jurancon cask. Bruichladdich removed the product from the distillery after a resident of the island passed away from Swine Flu, the remaining 300 bottles became Valinch 44 Gene Genie. It's believed that 65 bottles were sold prior to the name change.

Bottle 63 of Approximatley 65.

53.6%

Ardbeg 1978 (Third Release)

The third and final release of the Ardbeg 1978 limited edition, released in 1999.

Ardbeg 1976 Gordon and Macphail Connoisseurs Choice

Bottled by Gordon and Macphail as part of the Connoisseurs Choice collection, this Ardbeg was distilled on December 1976 and was matured in refill American hogsheads until August 2004.

Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch #7 (Travel Retail Exclusive)

As with the previous releases of Balvenie Tun 1401, these whiskies are hand-selected by Malt Master David Stewart. Nine traditional whisky casks and two sherry butts are combined and rested for several months in Tun 1401 – The Balvenie’s traditional oak marrying vessel.

The expression has been exclusively created for the travel retail market and consists of the casks shown below.

Seven traditional whisky casks   
#15914
#5033
#14824
#7051
#15342
#15336
#5823
#13453
#442

Two sherry butts
#6440
#5173

Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch #7 (Travel Retail Exclusive)

As with the previous releases of Balvenie Tun 1401 these whiskies are hand-selected by Malt Master David Stewart. Nine traditional whisky casks and two sherry butts are combined and rested for several months in Tun 1401 – The Balvenie’s traditional oak marrying vessel.

The expression has been exclusively created for the travel retail market and consists of the casks shown below.

Seven traditional whisky casks   
#15914
#5033
#14824
#7051
#15342
#15336
#5823
#13453
#442

Two sherry butts
#6440
#5173

Ardbeg Alligator Untamed Release

A fierce charring to the cask, an 'alligator char' provides the name for this whisky. Aggressive heat is applied to the inside of the casks which causes the cracking of the wood to ressemble that of an alligators skin. 

Following the acclaimed committee release, the un-tamed edition was released in 2011 and quickly sold out.

Ardbeg 1978 Gordon and Macphail Connoisseurs Choice

Bottled by Gordon and Macphail as part of the Connoisseurs Choice collection, this Ardbeg was distilled in 1978 and bottled in 2005.

Ardbeg 17 Year Old

The first releases of Ardbeg 17 year old sparked the renewed interest in Ardbeg. 

Now, several years after being discontinued, it is still recognised as a sensational Ardbeg.

Bunnahabhain 1966 36 Year Old Duncan Taylor 75cl

A Rare Auld bottling of Bunnahabhain from Duncan Taylor.

Distilled June 1966 and bottled January 2003, this 36 year old whisky was bottled from cask #4871 yielding 117.

Bottle number 66 of 117.

Please note this is a 75cl bottle.

Bowmore 25 Year Old

Matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and European sherry casks this is the oldest regular expression from Islay's oldest distillery.

Slightly out-dated packaging.

Arran Devil's Punch Bowl Chapter I

The first edition of Arran's Devil Punch Bowl which consists of 27 casks distilled between 1997 and 2004; 17 of which are sherry casks, 6 ‘unpeated’ bourbon casks and 4 peated bourbon casks. Known as the Angels and Devils edition, only 6,600 bottles have been released.

Bruichladdich Octomore 6.2 (Travel Retail Exclusive)

Aged for 5 years in true Octomore fashion, the latest travel retail exclusive was finished in Limousin Oak which previously held 'one of the world's great Eaux de Vie'.  

18,000 bottles produced and bottled at 58.2%

Bowmore 21 Year Old

The old style livery of Bowmore 21 Year Old