March 2019 Auction

Springbank 12 Year Old Sherry Cask 1980s / Samaroli Import

A ludicrously rare and highly sought after official bottling of Springbank, officially bottled for Samaroli Imports. This dates from the early 1980s when Silvano Samaroli's independent bottling business was still in its infancy, and he was still operating as an official importer. Taking inspiration from the legendary Edoardo Giaccone, proprietor of Edward & Edward (aka Whiskyteca Garten) in Salo, Samaroli imported outwith the standard distillery offerings, and sought out exclusive cask strength and sherry cask offerings like this for his clients. The back label of the bottle includes his tasting notes.

Rumoured to be the same liquid as that of the Samaroli Springbank that was awarded 98 points on WhiskyFun.com

These bottles make it to market so infrequently we wouldn't recommend missing out on this, there's no telling when you might get another chance to pick one up.

Bottle 1346 of 2400.

Clynelish 1966 Sestante 23 Year Old / Cadenhead's White Label 1989

A fantastic bottling of Clynelish, bottled by Cadenhead's in 1989 for Italian importers Sestante. This is known as the White Label series and includes two Ardbeg along with this Clynelish selected exclusively for Nidaba, a bar in Montebelluna, Italy.

A 1966 vintage, this whisky predates the construction of the current Clynelish distillery, meaning this was distilled at the facility nowadays referred to as Brora.

The Sestante import company was founded in the 1970s by Ernesto Mainardi, and he bottled his first single casks under the name in 1985. Alongside his contemporary, Silvano Samaroli, Mainardi pioneered giving his customers a choice of both standard 40-46% bottlings, and cask strength releases from the same casks. Along with his other brand, Silver Seal, Mainardi's bottlings are incredibly sought after.

Clynelish 1973 Single Cask 41 Year Old / Wealth Solutions​

It is extremely uncommon to see private bottlings produced 'officially' by Diageo.

Their 'Hogmanay Cask' was filled 31st December 1973. The advent of a new year in Scotland is an important tradition for entire communities, with the Clynelish Hogmanay Casks reflecting this. They were a collaborative effort from the inhabitants of the areas, rarely poured into barrels within the confines of the distillery walls for this reason, and very few casks bear the honour of being named as such.

This single cask bottling for Wealth Solutions is twice as exceptional, having been aged for a whopping 41 years, making it the oldest official Clynelish going!

One of 144 bottles. 

Clynelish 1965 Cadenhead's 23 Year Old 

Cadenhead's are Scotland's oldest independent bottler, operating for over 175 years, but perhaps none of their bottlings are as sought after as these 'dumpy' style bottles. All of these were produced with brown glass and an iconic black label, with each distillery given its own letterpress font in homage to William Cadenhead's early career in the printing business.

This was distilled in 1965 at the original Clynelish distillery, or Brora as it is better known today. This distillery closed briefly in 1968, and again in 1983 after having reopened in 1969. Single malt from Brora distillery is increasingly sought after.

Bottled in July 1989.

Cask of Distinction Collection 3 x 70cl / Clynelish, Lagavulin, Talisker

These are part of Diageo's Casks of Distinction programme. Casks of Distinction is the private sale of individual casks of rare and exceptional Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Diageo’s extensive stocks in Scotland. Hand selected by a team of whisky experts under guidance from Master Blender Dr. Craig Wilson, each cask is entirely unique and incredibly rare. Each Cask of Distinction is chosen on the basis of their quality, representing the most exceptional and singular expression of the distillery’s character.

• Talisker 1990 Casks of Distinction 26 Year Old #6559
  A single cask Talisker, distilled in 1990 and exclusively selected by Boyao Zhao.
  Bottled in 2016, this is bottle number 184 of 222. 53.3%.

• Clynelish 1997 Casks of Distinction 21 Year Old #7555
  A single cask Clynelish, distilled in 1997 and exclusively selected by Boyao Zhao. It was bottled on 15th October 2018.
  Bottled in 2018, this is bottle number 384 of 405. 56.7%

• Lagavulin 1992 Casks of Distinction 23 Year Old #5745 
  A single cask Lagavulin, distilled in 1992 and matured in Bodega sherry European oak (cask #5745).
  Bottled in 2016, this is bottle number 312 of 420. 55.7%

This lot has a 3 bottle shipping fee.

Caol Ila 1968 Gordon and MacPhail 50 Year Old / Private Collection

Distilled in 1968 and bottled in 2018 this is the oldest Caol Ila ever bottled! (To date)

Matured in a refill Sherry hogshead for over 50 years and bottled at cask strength.

One of only 199 bottles produced.

Springbank 1966 Sherry Cask 24 Year Old #443 / Local Barley

Springbank produced several 'Local Barley' bottlings from the mid 1960s, all of which have reached legendary status.

Distilled in January 1966 and bottled June 1990 after being matured in an oak sherry cask number #1966 443

Bottle No. 23

The particular release does not have the well known 'Local Barley' title located anywhere on the label. Instead it reads 'A West Highland' which suggests it was one of the very first releases of the now famous series.

Clynelish 12 Year Old Ainslie and Heilbron Cask Strength 1971 / Edward and Edward 

A fantastic old bottling from the original Clynelish, nowadays referred to as Brora. Bottled in 1971 by proprietors, Ainslie & Heilbron Distillers on behalf of the legendary Italian bar owner, Edoardo Giaccone.

Giaccone was something of a trailblazer, and was importing specially bottled official single malts for his bar from the late 1960s, this is one of his earliest. He opened the famous venue in 1958, and it has been called a few different things over the years, including Garten, Edward & Edward (during the period this was imported), and La Taverna del Comandante.

Edoardo set the stage for later legendary bottlers such as Silvano Samaroli, Nadi Fiori and Ernesto Mainardi. Moon Import founder, Pepi Mongiardino said, \"he was the first person I visited\" when he became the distributor for Bruichladdich in 1981. Giaccone did not have any of his own labels or series, but was the first person in Italy to have official bottlings produced exclusively for him. Through his bar, Italy was treated to exclusive releases from Clynelish, Bowmore, Dalmore, Highland Park and even Jack Daniel's.

This 12 year old was bottle at a cask strength of 56.9%, at his request.

Bottle 109.

Caroni Magnum Collection 3 x 1.5 Litre / Velier 70th Anniversary

A trio of hand-blown magnum's, each containing a single cask rum from the lost Caroni distillery on Trinidad. Bottled for the 70th anniversary of legendary Italian import company, Velier.

• Caroni 1994 Full Proof 23 Year Old Heavy Rum
  One of 109 from cask #R6126. Aged until 2008 in Trinidad before being transferred to Diamond in Guyana. 59.8%
• Caroni 1996 Full Proof 21 Year Old Blended Rum
  One of 105 from cask #R5542. Aged until 2008 in Trinidad before being transferred to Diamond in Guyana. 65.1%
• Caroni 1996 Full Proof 21 Year Old Heavy Rum
  One of 119 from cask #R5620. Aged until 2008 in Trinidad before being transferred to Diamond in Guyana. 64.3%

This lot has a 6 bottle shipping fee.

Skeldon SWR 1978 Velier 27 Year Old Rum

The Skeldon is a legendary bottle of rum, bottled by Velier's Luca Gargano is 2004.

The little known Skeldon plantation was located on the far east of Guyana, and this was distilled on their Coffey still in 1973. The plantation itself closed in 1960, with its barrels transferred to the now also closed Uitvlugt distillery. There is debate as to whether their Coffey still was also relocated to the Uitvlugt, or if the rum is given its name by the barrel marking SWR, which apparently stands for Skeldon William Ross, founder of the Skeldon Estate and former owner of the barrel. Either way, this occupies a fascinating corner in the history of Caribbean rum.

Following the closure of Uitvlugt in 2000, its stills and barrels were transferred to Diamond distillery. Among them were the 3 barrels that contributed to this rum. These were discovered by Gargano, and having spent an incredible 27 years maturing in tropical weather, were bottled straight away for fear of any further evaporation, or as we like to call it, Angels' Share.

This is one of just 688 bottles released in 2004.

Clynelish 1973 Prestonfield House 33 Year Old / 1st Bottling

Prestonfield House have released a number of excellent whiskies over the years, this Clynelish is certainly one of them!

The second 1973 vintage bottled for them in 2006 at 33 years old.

One of 405 bottles drawn from cask #8912 and bottled by Signatory Vintage for The Prestonfield Whisky Co.

The label features an image of the eponymous Prestonfield Hotel and one of their famous peacocks which roam the grounds.

Cask #8912 was awarded an incredible score of 95 points (an all time best for Clynelish) by Serge Valetin of WhiskyFun.

Clynelish 1965 Signatory Vintage 29 Year Old

An independently bottled Clynelish has become a very rare indeed.

A real gem for any Clynelish enthusiast, this was distilled at the original Clynelish distillery, nowadays referred to as Brora. Modern day Clynelish is distilled nextdoor, at the facility opened in 1967. Brora has been closed since 1983.

Bottled in 1994 after 29 years in sherry butt #667.

Bottle 317 of 530.

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.

Coilltean 1975 Samaroli / Glen Garioch

An early example of the Coilltean label from Silvano Samaroli. Coilltean is a name he first used to as a way to provide greater variety to his range after over-purchasing casks of 1975 Glen Garioch. It became a regular feature in his series releases along with the Glen Cawdor psuedonym.

This was bottled for him in 1987 by long-time partners, R.W. Duthie of Aberdeen.

Samaroli is perhaps Italy's most revered independent bottler of Scotch whisky. With an impeccable taste in single cask whiskies, and an eye for aesthetics (if not English spelling at times!), he is regarded by many as a visionary. Many of his bottles now occupy deserved sports on the pantheon of whisky greats.

Bottle 603 of 648.

Springbank 1965

A rare 1965 vintage bottling of Springbank.

Bottled at some point in the 1980s by the famous Campbeltown distillery.

Springbank 35 Year Old Millennium Limited Edition

An older expression from this Campbeltown classic. This was bottled in September 1999 for the Millennium as part of a range of 6 bottles. 

The set comprised whiskies bottled at 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 years. 

Springbank 1965 Cadenhead's 31 Year Old Sherry Wood

A rare 1965 vintage Springbank from Scotland's oldest independent bottler, Cadenhead's.

This is part of the Authentic Collection range and was bottled from sherry wood in 1996.

Clynelish 1972 Cadenhead Cask #5641 Cask Strength

Cadenhead's bottled using the white label with black and red text, this 1972 distilled Clynelish was bottled from cask #5641 at 57.6%.

Bottle number 486.

Caol Ila 1968 Gordon and MacPhail Original 'Cask'

A fantastic Gordon & MacPhail bottling of Caol Ila, distilled in 1968, prior to the expansion of the distillery in the early 1970s.

Bottled with classic white labels, this is from the Original 'Cask' series from the Elgin bottlers, launched in 1980 to cater to the growing demand for cask strength single malt.

Clynelish 12 Year Old Ainslie and Heilbron Cask Strength 1980s / Edward and Edward 

A fantastic old bottling of Clynelish, bottled by proprietors, Ainslie & Heilbron Distillers in the classic orange label used between 1977 and 1984 (Gordon & MacPhail also used it from 1984 onwards). Should the bottle have been filled prior to 1981, it will contain single malt from the original Clynelish distillery, nowadays referred to as Brora. This distillery was closed in 1969 when the current Clynelish was built nextdoor, re-opening the following year to produce heavily peated whisky to make up for a shortfall after a drought on Islay. 

This was bottled on behalf of the legendary Italian bar owner, Edoardo Giaccone.

Giaccone was something of a trailblazer, and was importing specially bottled official single malts for his bar from the late 1960s, this is one of his earliest. He opened the famous venue in 1958, and it has been called a few different things over the years, including Garten, Edward & Edward (during the period this was imported), and La Taverna del Comandante.

Edoardo set the stage for later legendary bottlers such as Silvano Samaroli, Nadi Fiori and Ernesto Mainardi. Moon Import founder, Pepi Mongiardino said, \"he was the first person I visited\" when he became the distributor for Bruichladdich in 1981. Giaccone did not have any of his own labels or series, but was the first person in Italy to have official bottlings produced exclusively for him. Through his bar, Italy was treated to exclusive releases from Clynelish, Bowmore, Dalmore, Highland Park and even Jack Daniel's.

This 12 year old was bottle at a cask strength of 56.9%, at his request.

Bottle 518.

Chichibu Ichiro's Malt Single Casks #1179 and #2593 / Prineus GmbH 2 x 70cl

This lot consists of two single cask Chichibu's bottled for Prineus GmbH:

• Chichibu 2011 Ichiro's Malt Single Cask #1179 / Prineus GmbH

A 2011 vintage single cask from Ichiro Akuto's Chichibu distillery in Saitama, Japan. Bourbon barrel #1179 was selected exclusively for Prineus GmbH in Germany. One of 216 bottles. 59.7%

• Chichibu 2013 Ichiro's Malt Single Cask #2593 / Prineus GmbH

A 2013 vintage single cask from Ichiro Akuto's Chichibu distillery in Saitama, Japan. Oloroso hogshead #2593 was selected exclusively for Prineus GmbH in Germany. One of 306 bottles. 49.7%

Please note there will be a shipping charge for 2 bottles.

Clynelish 12 Year Old Ainslie and Heilbron 1960s / Di Chiano Import

A 1960s or early 1970s bottling of Clynelish by Ainslie & Heilbron distillers.

Aged 12 years, this was produced at the old Clynelish distillery, referred to as Brora since 1975. This distillery closed in 1983 after the new Clynelish which was built nextdoor in 1968, eventually assumed sole distilling responsibility.

Imported by Di Chiano for the Italian market.

Springbank 30 Year Old Samaroli / Cadenhead's 1979

An incredibly rare older expression from this Campbeltown classic.

Springbank of this sort of age is very rare indeed, and tend to be brought to market as limited runs such as the Millennium Collection, or through unusual bottlings such as this.

Silvano Samaroli began his career in the whisky industry as an importer in 1968, operating as the Italian agent for Speyside's Linkwood distillery. This 1979 bottling of Springbank is part of his first foray into the independent bottling scene. The series comprises another, younger Springbank, as well as a Macallan, Highland Park and Glenlivet, among others. They were bottled for him by Cadenhead's, in the classic brown dumpy glass of the era, using unique labels that Samaroli had designed himself.

This is by far the rarest of the set. The other releases in the series were limited to 360 bottles each, we would imagine this is the same. 

Bottle number 16.

Clynelish 1973 Prestonfield House 33 Year Old / 2nd Bottling

Prestonfield House have released a number of excellent whiskies over the years, this Clynelish is certainly one of them!

The second 1973 vintage bottled for them in 2006, again at 33 years old.

One of 439 bottles drawn from cask #8913 and bottled by Signatory Vintage for The Prestonfield Whisky Co.

The label features an image of the eponymous Prestonfield Hotel and one of their famous peacocks which roam the grounds.

Cask #8913 is the sister of #8912, which scored an incredible (and all time best for Clynelish) 95 points by Serge Valentin of WhiskyFun.com

Springbank 1966 Bourbon Cask 31 Year Old #484 / Local Barley

Springbank produced several 'Local Barley' bottlings which were distilled in the mid-1960s, all of which have reached legendary status.

Distilled in February 1966 and bottled August 1997 after being matured in a bourbon cask numbered #484.

This is bottle number 173.

Although this particular release does not have the well known 'Local Barley' title located anywhere on the label, it is recognised as being an early part of the series. 

Springbank 1966 Bourbon Cask 31 Year Old #486 / Local Barley

Springbank produced several 'Local Barley' bottlings which were distilled in the mid-1960s, all of which have reached legendary status.

Distilled in February 1966 and bottled August 1997 after being matured in a bourbon cask numbered #486.

This is bottle number 170. 

Although this particular release does not have the well known 'Local Barley' title located anywhere on the label, it is recognised as being an early part of the series. 

Springbank 1966 Bourbon Cask 31 Year Old #484 / Local Barley

Springbank produced several 'Local Barley' bottlings which were distilled in the mid-1960s, all of which have reached legendary status.

Distilled in February 1966 and bottled August 1997 after being matured in a bourbon cask numbered #484.

This is bottle number 82. 

Although this particular release does not have the well known 'Local Barley' title located anywhere on the label, it is recognised as being an early part of the series. 

Clynelish 1972 Gordon and MacPhail 36 Year Old 'Book of Kells'

An exceptionally sought after bottling of Clynelish. 

Distilled in 1972 and aged in single refill sherry hogshead #14301 before bottling in June 2009.

Bottled exclusively for La Maison du Whisky by Gordon & MacPhail and bearing label art based on the mediaeval, illuminated manuscript for which the series is named.

Springbank 1962​

A fantastic old vintage Springbank, distilled in 1962 and bottled in the 1980s.

Speyside Single Malt 1937 Gordon and MacPhail 50 Year Old Decanter / Book of Kells

A 50 year old single malt from an undisclosed Speyside distillery, heavily rumoured to be Macallan.

Bottled by Gordon and MacPhail in 1987.

Bearing label art based on the medieval, illuminated manuscript for which the series is named, the liquid was drawn from several oak casks, all distilled way back in 1937.

Bottle 93.

Clynelish 12 Year Old Ainslie and Heilbron 1970s

A 1970s bottling of Clynelish by Ainslie & Heilbron distillers with the old white label that was replaced by the classic orange and brown livery in 1977.

Aged 12 years, this will contain single malt distilled at the original Clynelish distillery, now known as Brora, before it was closed in 1968.

Springbank 1967 Prestonfield 20 Year Old Sherry Wood

This Springbank was distilled on 31st October 1967 and matured for over 20 years in Sherry wood before being bottled in Scotland by J&A Mitchell. 

This is one of several sought after bottles produced for Edinburgh's famous Prestonfield House Hotel.

Bottle number 2109. 

Chichibu 2009 Ichiro's Malt Single Cask #2369 / Warrior Series No.1

An exciting release from Ichiro Akuto's Chichibu distillery. 

Distilled in 2009 and aged in French white wine cask #2369 until 2017.

This was the first in what looks to be an eagerly anticipated range of Whiskies.