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.

Hanyu 1988 Ichiro's Malt 'Card' #7003 / Queen Of Clubs

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 35 of 330. 

Hanyu 1986 Ichiro's Malt 'Card' #9033 / King of Hearts

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 Pedro Ximenez sherry butt. 

Bottle number 33 of 444. 

Hanyu 1988 Ichiro's Malt 'Card' #9108 / King of Clubs​

A single cask Hanyu, distilled in 1988 and matured in a hogshead prior to being finished in an ex-Cognac cask and bottled in 2010. 

This is the King of Clubs face card in the legendary series of Playing Card bottlings by Ichiro's Malt.

Bottle number 301 of 417. 

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.

Hanyu 1988 Ichiro's Malt 'Card' #9003 / King of Diamonds​

One of Ichiro's Malt's legendary 'Card' series bottlings from the lost Hanyu distillery.

A single cask Hanyu distilled in 1988 and matured in a hogshead prior to being finished in an American Oak Sherry Butt and bottled in 2006. 

Bottle number 208 of 555. 

Hanyu 1986 Ichiro's Malt 'Card' #9023 / Ace of Diamonds

Part of the legendary Card series produced by Ichiro Akuto, this was distilled at the lost Japanese distillery of Hanyu in 1986  and bottled in 2008  from cask #9023.

This rare Hanyu was initially matured in a traditional hogshead before a second maturation in a cream sherry butt.

Bottle number 56 of 527.

Hanyu 2000 Ichiro's Malt 'Card' #9030 / Four of Diamonds

A single cask #9030 Hanyu, bottled within the Ichiro's Malt 'Card' series of whiskies.

Distilled in 2000 and matured in a hogshead before being moved into a PX sherry butt for a second maturation period. 

Bottle 325 of 546.

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.

Hanyu 1990 Ichiro's Malt 'Card' #466 / Queen of Spades

This Hanyu was distilled in 1990, and bottled in 2009 as part of Ichiro Akuto's legendary 'Playing Card' series. 

Initially matured in a hogshead before being finished in a port pipe. 

Bottle number 267 of 737. 

Hanyu 1988 Full Proof 'Nice Butt' Single Cask #9307

A 1988 vintage Hanyu, bottled fro Full Proof Europe with their usual, unusual label.

This is a single cask from the closed Japanese distillery, bottled in 2008.

Number 200 of 534 bottles. 

Hanyu 2000 Ichiro's Malt 'Card' #1305 / Five of Diamonds​

One of Ichiro's Malt's legendary 'Card' series bottlings from the lost Hanyu distillery.

Distilled in 2000 and matured in a hogshead before being moved into a Sherry butt for a second maturation period. 

Bottle number 263 of 652.

Hanyu 2000 Ichiro's Malt 'Card' #7020 / Three of Clubs

One of Ichiro's Malt's legendary 'Card' series bottlings from the lost Hanyu distillery.

Distilled in 2000 and bottled in 2009. 

Originally matured in a hogshead and then \"double new wood\" finished in two subsequent new American oak puncheons.

Bottle number 74 of 592.

Hibiki 30 Year Old Kacho Fugetsu Limited Edition

The Kacho Fugetsu Hibiki 30 year old is at the pinnacle of the Hibiki range and a prefect example of their appreciation of the beauty of Japanese nature. The special limited release was exclusive to travel retail in 2015.

Hibiki 30 year old is a very popular and stunning blend produced by Suntory. Here is a just a snapshot of its accolades:

• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2004 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2006 
• Word Whisky Awards 2007 - World's Best Blended Whisky 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2007 
• Word Whisky Awards 2008 - World's Best Blended Whisky 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2008

Hibiki 30 Year Old

A popular and stunning blend produced by Suntory. Here is a hint of its success:

• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2004 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2006 
• Word Whisky Awards 2007 - World's Best Blended Whisky 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2007 
• Word Whisky Awards 2008 - World's Best Blended Whisky 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2008

This is bottle number 69842.

Hibiki 30 Year Old Kacho Fugetsu Limited Edition

The Kacho Fugetsu Hibiki 30 year old is at the pinnacle of the Hibiki range and a prefect example of their appreciation of the beauty of Japanese nature. The special limited release was exclusive to travel retail in 2015.

Hibiki 30 year old is a very popular and stunning blend produced by Suntory. Here is a just a snapshot of its accolades:

• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2004 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2006 
• Word Whisky Awards 2007 - World's Best Blended Whisky 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2007 
• Word Whisky Awards 2008 - World's Best Blended Whisky 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2008

Hibiki 30 Year Old

A popular and stunning blend produced by Suntory. Here is a hint of its success:

• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2004 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2006 
• Word Whisky Awards 2007 - World's Best Blended Whisky 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2007 
• Word Whisky Awards 2008 - World's Best Blended Whisky 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2008

This is bottle number 69861.

Domestic market release.

Springbank 1965

A rare 1965 vintage bottling of Springbank.

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

Hibiki 30 Year Old

A popular and stunning blend produced by Suntory. Here is a hint of its success:

• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2004 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2006 
• Word Whisky Awards 2007 - World's Best Blended Whisky 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2007 
• Word Whisky Awards 2008 - World's Best Blended Whisky 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2008

This is bottle number 69861.

Domestic market release.

Hanyu Ichiro's Malt The Joker 'Colour'

The 54th and final bottling in Ichiro's Card Series.

There are two Joker's released to complete the 54 bottle series, one in colour and one in Black and White.  This particular bottling is the Colour Joker, a vatting of 14 casks covering vintages from 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991 and 2000.  The casks used for this final bottling include a sherry butt, puncheon, hogshead, Cognac, chibidaru, Madeira hogshead and bourbon.

Only 3,690 bottles of this highly sought after whisky have been made available. This bottle number 3086.

Hakushu 25 Year Old Limited Edition

The very rare Hakushu 25 Year old... Jim Murray gave it 93 out of 100 and said \"a malt which is impossible not to be blown away by.\"

This limited edition bottling is decorated with a five-cord 'Mizuhiki', which symbolises the joining of hands and hearts of the giver and recipient. 

Hakushu 25 Year Old

The very rare Hakushu 25 Year old... Jim Murray gave it 93 out of 100 and said \"a malt which is impossible not to be blown away by\".

Hakushu was built in 1973 at the foot of the Southern Japan Alps, a location deliberately chosen by Suntory to provide a contrast to the style of spirit produced at Yamazaki.

Bottle number 9184.

Hakushu 25 Year Old Limited Edition

The very rare Hakushu 25 Year old... Jim Murray gave it 93 out of 100 and said \"a malt which is impossible not to be blown away by.\"

This limited edition bottling is decorated with a five-cord 'Mizuhiki', which symbolises the joining of hands and hearts of the giver and recipient. 

Hakushu 25 Year Old

The very rare Hakushu 25 Year old... Jim Murray gave it 93 out of 100 and said \"a malt which is impossible not to be blown away by\".

Bottle number 9180. 

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.

Hakushu 25 Year Old

The very rare Hakushu 25 Year old... Jim Murray gave it 93 out of 100 and said \"a malt which is impossible not to be blown away by\".

Bottle number 6321. 

Hakushu 1993 Single Cask #3C40792 / Spanish Oak Bota Corta

Hakushu Suntory's other excellent distillery which is often over looked for Yamazaki. This Hakushu was distilled in 1993 and matured in Spanish oak Bota Corta cask #3C40788

Matured at the Ohmi Aging Cellar.

Bottle number 475 of 509.

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.

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.