March 2019 Auction

Uniting Nations 40 Year Old The Essence of Karuizawa / Ichiro Akuto Blended Malt

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim. They have released almost 300 single casks which are becoming increasingly rarer and rarer as demand soars.

This limited bottling was blended by Ichiro Akuto, this is a combination of a 40 year old Scottish malt and 45 year old Karuizawa. 

One of 677 bottles produced

Bottled at cask strength.

Old Rip Van Winkle 12 Year Old Old Time Rye / Rinaldi Import

The old style Old Rip Van Winkle 12 Year Old which is extremely rare. This was bottled in the early 2000s using whisky from Medley distillery and bottled by Julian Van Winkle III at Old Commonwealth distillery in Lawrenceburg. The following year, the same reserves were bottled as the 13 year old Family Reserve Rye, which became an annual release with the same age statement, despite continuing to age in cask for a further five years before being tanked at 19 years old in 2004. Later releases of Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye were blended with Bernheim's Cream of Kentucky. The original batch finally ran out in 2017, making this original release incredibly sought after.

This is a circa 2000 bottling with the 12 year old age statement, produced for Fratelli Rinaldi in Italy.

Old Kentucky 1913 Bottled in Bond Straight Whiskey Quart / Pre-Prohibition

A fine example of pre-Prohibition American whisky, distilled in 1913 and bottled in 1917, just three years before the production, sale and consumption of alcohol in the US was to be banned for the next 13 years.

Old Kentucky was a brand produced at the distillery of the same name. The site was built in the later 19th century, and was historically known as the Mayflower distillery before it was purchased by German immigrant, Dietrich Meschendorf in 1892, who changed the name to Old Kentucky. Meschendorf is an important figure in the history of American distilling, managing the historic Old Times plant in Louisville for 7 years prior to his ownership of Old Kentucky, and serving as an advisor to two Presidents, Roosevelt and Taft during the early 20th century discussions about the legal terminology of what constituted \"whiskey.\" He argued successfully for his blended products to retain their status as whiskey, against fierce opposition from the likes of Colonel E.H. Taylor who believed only straight whiskies deserved the title.

Taylor had campaigned successfully for the Bottled in Bond Act in 1897, and this is a product of that legislation. A straight whiskey with both the year of bottling and distillation stated, as well as the site of both. It is also the legally required 100 US proof.

The Old Kentucky distillery was eventually shut down by Prohibition in 1920, with its stocks removed and warehouses razed. The distillery building itself was retained, although badly damaged in a fire in 1925. It then served as a riding school for many years before it was finally demolished in 1960.

Old Fitzgerald '1849' 10 Year Old 1970s / Stitzel-Weller

This is a 1970s bottling of the 10 year old '1849' expression of Old Fitzgerald. This was produced at the Stitzel-Weller distillery after its acquisition by Somerset Imports who had renamed it after this brand. This bottle will contain Stitzel-Weller bourbon from the much-lauded Van Winkle era.

The expression is named 1849 after the year in which the W.L. Weller company was formed.

The distillery eventually closed in 1992, and was purchased by United Distillers (Diageo) in 1994, who reverted its name back to Stitzel-Weller. They sold the Old Fitzgerald brand sold to Heaven Hill in 1999, who still produce the 1849 as a premium product today.

Presented in a felt lined box with two glasses.

Oban 1969 Cask Strength 32 Year Old 75cl / US Import

A well-aged and incredibly desirable Oban, distilled in 1969 and released as a 32 year old.

Bottled in 2002, this is number 3964 of 6000.

Uitvlugt 1974 'Port Morant' Moon Import Demerara Rum

A 1974 vintage demerara rum from the Port Morant double wooden pot still in Guyana. The Port Morant distillery closed in the 1950s, so this would have been produced at Uitvlugt, where the still was moved to (via Albion). Well travelled, the Port Morant still now operates at Diamond since the Uitvlugt closure in 2000.

Matured in sherry wood and bottled in 2004 for Moon Import and the Italian market by Brae Dean Int, Edinburgh.

The label is an homage to the Pepi Mongiardino-designed Half Moon series, the company's first ever releases.

Uitvlugt GM 1974 Cadenhead's 30 Year Old Rum

This is a GM mark Guyanan rum, bonded in 1974 and bottled 2004 by Cadenhead's.

Uitvlugt distillery was once among the largest distilleries in Guyana, however it closed in 2000 as the government set about privatising the distilleries and plantations. All of the existing stock, and many of its stills were moved to Diamond.

Old Pulteney 1970 Sestante 18 Year Old

An independent bottling from the Pulteney distillery in the northernmost reaches of Scotland. Distilled in 1970 and bottled in 1988 for Sestante in Italy.

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.

This is one of two Old Pulteney from Sestante with this label, the other being a 1968 vintage 20 year old.

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old / Stitzel-Weller

An interesting bottle of Old Rip Van Winkle, the pre-prohibition whisky brand retained by the Van Winkle family following the sale of Stitzel-Weller distillery and its associated products in 1972.

Julian Van Winkle III continued bottling Stizel-Weller produced bourbon at Old Commonwealth (previously Hoffman) distillery in Lawrenceburg in the early 1980s. This early 2000s bottling of the 10 year old bourbon would would have been produced using Stitzel-Weller stock.

Van Winkle products are now produced at Buffalo Trace since an agreement was reached in 2002 to replenish Julien III's dwindling stocks.

Fratelli Rinaldi import for the Italian market. 

Old Pulteney World's Best Whiskies Pack 2 x 70cl / 21 Year Old & 1989 Vintage

A nicely presented twin pack containing 'the world's best whiskies'. 

Jim Murray named Old Pulteney 21 Year Old as his World Whisky of the Year in 2012, whilst the 1989 Vintage (bottled 2015) won the World's Best Single Malt award at the World Whiskies Awards in 2016. 

This is twin pack number 178 of 276. Both bottles are 46% ABV.

This lot has a 2 bottle shipping fee. 

Octomore 1.1 First Edition

The first release of the Bruichladdich Octomore, at 131ppm this was at the time the most heavily peated spirit in the world.

Matured for 5 years from October 2002 until April 2008.

One of only 6,000 bottles released.

Octomore Masterclass 4 x 70cl / 8.1-8.4

Four bottlings of heavily-peated Bruichladdich. 

• Octomore Masterclass 8.1
  8 Year Old, 167 ppm / 59.3%
• Octomore Masterclass 8.2 
  8 Year Old, 167 ppm / 58.4%
• Octomore Masterclass 8.3 Islay Barley 
  5 Year Old, 309 ppm / 61.2%
• Octomore Masterclass 8.4 Virgin Oak 
  8 Year Old, 170 ppm / 58.7%

This lot has a 4 bottle shipping fee. 

Old Pulteney World's Best Whiskies Pack 2 x 70cl / 21 Year Old & 1989 Vintage

A nicely presented twin pack containing 'the world's best whiskies'. 

Jim Murray named Old Pulteney 21 Year Old as his World Whisky of the Year in 2012, whilst the 1989 Vintage (bottled 2015) won the World's Best Single Malt award at the World Whiskies Awards in 2016. 

This is twin pack number 203 of 276. Both bottles are 46% ABV.

This lot has a 2 bottle shipping fee. 

Old Douglas 1936 Bottled in Bond Rye Quart

A fine example of Bottled in Bond rye whiskey, distilled in 1936, just three years after the repeal of Prohibition.

This is an Old Douglas brand rye from Hiram Walker. This was bottled in bond at their distillery in Pereoria, Illinois, at one point one of the largest facilities in the US.

The distillery still exists today, however no longer produces alcohol for consumption. Hiram Walker closed down their operations there, the last in the state, in 1972.

Bottled in 1941.

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old 90 Proof

The 10 year old Handmade Bourbon is one of the original Old Rip Van Winkle brands bottled by Julian Van Winkle III at his facility in Lawrenceburg.

With stocks beginning to run thin in the early 2000s, Van Winkle came to an agreement with the Sazerac company to move bottling and future production to Buffalo Trace, who were already using the old Stitzel-Weller recipes for the Weller brand.

All Van Winkle products have been produced at Buffalo Trace since 2002. This is a 2011 bottling and one of the early releases using the tall cognac-style bottles re-introduced in 2010. It is also bottled at the unusual lower 90 US proof for the export market.

Laser code: N2731110:56

Oban 1968 Gordon and MacPhail 17 Year Old / Meregalli Import

A desirable independent bottling of Oban, distilled in 1968 and bottled as a 17 year old by Gordon & MacPhail.

Part of the long-running Connoisseurs Choice range.

Imported by Meregalli, who remain the official Italian distributor for Gordon & MacPhail to this day.

The Connoisseurs Choice label is one of the most recognisable independent bottlings on the market. It was initially created for renowned Italian importer, Edoardo Giaccone in the early 1970s, but became a mainstay of the core Gordon & MacPhail portfolio in 1979.

Old W.L. Weller 7 Year Old Special Reserve Half Pint 1971 / Stitzel-Weller

An older 'Special Reserve' release of the original wheated bourbon.

This was likely distilled in the early 1960s when Stitzel-Weller was still under the management of the legendary Julien 'Pappy' Van Winkle. It was bottled in 1971 by his son, Julian II, just a year before the distillery was sold to Somerset Imports with the Van Winkle family departing the business for good.

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old

The 10 year old Handmade Bourbon is one of the original Old Rip Van Winkle brands bottled by Julian Van Winkle III at his facility in Lawrenceburg.

With stocks beginning to run thin in the early 2000s, Van Winkle came to an agreement with the Sazerac company to move bottling and future production to Buffalo Trace, who were already using the old Stitzel-Weller recipes for the Weller brand.

All Van Winkle products have been produced at Buffalo Trace since 2002. This is a 2017 bottling.

Bottling code is B1705508:347

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old

The 10 year old Handmade Bourbon is one of the original Old Rip Van Winkle brands bottled by Julian Van Winkle III at his facility in Lawrenceburg.

With stocks beginning to run thin in the early 2000s, Van Winkle came to an agreement with the Sazerac company to mov e bottling and future production to Buffalo Trace, who were already using the old Stitzel-Weller recipes for the Weller brand.

All Van Winkle products have been produced at Buffalo Trace since 2002. This is a 2017 bottling.

Bottling code is B1705308:017

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old

The 10 year old Handmade Bourbon is one of the original Old Rip Van Winkle brands bottled by Julian Van Winkle III at his facility in Lawrenceburg.

With stocks beginning to run thin in the early 2000s, Van Winkle came to an agreement with the Sazerac company to mov e bottling and future production to Buffalo Trace, who were already using the old Stitzel-Weller recipes for the Weller brand.

All Van Winkle products have been produced at Buffalo Trace since 2002. This is a 2016 bottling.

Bottling code is B1618308:254

Uitvlugt ULR 1997 Demerara Rum 17 Year Old

Distilled in 1997 and bottled in July 2014, this Guyana Rum was aged in 5 barrels to a yield of 1404 bottles.

77% of this experimental light rum was lost to angels share in the barrels, a rarity indeed.

Velier import.

Old Pulteney 1983 Vintage

Distilled in 1983 this Old Pulteney single malt was initially matured in American oak before being finished in ex-Oloroso Sherry casks.

Bottled in the classic still-shaped bottle, the liquid boasts a truly stunning rich colour.

Orphan Barrel Rhetoric 24 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey

Diageo plan's to release one batch of this series per year to show the effect of maturation time. The process began in 2014 with this 20 year old release.

The whisky was distilled somewhere in Kentucky, but like all Orphan Barrel releases, was bottled at Cascade Hollow distillery in Tennessee.

Old Taylor Kentucky Straight Bourbon 1970s / Cinzano Import

A 1970s produced bourbon from Old Taylor distillery, built by Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr, grand-nephew of former US president Zachary Taylor, and generally considered to be the father of modern bourbon. E.H. Taylor is also referred to as Colonel Taylor due to his holding of the honourary title of Kentucky Colonel. He shares the title with many famous sons of Kentucky, perhaps none more so than a famous fried chicken vender though....

This would have been distilled and bottled by National Distillers at the long defunct Old Taylor Castle distillery in Frankfort.

National Distillers and their portfolio was acquired by Jim Beam in 1987, who then sold the Old Taylor brand to the Sazerac company in 2009. They now produce it at Buffalo Trace. The Old Taylor distillery was re-opened in 2016 as Castle & Key, but has no affiliation to its former name or brands.

Cinzano import for the Italian market.

Old Grand-Dad 114 Barrel Proof Bourbon

Featuring the image of Basil Hayden, Old Grand-dad is a classic of the bourbon world. 

This was bottled in the early 1990s and distilled at at the Old Grand-dad distillery in Frankfort.

Jim Beam purchased National Distillers in 1987. Old Grand-dad is now silent, although Beam continue to use it as a warehouse for ageing barrels, and they still sell Old Grand-dad as part of their \"The Olds\" bottlings with Old Overholt and Old Crow.

Old Crow Kentucky Straight Bourbon 1.94 Litre 1960s

Old Crow is one of Kentucky's earliest bourbon brands, created in the 1830's by Scottish immigrant, James C. Crow, Master Distiller at the Old Oscar Pepper distillery. He pioneered the use of scientific methods to ensure continuity in the quality of his whiskey. The brand was purchased by W.A. Gaines who opened the Old Crow distillery. Both were then procured by National Distillers during prohibition, who produced the brand until 1987 when they were purchased by Jim Beam who shut the distillery and moved production to their Clermont facility.

This is the National Distillers era version, bottled in the 1960s.

Rumour has it, in the process of enlarging the Old Crow distillery in the 1960s, National Distillers accidentally altered the percentage of setback they were using to condition the mash there, altering the flavour of the final bourbon. Production was required in such volume at such pace that it was nearly 20 years before the error could be rectified. This is likely some of the last bourbon to be distilled prior to that incident and will be well worth investigating.

Uitvlugt 1980 'Port Morant' Bristol Classic Demerara Rum

 A 1980 demerara rum distilled at Uitvlugt distillery in Guyana on their Port Morant wooden double pot still, moved there after the distillery of that name's closure in the 1950s. 

The last stills of their kind in existence, these stills were relocated again to the Diamond when the Uitvlugt distillery closed in 2000. 

Bottled by Bristol Spirits in 2010. 

Old Pulteney 1982 Gordon and MacPhail

An independently bottled Old Pulteney from Gordon and MacPhail.

Distilled in 1982 and bottled in 2014

Oban Bay Reserve Game of Thrones 3 x 70cl / The Night's Watch

A special release of Oban single malt.

Diageo's 2018 collaboration with HBO sees their Classic Malts range reimagined as being somehow related to the landed houses of the Game of Thrones television series.

It may be tenuous, but we love it all the same. 

This lot has a shipping fee for 3 bottles. 

Old Pulteney 1985 Single Cask #202 / Travel Retail Exclusive

​A fantastic Old Pulteney single cask, distilled in 1985 and bottled exclusively for travel retail in 2017.

Bottle number 139 of only 168.

Old Pulteney 1977 Duncan Taylor 29 Year Old

Distilled in July 1977 and bottled November 2006 by Duncan Taylor. 

This is bottle number 30 of 205. 

Old Pulteney 1989 Lightly Peated

An award winning whisky, the Old Pulteney 1989 achieved the title of World's Best Single Malt from the 2016 World Whisky Awards, which are awarded by Whisky Magazine.

This expression was bottled in 2015 at approximately 25 years of age.