March 2019 Auction

Bowmore 1966 Samaroli Bouquet

Islay's Bowmore distillery and renowned Italian bottler, the late Silvano Samaroli, are both legends in the world of the whisky. The 1966 Bouquet is the glittering supernova that is created when these two key elements of whisky history collide, at just the perfect moment in time. Regarded by many as the one of, if not the best whisky ever bottled, it is not often one of these absolute gems is brought to market.

The Bouquet is rated in first place on WhiskyBase.com's Top 1000 whiskies of all time, occasionally trading places only with another Samaroli epic, the Laphroaig 1967, also bottled for him by R.W. Duthie. Emmanuel Dron, whisky author and owner of the famous Auld Alliance bar in Singapore recently opened a bottle of the Bouquet for customers in that very venue, with enthusiasts and connoisseurs flocking from all over Asia to sample a drop of this liquid gold. And if you still need convincing, the seasoned palate of Serge Valentin of WhiskyFun.com awarded this Bowmore a staggering rating of 97 points. He writes:

\"Wow! Not an easy, sexy old Bowmore at all, almost a ‘bugger’ and you have to sort of tame it, but when you manage to do so, it’s just splendid. One of the very few total winners I’ve been lucky to be allowed to taste.\"

The coming together of this cask of Bowmore and Silvano Samaroli is one of those rare, chance meetings that go on to write the greatest stories. The aptly named Bouquet represents almost the resplendent blossoming of the long-growing Italian love affair with single malt Scotch whisky. Distilled in 1966, a golden era in production at Bowmore distillery, and the time when Armando Giovinetti was hard at work pushing single malt whisky in his native Italy. Samaroli founded his bottling company in Rome just two years later, in 1968. Giovinetti believed lighter, younger whisky, the Glen Grant 5 year old specifically, was best positioned to capture the hearts and taste buds of the Grappa favouring Italian public. The forward-thinking Samaroli had other ideas though. A kindred spirit with his contemporaries at W.M. Cadenhead, he believed wholeheartedly in the bottling of cask strength whisky, and Silvano's first releases were a collaborative effort with Scotland's oldest independent bottler. These were released in 1979, and were closely followed by the acclaimed Flowers series in 1981, a direct precursor to this, the Bouquet. The Flowers series, bottled with ornate illustrative labels (hand-drawn by Samaroli himself), were a sensation and finally provided Samaroli with the platform and audience he knew his whisky deserved, and in 1984, he rewarded their faith in his product with a whisky he felt they deserved, and it is possibly the greatest ever bottled.

Bottle number 91 of 720.

Karuizawa 1964 Single Cask 48 Year Old #3603 / Wealth Solutions

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 release was distilled on the 1st September 1964 and bottled on the 24th December 2012 after 48 years of ageing.

Produced from single sherry cask #3603, which yielded only 143 bottles. This bottle number 95.

This release was an exclusive bottling for Wealth Solutions of Poland.  The box is constructed from Polish black fossil oak.

This extremely rare 1964 single cask is arguably one of the most sought after Karuizawa whiskies ever released and is always highly contested.

Bottled at cask strength.

Bowmore 1965 Oloroso Sherry Cask 52 Year Old / Bottle #2

A spectacular whisky, this 1965 vintage Bowmore was produced just after the distillery had its steam heated stills installed. Since then it has been maturing at the distillery in a single Oloroso sherry cask for over 52 years!

This is the third release in Bowmore's fifty-year Vault series and is immaculately presented in a hand crafted Scottish oak cabinet.

The decanter is number 2 of only 232 released globally.

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.

Bottle number 184 of only 827 produced.

Karuizawa 29 Year Old Sherry Cask / Murasaki Geisha

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.

One of two highly sought after 'Purple Geisha' released in 2018 by Elixir distillers. This particular single cask has been matured for over 29 years in a single sherry cask.

Bottle number 28 of only 60.

Karuizawa 1981 Single Cask 35 Year Old #6412 / Fazzino

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.

An impressive 2017 bottling, distilled in 1981 and matured exclusively in sherry butt #6412.

The box and bottle bear art work by renowned 3D artist Fazzino.

Bowmore 1964 White Bowmore 43 Year Old

The second in this famous series, the White Bowmore was matured exclusively in Bourbon casks to create a comparison to the more famous Oloroso Sherry casked Black Bowmore.

Bottled at 42.8%

Bottle number 235 of 732 bottles.

Bowmore 1964 Gold Bowmore 44 Year Old

Bottled in 2009, the third and final in this famous series, the Gold Bowmore was matured in a mixture of bourbon and sherry casks, to provide a comparison to the more famous Oloroso casks.

Bottled at 42.4%.

Bottle number 644 of 701 bottles.

Bowmore 1964 Gold Bowmore 44 Year Old

Bottled in 2009, the third and final in this famous series, the Gold Bowmore was matured in a mixture of bourbon and sherry casks, to provide a comparison to the more famous Oloroso casks.

Bottled at 42.4%.

Bottle number 631 of 701 bottles.

Bowmore 1957 38 Year Old

Distilled back in January 1957, this was matured in Bowmore's Number One Vault. The whisky was matured for 38 years and then bottled due to the risk of the liquid falling bellow 40% ABV.

This is bottle number 522 of 861.

Bowmore 18 Year Old Sherriff's 1960s

An incredibly rare Bowmore, presented in a wonderful pear shaped glass bottle. Likely released in the 1960s, with a similar capsule to that found on the 7 year old Sherriff's bottling.

The liquid inside has been bottled at 18 years of age, making it likely to have been distilled in the late 1940s when the distillery was owned by J.B. Sherriff & Co.

Karuizawa Five Decades 1960 - 2000

One of the most exciting new releases of the past year. This very exclusive bottling of Karuizawa was launched at department store Isetan in Shinjuku.

The whisky contains a vatting of casks from five decades of Karuizawa, from the 1960s right up until the distillery's closure in 2000, only leaving out a very low period of production during the 1950s.  The last part of the story, the whisky was then transferred into an ex-Karuizawa cask for a number of years before being bottled in 2015. 

This delightfully engraved decanter is presented in a well crafted wooden box with keys included.

The guys at Nonjatta have commented on this bottle as Karuizawa's 'Swan Song'.

Bowmore 1964 Black Bowmore / Final Edition / Leaking

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

Distilled in 1964 and matured within Oloroso sherry casks before bottling in 1995. This is the last of three Black Bowmore released in the mid-nineties. 

This is bottle number 997 of 1812.

Karuizawa 1981 Single Cask 35 Year Old #6809

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.

An impressive 2016 single cask bottling, distilled in 1981 and matured exclusively in sherry cask #6809.

Bowmore 1963 30th Anniversary

An incredibly special 30 year old bottling of single malt from Islay's oldest distillery, Bowmore.

This was distilled in 1963, the same year the distillery was purchased by Stanley P. Morrison, and was bottled to celebrate the 30th anniversary of this event, at as many years old.

This is bottle 518 from the limited edition run.

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. 

Vintage Karuizawa like this is incredibly rare.

Karuizawa 1984 Single Cask 29 Year Old #8897 / Geisha Label

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 release was distilled in 1984 and bottled after 29 years of maturation.

Produced from single Bourbon cask #8897.

This bottle is one of a pair which were released for The Whisky Exchange's 2014 Whisky Show; the other bottle being a single Sherry cask #5347 which features a mirror-image label.

Bottled at cask strength.

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 extremely rare. 

Karuizawa 1980 Single Cask 35 Year Old #8283 / Moon Above the Sea at Daimotsu Bay

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 distilled in 1980 and bottled in 2015 at an impressive 35 years old..

Produced from single bourbon cask #8283, which yielded only 401 bottles.

Bottled at cask strength, this stunning bottling presents Moon above the Sea at Daimotsu Bay, part of Tsukioka Honen's \"One Hundred Aspects of the Moon\" series on the box and label art. 

Karuizawa 1981 Single Cask 35 Year Old #171 / Eight Headed Dragon

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 distilled in 1981 and bottled in 2016 at an impressive 35 years old..

Produced from single sherry cask #171, which yielded only 530 bottles.

Bottled at cask strength, this is one of several 35 year old releases depicting Japanese mythology on their labels. The Eight Headed Dragon on this label is borrowed form the cover of a popular series of stories published by Hasegawa Takejiro in the 18th century. The dragon is named Yamata no Orochi.

Presented in a stunning lock and key presentation box.

Karuizawa 1988 Sherry Cask 60.3% / Finest Whisky Deluxe

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.

Distilled in 1988, this Karuizawa was matured in a sherry cask and exclusively presented at Finest Whisky Deluxe in Berlin in June 2018. 

This is bottle number 14 of only 60, and comes with an origami model of a crane, or 'tsuru'. 

Imported by The Number One Drinks Company Ltd. 

Karuizawa 1981 Noh Single Cask 35 Year Old #6183 

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 series features different masks used in Noh, one of Japan's traditional performing arts. 

This limited bottling was distilled in 1981 and bottled in 2017.

Charged from single sherry cask #6183, which yielded 486 bottles. 

Bottled at cask strength.

Karuizwawa 1976 Single Cask #7818 / Geisha Label

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 distilled in 1976 and bottled in 2010.

Produced from single cask #7818, which yielded 554 bottles. This is bottle number 213.

Bottled at cask strength.

Brora 1972 Rare Malt 22 Year Old / 58.7%

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.

It is often said that 1972 Brora is exceptional, and this is one of five Rare Malts of that vintage. The 1972 continued to be an important vintage when Diageo also released a 40 year old of the same vintage. 

The formerly named Clynelish distillery was reopened, after a brief hiatus, in 1969 to produce heavily peated single malt for blending, owing to a shortage in Islay spirit caused by drought that year. Vintages from 1973 onwards reverted to the lighter peated Highland style.

Since its closure in 1983 the popularity of Brora has soared, this is a fantastic opportunity to own an historic bottle.

Karuizawa 1972 Single Cask #7038

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 distilled in 1972 and bottled on 4th October 2011.

Produced from single cask #7038 and bottled at cask strength.

Karuizawa 1976 Noh Single Cask 32 Year Old #6719 / Kamiasobi - Haoromo Exclusive

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.

Bottled at cask strength exclusively for Kamiasobi, a Japanese theater group set up to make Noh genre performances more accessible to a greater audience. This label illustrates the Haoromo Noh play, one of the most popular.

This limited release was distilled in 1976 and bottled in 2009.

Produced from single cask #6719, which yielded only 486 bottles.

Karuizawa 1972 Single Cask #7038

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 distilled in 1972 and bottled on 4th October 2011.

Produced from single cask #7038 and bottled at cask strength.

Karuizawa 1991 Single Cask #259 / One of 85 Bottles

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 distilled in 1991 and bottled in 2016.

Produced from single sherry cask #259, which yielded only 85 bottles.

Bottled at cask strength.

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. 33 / 336

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

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

Bowmore 1967 Sherry Casks Full Strength / Soffiantino Import

A 1967 vintage sherry cask matured Bowmore bottled at full strength.

1960's sherry cask Bowmore vintages come highly recommended by those lucky enough to try them. 

Soffiantino import for the Italian market. 

Brora 1972 Rare Malt 22 Year Old / 58.7%

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.

It is often said that 1972 Brora is exceptional, and this is one of five Rare Malts of that vintage. The 1972 continued to be an important vintage when Diageo also released a 40 year old of the same vintage. 

The formerly named Clynelish distillery was reopened, after a brief hiatus, in 1969 to produce heavily peated single malt for blending, owing to a shortage in Islay spirit caused by drought that year. Vintages from 1973 onwards reverted to the lighter peated Highland style.

Since its closure in 1983 the popularity of Brora has soared, this is a fantastic opportunity to own an historic bottle.

Karuizawa Cask Strength 1st-4th Release / 4 x 70cl

This cask strength series of Karuizawa was exclusively released to the Taiwanese market. Included here are all four releases.

The cask strength series is a blend of sherry casks from 1999 and 2000, all bottled at 61.7%. 

This lot has a 4 bottle shipping fee.