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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

Springbank 30 Year Old

A superb older expression from this Campbeltown classic

Released in the mid 1990s, there has been little of comparative age to be released by the distillery since. 

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.

Strathisla 1961 Gordon and MacPhail Private Collection

A magnificently sherried Strathisla from Gordon & MacPhail, part of their Private Collection releases.

This was distilled on 14th November 1961 and matured in 1st fill sherry hogshead #2236. This cask was selected directly from Gordon & MacPhail's directors private store.

Bottle number 87 of 106 bottled in October 2013.

Strathisla 1961 Gordon and MacPhail Private Collection

A magnificently sherried Strathisla from Gordon & MacPhail, part of their Private Collection releases.

This was distilled on 14th November 1961 and matured in 1st fill sherry hogshead #2236. This cask was selected directly from Gordon & MacPhail director's private collection. 

Bottle number 90 of 106, bottled in October 2013.

Strathisla 1960 Gordon and MacPhail Single Cask #2544 / LMDW

A special single cask bottling of Strathisla, distilled in 1960 and then bottled by Gordon &  MacPhail in 2008. 

This is part of the Gordon & MacPhail Distillery Labels series, which replicates the livery the Elgin-based bottlers used in the mid-20th century when they produced the only official bottlings (under license) for many distilleries like this.

First fill sherry hogshead #2544 was distilled on 19th November and selected specially for La Maison du Whisky in Paris.

One of just 60 bottles.

Springbank 1973 Cadenhead's 18 Year Old Rum Butt

A tropical storm hits Campbeltown with this Springbank, fully matured in a Rum Butt.

Distilled in June 1973 and bottled in September 1991 by Cadenhead's.

Springbank 1964 Samaroli 15 Year Old / Cadenhead's 1979

This legendary bottling company was established in 1968 by Silvano Samaroli, in Bologna, Italy.

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 of another 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.

Number 220 of 360 bottles.

Strathisla 1957 Gordon and MacPhail 49 Year Old / 1st Fill Sherry

Distilled over 60 years ago in 1957, this very well aged Strathisla was bottled by Gordon and MacPhail as part of their Distillery Labels series.

It is becoming increasingly difficult, almost impossible to find vintage whiskies these days.  Thankfully over the years Gordon and MacPhail have released bottles like this, a great old Speysider distilled over half a century ago.

Distilled on 30th October 1957 and bottled 23rd April 2007.

Matured in first fill Sherry butts #1717 and 1718.

Strathisla 1955 Gordon and MacPhail

Distilled over 60 years ago in 1955, this over 40 years old Strathisla was bottled by Gordon and MacPhail in 1997.

It is becoming increasingly difficult, almost impossible to find vintage whiskies these days.

Thankfully over the years Gordon and MacPhail have released bottles like this, a great old Speysider distilled over half a century ago.

This is part of the Gordon & MacPhail Distillery Labels series, which replicates the livery the Elgin-based bottlers used in the mid-20th century when they produced the only official bottlings (under license) for many distilleries like this.

Springbank 1969 Signatory Vintage 27 Year Old​

This Springbank was distilled on 19th December 1969 then matured in sherry butt #2380.

Bottled April 1997, this is bottle number 41 of 520.

Strathisla 1957 Gordon and MacPhail 53 Year Old #1722 75cl / US Import

Distilled in 1957, this very well aged Strathisla was bottled by Gordon & MacPhail in 2011. It was matured in first fill sherry butt #1722.

It is becoming increasingly difficult, almost impossible to find vintage whiskies these days. Thankfully over the years Gordon and MacPhail have released bottles like this, a great old Speysider distilled over half a century ago.

This is part of the Gordon & MacPhail Distillery Labels series, which replicates the livery the Elgin-based bottlers used in the mid-20th century when they produced the only official bottlings (under license) for many distilleries like this.

St Magdalene 1979 Rare Malt 19 Year Old / 63.80%​

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.

A spectacular bottling of St Magdalene, released as part of Diageo's famous 'Rare Malt Selection'.  

Distilled in 1979 and bottled as a 19 year old at a healthy 63.80%.

Springbank Millennium Reserve 37.5cl / Saxophone

A collectible bottle of Springbank released for the Japanese market at the turn of the millennium.

Presented in a Saxophone style plinth.

Sazerac 1984 18 Year Old Rye

An 18 year old Kentucky straight rye, distilled in the spring of 1984.

Sazerac 18 Year Old is widely regarded as one of the best rye whiskies in the world. It is named after the Sazerac Coffee House, a bar owned by Sazerac company founder, Thomas H. Handy.

There earlier releases are believed to contain Cream of Kentucky rye distilled at Ancient Age by the Schenley company in the 1980s. When the time came for it to be bottled, lack of demand left it in barrels in the warehouse to age significantly longer than expected. This is the same whiskey blended through the Van Winkle Family Reserve in 2004, and used by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers for early Black Maple Hill and Michter's releases. All of these bottlings are incredible whiskey.

St Magdalene 1979 Rare Malt 19 Year Old / 63.80%​

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.

This St Magdalene was distilled in 1979 and bottled as a 19 year old at a healthy 63.80%.

Bottle number 3394.

St Magdalene 1979 Rare Malt 19 Year Old / 63.80%​

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.

A spectacular bottling of St Magdalene, released as part of Diageo's famous 'Rare Malt Selection'.  

Distilled in 1979 and bottled as a 19 year old at a healthy 63.80%.

Shinshu Mars Komagatake 27 Year Old

The Shinshu Mars distillery stopped production in 1992 only recommencing in 2011.

This bottle is the product of four pre-hiatus casks: American white oak cask #382 (1986) and sherry casks #327 (1986)  #570 (1988) and #1068 (1990)

St Magdalene 1979 Rare Malt 19 Year Old / 63.80%​

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.

A spectacular bottling of St Magdalene, released as part of Diageo's famous 'Rare Malt Selection'.  

Distilled in 1979 and bottled as a 19 year old at a healthy 63.80%.

Springbank 1980 Samaroli 8 Year Old / Ageing Monography

A very young single malt, referred to by Samaroli as a 'New Filling Malt / British Spirit.' This is one of the few New Filling Malts, produced by Samaroli, his answer to grappa, the popularity of which had always confused him. He believed these under 3 year old single malts were a superior alternative.

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.

This is part of a series called Ageing Monography. Samaroli was fascinated with the whisky ageing process, both in cask and in the bottle. This series designed to explore the evolution of Sprinbank maturation from an 18 month old single malt spirit right through to a 23 year old. There are five releases in the series.

Ageing Monography were bottled in 1989 for Samaroli by R.W. Duthie.

Bottle number 452.