March 2019 Auction

Karuizawa 1989 Noh Single Cask 23 Year Old #7893 / Prineus GmbH

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim.

This bottle is from another famous Noh single cask from Karuizawa, distilled in 1989 and bottled 23 years later from single sherry butt #7893.

302 bottles were released exclusively to Primeus GmbH in Germany.

Karuizawa 1989 Noh Single Cask 23 Year Old #7893 / Prineus GmbH

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim.

This bottle is from another famous Noh single cask from Karuizawa, distilled in 1989 and bottled 23 years later from single sherry butt #7893.

302 bottles were released exclusively to Primeus GmbH in Germany.

Karuizawa 1981 Single Cask #6207

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 on 5th September 2011.

Produced from single cask 6207.

Bottled at cask strength.

Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year Old Family Reserve / Stitzel-Weller

The teenager of this family of world renowned American whiskies, now in incredibly high demand!

Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 15 year old replaced the Old Rip Van Winkle of the same age in 2004. Van Winkle has been bottled at Buffalo Trace since 2002.

This is a pre-2007 Buffalo Trace bottling, meaning it was one of the last 15 Year Old Family Reserves bottled exclusively using stock distilled and barrelled at Stitzel-Weller before it closed in 1992. The Van Winkle family had been continuing to source their bourbon from Stitzel-Weller despite parting ways with the business in 1972.

Pre-2007 releases do not have bottle codes.

Fratelli Rinaldi import.

Port Ellen 1979 22 Year Old 1st Release

The first of the incredibly popular Port Ellen annual releases. Distilled in 1979 and bottled 22 years later in 2001 at cask strength.

Port Ellen is the lost jewel in the Islay crown. Closure in 1983 has enabled this distillery to receive a near mythical amount of love and respect. As stocks get thinner on the ground, these bottles become rarer and rarer.

Limited to 6,000 bottles, this is number 2196.

Killyloch 1967 36 Year Old

A very rare bottling of whisky from Killyloch.  The distillery existed within the long lost Moffat distilling complex, which combined of two malt distilleries Killyloch and Glenflagler and that of the Moffat Grain distillery.  The distillery was built in 1965 and closed in July 1985.  Killyloch was a slightly higher peating level, according to the Malt Maniacs at a level of around 3ppm with a higher peating level used for another malt produced in these rare stills cale Islebrae.  Production of Killyloch ceased much earlier than that of Glen Flagler in 1970 when the pot stills for this malt were removed.

This 36 year old official release from Inverhouse is a combination of the six of the last remaining casks that belonged to Inverhouse, the proprietors of the distillery. 

A release of only 371 bottles, this is bottle number 221.

Includes a wooden box and certificate of authenticity.

Karuizawa and Kawasaki Ghost Series #7 / Time Slip 

The #7 Nonjatta Ghost series release was an incredibly exciting bottling. The whisky is a blend of malt from Karuizawa and grain from Kawasaki - both legendary closed Japanese distilleries.

The whisky was blended at birth and laid to rest in glass, not oak! During the 1980s the liquid was then returned to wood, an ex-Spanish oak that had previously contained Karuizawa spirit.  This finishing period continued until bottling late in 2015.

The guys at Nonjatta, unsurprisingly got incredibly excited by this, and after tasting it they realised something had to be done to release this intriguing bottle of whisky.

The label features the print The Ghost of Taira no Tomomori Appears at Daimotsu Bay from Yoshitoshi's 'New Forms of 36 Ghosts'.

Bottle number 205 of 282.

Karuizawa 2000 Single Sherry Cask #8123 / Rising Sun

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim, this one perhaps more than most!

It is amazing that whiskies such as this have been bottled in recent years given how few casks of Karuizawa are remaining. There are now not many as old as this and we doubt there will be many (if any at all) that will match this age in the future.

This single cask was distilled in 2000 and bottled in 2016

One of 401 bottles.

Karuizawa 1999 The Last Bottling 14 Year Old / Isetan Shinjuku​

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 1999 and bottled in 2013 after 14 years of maturation.

This bottling was an exclusive to Japanese department store, Isetan, and was their final Karuizawa release.

Bottled at cask strength.

Karuizawa 1997 Rare Vintage 16 Year Old

Distilled in 1997 and matured for 16 years.

Karuizawa distillery was the smallest distillery in Japan. The distillery was established in 1955   on the slopes of Mount Asama, an active volcano. Karuizawa was mothballed in 2000 and the remaining stocks were thankfully ‘saved’ by Ichiro Akuto.   

Karuizwa’s style was that of a certain Speyside whisky, they almost exclusively used Golden Promise barley imported from Scotland and primarily maturing whisky in sherry casks imported from Spain. The key to Karuizawa’s success was the hidden earthiness and peatiness that gave many of their legendary single cask bottlings it’s unique character.

Karuizawa 1999/2000 Cask Strength 13th Edition

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 consists of multi-vintage cask strength Karuizawa from the distillery's final years of production.

This is part of the 36 Views of Mount Fuji series (Fugaku Sanjūrokkei in Japanese), each release features a different image on its label.

Karuizawa 19 Year Old That Boutique-y Whisky Company Batch #1

An exciting release from the chaps at That Boutique-y Whisky Company, with their first ever bottling from legendary silent Japanese single malt distillery Karuizawa! 

As always, the quirky label makes reference to a whisky industry in-joke. On this occasion, the 'joke' is that the distillery's location at the foot of an active volcano could potentially be an evil lair for a Bond villain of some sort. Oh how we chuckled! 

This lot also includes a set of TBWC stickers for one's own amusement. 

Matured for 19 years, this is bottle number 21 of 186. 

Karuizawa 1999/2000 Cask Strength 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 consists of multi-vintage Cask Strength Karuizawa from the distillery's final years of production.

Port Ellen 1983 32 Year Old 15th Release 75cl / US Import​

The fifteenth edition of the incredibly popular Port Ellen annual releases. Distilled in 1978 and bottled 32 years later in 2015, bottled at cask strength.

Port Ellen is the lost jewel in the Islay crown. Closure in 1983 has enabled this distillery to receive a near mythical amount of love and respect. As stocks get thinner on the ground, these bottles become rarer and rarer.

Limited to 2964 bottles, this is number 2594.

Port Ellen 1983 32 Year Old 15th Release

The fifteenth edition of the incredibly popular Port Ellen annual releases. Distilled in 1978 and bottled 32 years later in 2015, bottled at cask strength. 

Port Ellen is the lost jewel in the Islay crown. Closure in 1983 has enabled this distillery to receive a near mythical amount of love and respect. As stocks get thinner on the ground, these bottles become rarer and rarer.

Limited to 2,964 bottles, this is bottle number 526.

Karuizawa 1991 SMWS 22 Year Old 132.2​

Otherwise known as 'Stunning Panaorama of Exotic Fruits'.

This Karuizawa was distilled on 4th September 1999 and bottled as a 22 year old in 2013.  

A single refill ex-sherry butt yielded 335 bottles.

Karuizawa 1999 Single Cask #895 / 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 1999 and bottled in 2016.

Produced from single sherry cask #895, which yielded only 320 bottles.

Bottled at cask strength.

Karuizawa 1999/2000 Cask Strength 18th Edition

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 consists of multi-vintage Cask Strength Karuizawa from the distillery's final years of production.

This is part of the 36 Views of Mount Fuji series (Fugaku Sanjūrokkei in Japanese), each release features a different image from the series on its label.

Karuizawa 1999/2000 Cask Strength 17th Edition

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 consists of multi-vintage Cask Strength Karuizawa from the distillery's final years of production.

This is part of the 36 Views of Mount Fuji series (Fugaku Sanjūrokkei in Japanese), each release features a different image from the series on its label.

Karuizawa 1999/2000 Cask Strength 20th Edition

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 consists of multi-vintage Cask Strength Karuizawa from the distillery's final years of production.

This is part of the 36 Views of Mount Fuji series (Fugaku Sanjūrokkei in Japanese), each release features a different image from the series on its label. This 20th edition depicts the morning after a snowfall. 

Karuizawa 1999/2000 Cask Strength 19th Edition

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 consists of multi-vintage Cask Strength Karuizawa from the distillery's final years of production.

This is part of the 36 Views of Mount Fuji series (Fugaku Sanjūrokkei in Japanese), each release features a different image from the series on its label. This 19th edition is Under Mannen Bridge at Fukagawa. 

Karuizawa 2000 Single Cask #125 / Geisha Label​

A Geisha labeled single cask Karuizawa, distilled in 2000 and bottled in 2016 after maturation is a sherry cask.

One of 507 bottles.

Karuizawa 1999/2000 Cask Strength 1st Edition

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 consists of multi-vintage Cask Strength Karuizawa from the distillery's final years of production.

This is part of the 36 Views of Mount Fuji series (Fugaku Sanjūrokkei in Japanese), each release features a different image from the series on its label. This first edition is The Great Wave.

Kawasaki 1982 Single Sherry Cask #7452 / 100th Anniversary

Only a handful of single casks have ever been bottled from this lost Japanese grain distillery.

This 1982 vintage was released in 2011 from sherry butt number G7452 and bottled as the 100th Anniversary Exceptional Taiwan Edition.

One of 663 Bottles.

Karuizawa 2000 Single Cask #125 / Geisha Label​

A Geisha labeled single cask Karuizawa, distilled in 2000 and bottled in 2016 after maturation is a sherry cask.

One of 507 bottles.

Karuizawa 2000 Single Cask #166 / Sea 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 2000 and bottled in 2013.

Produced from single sherry butt #166, this release was an exclusive bottling for La Maison du Whisky.

Bottled at cask strength.

Port Ellen 1978 31 Year Old 10th Release 

The tenth release of this famed Limited Edition series from Diageo. Port Ellen is the lost jewel in the Islay crown. Closure in 1983 has enabled this distillery to receive a near mythical amount of love and respect. As stocks get thinner on the ground, these bottles become rarer and rarer.

Distilled 1978 and bottled in 2010.

This is bottle 1703 of only 3000.

Port Ellen 1979 28 Year Old 7th Release

The seventh of the incredibly popular Port Ellen annual releases. Distilled in 1979 and bottled 28 years later in 2007, bottled at cask strength.

Port Ellen is the lost jewel in the Islay crown. Closure in 1983 has enabled this distillery to receive a near mythical amount of love and respect. As stocks get thinner on the ground, these bottles become rarer and rarer.

Bottle number 3720 of 5274. 

Karuizawa 1999/2000 Cask Strength 8th Edition

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 consists of multi-vintage Cask Strength Karuizawa from the distillery's final years of production.

This is part of the 36 Views of Mount Fuji series (Fugaku Sanjūrokkei in Japanese), each release features a different image from the series on its label. This eighth edition is Yoshida at Tokaido.

Karuizawa 1999/2000 Cask Strength 7th Edition

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 consists of multi-vintage Cask Strength Karuizawa from the distillery's final years of production.

This is part of the 36 Views of Mount Fuji series (Fugaku Sanjūrokkei in Japanese), each release features a different image from the series on its label. This seventh edition is The Bay of Noboto.

Port Ellen 34 Year Old Hunter Laing Kinship / Feis Ile 2017 - Signed

To celebrate the commencement of the construction of the Ardnahoe distillery on Islay, Hunter Laing has released a selection of 6 bottles called the Kinship collection. Each celebrates a different Islay distillery.

This is Edition 6 and is a well-aged Port Ellen at 34 years old. It was American oak matured and is one of 545 bottles.

Port Ellen 1979 22 Year Old 1st Release

The first of the incredibly popular Port Ellen annual releases. Distilled in 1979 and bottled 22 years later in 2001 at cask strength.

Port Ellen is the lost jewel in the Islay crown. Closure in 1983 has enabled this distillery to receive a near mythical amount of love and respect. As stocks get thinner on the ground, these bottles become rarer and rarer.

Limited to 6,000 bottles, this is number 4924.