May 2018 Auction

Flora and Fauna Complete Collection 26 x 70cl 

The Flora and Fauna series of whiskies was originally created in the early 1990s by United Distillers Vintners (what would later become Diageo).  Originally this range had no name and it was not until the famous whisky writer Michael Jackson nicknamed it the 'Flora and Fauna' series due to the labels, did it stick.  The Flora and Fauna series, as offered in this lot, contains a total of 26 distillery expressions. Not all of these were released at the same time and many have now been discontinued, the last of which was to be the Mortlach 16 year old, perhaps the most loved of all of these whiskies.

Most of the bottles that were available with wooden boxes are presented so here; Strathmill, Auchriosk, Glen Spey and Glen Elgin were never available with these boxes. 

A list of the bottles included in this lot (all at 70cl):

Inchgower 14 Year Old / White Cap - Wooden Box
Rosebank 12 Year Old / Wooden Box
Strathmill 12 Year Old
Bladnoch 10 Year Old / Wooden Box
Balmenach 12 Year Old / White Cap - Wooden Box
Mannochmore 12 Year Old / White Cap
Dufftown 15 Year Old / Wooden Box
Glendullan 12 Year Old / Wooden Box
Pittyvaich 12 Year Old / Wooden Box
Auchroisk 10 Year Old
Mortlach 16 Year Old / Wooden Box
Glenlossie 10 Year Old / Wooden Box
Teaninich 10 Year Old / White Cap - Wooden Box
Dailuaine 16 Year Old / Wooden Box
Blair Athol 12 Year Old / White Cap - Wooden Box
Clynelish 14 Year Old / Wooden Box
Caol Ila 15 Year Old / Wooden Box
Linkwood 12 Year Old / White Cap - Wooden Box
Benrinnes 15 Year Old / Wooden Box
Aultmore 12 Year Old / Wooden Box
Glen Spey 12 Year Old
Speyburn 12 Year Old / Wooden Box
Royal Brackla 10 Year Old
Glen Elgin 12 Year Old
Craigellachie 14 Year Old / Wooden Box
Aberfeldy 15 Year Old / Wooden Box

Please note this lot consists of 26 bottles, shipment for this combined lot will be calculated manually for more information please take a look at our Shipping Charges.

Ardbeg 1974 Provenance 23 Year Old / First Release

One of the legendary Ardbeg Provenance bottlings, distilled in 1974 and matured for 23 years until being released in 1998.

These whiskies are highly acclaimed and desirable, including certificate and tartan insert.

This is the first release, bottled on 18th November 1997: number 3197.

Ardbeg 1974 Provenance 23 Year Old 75cl / US Import

One of the legendary Ardbeg Provenance bottlings, distilled in 1974 and matured for 23 years until being released in 1998.

These whiskies are highly acclaimed and desirable, including certificate and tartan insert.

Bottled on 9th April 1998: number 1641.

Ardbeg 1975 Single Cask #4720

Vintage Ardbeg is a rare commodity these days and we are lucky to offer this 1975 vintage single cask.

Distilled on the 26th of December 1975 and bottled on the 16th of February 2006 from a single sherry cask #4720.

Bottle Number 127 of 207.

Ardbeg 1964 Gordon and MacPhail

A very old bottling of Ardbeg by Gordon and MacPhail, distilled in 1964 and bottled in 1995, a fantastic, rare and old vintage.

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

The old style Rip Van Winkle 12 Year Old which is extremely rare. This was bottled in 1997 using whisky from Medley distillery and bottled by Julien Van Winkle III 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 rye are blended with Bernheim's Cream of Kentucky, and Buffalo Trace distilled whiskey, making this original release incredibly sought after.

As popular and impressive as the older members of this legendary family of whiskies.

This 70cl was imported to the US market by Fratelli Rinaldi.

Ardbeg 1973 Douglas Laing 27 Year Old

A rare independent bottling of Ardbeg, distilled in March 1973.

Released within Douglas Laing's Old and Rare collection, this 27 year old was bottled in 2000.

Bottle only 240 bottles of this incredible Ardbeg were released.

Old Vandegrift 1917 Pure Whisky 1 Pint / Pre-Prohibition​

This was distilled in the Spring of 1917 at Hammond Distillery in Indiana, and was presumably some of their last whiskey given they were forced to close down when Prohibition was enacted in April that year.

Hammond Distillery has an infamous subsequent history of association with illicit bootlegging and smuggling, attributed to none other than Al Capone.

The whiskey used for this was likely saved from the hands of prohibition gangland by the Pennsylvania Distillery Inc, who bonded it in New York and bottled it in 1934 under a special medicinal license, despite the fact prohibition had already been repealed a year earlier.

Ainslie's Royal Edinburgh 1950s​

Produced by Ainslie and Heilbron, Royal Edinburgh is an infamous blend containing high quantities of Brora.  

This particular bottle is estimated to be from the 1950s.

Old Heaven Hill 28 Year Old / Japanese Import

An old Japanese import of some impressively aged Kentucky bourbon.

Bottled in the very early 1990s at 28 years old, this is named Old Heaven Hill, and was distilled (although they could not have known at the time) what is now Old Heaven Hill distillery. The original Heaven Hill site would tragically burn down around 5 years after this was produced.

A new Heaven Hill distillery was then established through the purchase and renaming of Bernheim distillery from United Distillers.

Avonside 1938 Gordon and MacPhail 33 Year Old​ / Pinerolo​ Import

Rumour has it that Avonside was actually single malt from Glenlivet, however the title has also been used by Gordon and MacPhail for younger blends and blended malts.​

Distilled in 1938 and bottled as a 33 year old by Gordon and MacPhail using their Connoisseur's Choice branding in the late 1970's.

Bottle number 174.

Official Pinerolo Italian Import. 

Old Fitzgerald Bonded 6 Year Old Classic Decanter / Stitzel-Weller​

We don't see vintage Old Fitzgerald very often, so we are particularly excited about this bottle which was distilled and bottled at the original Stitzel-Weller Distillery, before it closed and production of 'Old Fitz' was moved to Heaven Hill. 

The distillation date on the tax seal is badly faded, however the bottling date appears to be 1972, making the distillation year roughly 1966, consistent with other examples of this bottle. If this is the date, the whiskey was likely barreled by Julien Van Winkle II, who took over as master distiller following the death of his father in 1965.

Imported to the Italian market by D&C, Bologna.

Ardbeg Lord of the Isles 25 Year Old

A highly sought after and iconic Ardbeg, released between 2002 and 2007.

Named after the 'Lord of the Isles' who ruled the Western Isles and parts of Argyll between the 12th and 15th Centuries.

Oban 16 Year Old Manager's Dram Bicentenary 1994

The Manager’s Dram series of whiskies were bottled exclusively for employees of what is now known as Diageo.  These whiskies were selected by the respective distillery managers within Diageo malt distilling and bottled at natural cask strength.

Bottled to celebrate Oban’s 200th anniversary, 1794 – 1994  this 16 year old was released exclusively from sherry casks by distillery manager John William and his employees listed on the rear of the bottle.

Bottled July 1994.

Ardbeg Lord of the Isles 25 Year Old

A highly sought after and iconic Ardbeg, released between 2002 and 2007.

Named after the 'Lord of the Isles' who ruled the Western Isles and parts of Argyll between the 12th and 15th Centuries.

Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Old Prime Bourbon Half Pint 1970s

A popular bourbon produced at Stitzel Weller distillery. This is an older bottling of the 7 year old product from the 1970's. At this time the distillery was still run by the Van Winkle family and this would have been barreled by Julien Van Winkle II.

The Old Fitzgerland brand is now owned and produced by Heaven Hill, with these older Stitzel-Weller productions becoming real collector's items.

Old Weller Antique Original 107 Brand 7 Year Old 1980s

W L Weller is the original wheated bourbon, produced at the famous Stitzel-Weller distillery.

Imported for the Italian market.

Old Parr Elizabethan / includes The Golden Age Book

A very rare and stunning bottle of Old Parr Elizabethan, presented in a hand blown bottle, each side showing a different historical figure; Thomas Parr, James I, Elizabeth I and Henry VIII.

Bottled to commemorate the Elizabethan era of British history.

Only 252 bottles of this elegant decanter were produced.

Lot includes a hardbacked book called The Golden Age, with brief chapters on Elizabethan music, literature and sport, among others.

Old Fitzgerald 6 Year Old 1970s

A popular bourbon produced at Stitzel Weller distillery. This is an older bottling of the 6 year old product from the 1970s. At this time the distillery was still run by the Van Winkle family and this would have been barreled by Julien Van Winkle II.

86 Proof as 100 proof was not a requirement for bottles exported out of the United States.

Bottle in bond for export.

Ardbeg Young Uigeadail / The Oogling

The very desirable Ardbeg Oogling, only available to the Ardbeg Committee, with a very limited 1,392 bottles being released in 2006.

Three ex-bourbon hosghead of Very Young Ardbeg were married with one sherry butt distilled in 2002.

Orphan Barrel Old Blowhard 26 Year Old ​

Part of the Diageo's Orphan Barrel series which is produced from casks of Bourbon that have been forgotten about in the many Rickhouses and Distilleries that cover the United States.

This bottle consists of liquid rescued from the Stitzel-Weller warehouse but apparently distilled at Bernheim. 

Abraham Bowman 1993 Cask Strength 18 Year Old Bourbon

Distilled by the Sazerac company at their A Smith Bowman distillery, using the same #1 mashbill as George T Stagg, this is a 18 year old 138.6 proof bourbon.

The whiskey is named for Commander Abraham Bowman, who led the American revolutionary war unit The 8th Virginia Regiment or German Regiment. His ancestors founded the A Smith Bowman distillery. 

Sold only at the distillery gift shop in Virginia in 2011.

Ardbeg 1998 Feis Ile 2011

Drawn from two Spanish Pedro Ximenez sherry butts, this rare Ardbeg was distilled in 1998 and released to mark Feis Ile 2011.

Bottled at cask strength. 

Ardbeg 1998 Feis Ile 2011

Drawn from two Spanish Pedro Ximenez sherry butts, this rare Ardbeg was distilled in 1998 and released to mark Feis Ile 2011.

Bottled at cask strength. 

Ardbeg Official Embassy Diplomatic Box 2011 / Sample Miniatures 4 x 6cl and Handbook

As part of the annual Feis Ile celebraions on Islay, Ardbeg distillery appoints a select number of whisky retailers around the world as \"Embassies.\" These have the prestigious honour of being the only stockists of Feis Ile exclusive bottlings from the distillery outside of the Islay island confines.

In 2011, the Embassies were issued with a Diplomatic Box each, this particular example was given to a whisky store in Amsterdam. It contains:

• Ardbeg 2010 New Make Spirit 69% 
• Ardbeg 10 Year Old 1st Fill at Cask Strength 56%
• Ardbeg 1974 Single Cask #4986 45%
• Ardbeg 1999 French Oak Cask 52%

All of these 6cl sample miniatures were filled on the 7th May 2010. The box also contains a nicely bound Handbook for its \"Drambassadors,\" featuring stories, history and tasting notes.

Ardbeg 1974 Gordon and MacPhail 13 Year Old 1980s​

Distilled on Islay way back in 1974 and bottled in 1980s by Gordon and MacPhail

Ardbeg 1975 Gordon and MacPhail / Meregalli Import​

Distilled in 1975 and bottled by Gordon and MacPhail in 1998.

Officially imported to the Italian market by Giuseppe Meregalli.

Ardnamurchan 2 Year Old Spirit Warehouse Release Batch #4

Independent bottler Adelphi have opened their own distillery. 

This is one of their first <3 year old bottles of new make spirit. The distillery is in Glenbeg, on the far west of the Scottish mainland. 

The new make has been matured in a PX Octave for over 2 years. 

Bottled on the 25th of April 2018. 

One of 73 bottles. 

Ardbeg 1973 Gordon and MacPhail

Bottled by Gordon and Macphail as part of the Connoisseurs Choice collection.

This Ardbeg was distilled in 1973 and bottled 30 years later in 2003. 

Old Fitzgerald 10 Year Old 1849 Bourbon 1970s

A premium bourbon currently distilled at Heaven Hill, and highly rated by Dave Broom in Whisky Mag. This 1970's bottling however would have been distilled and bottled at the old Stitzel-Weller distillery.

Imported for the Italian market.

Otard 1917 Vintage Cognac​

​A very old Cognac, distilled in 1917 and bottled at some point in the 1960's or 70's by Threlfalls Ltd of Liverpool.