May 2018 Auction

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.

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it in New York and bottled it in 1934 under a special medicinal license, despite the fact prohibition had already been repealed a year earlier.

Dalmore 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon / Haut Marbuzet Finish​

A rare 33 year old Dalmore initially matured in American white oak prior to a secondary maturation of a several years in Chateau Haut-Marbuzet casks.

One of only 1,000 bottles.

Includes certificate of authenticity. 

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

Dalwhinnie 1966 36 Year Old

Released within the original super premium release from Diageo, back in 2002, this Dalwhinnie was distilled in 1966 and bottled at an astonishing 36 years old - substantially older than any previous official Dalwhinnie releases.

Limited to only 1,500 bottles this 36 year old is rumored to be an exceptional bottling.

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.

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. 

Domaine De Courcelles 1972 Vieux Rhum Guadeloupe Rum

A bottle of Domain De Courcelles rum distilled January 1972 and bottled April 2005

Imported by Velier for the Italian market.

Dalmore 30 Year Old Stillman's Dram 75cl / US Import

An early 1990s bottling of Dalmore, aged for an impressive 30 years.

Bottled within Whyte and Mackay's long gone Stillman's series of whiskies.

Imported to the US market by Munson Shaw, Il.

Dalmore 25 Year Old

Released in very limited quantities in 2013 the Dalmore 25 year old is matured initially in American white oak before a second maturation in a combination of Palomino Fino sherry butts and first fill bourbon cask.

That's not all, these are then married together in bourbon barrels before a final finishing period in Tawny port pipes.

Dallas Dhu 1982 Historic Scotland 24 Year Old Cask Strength​

Distilled in 1982, not long before the distilleries closure then bottled in 2007 for Historic Scotland (now Historic Environment Scotland), the Government body that runs the former distillery as a museum.

Cask number #3739 and bottle number 503. 

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.

Old Fitzgerald 1849

A premium bourbon distilled at Heaven Hill and highly rated by Dave Broom in Whisky Mag.

Japanese import.

Old Fettercairn 1978 30 Year Old​

Part of a series of very well aged bottlings from this lesser known Highland distillery. 

Distilled on 25th October 1978 and bottled 30 years later. 

Dewar's Victoria Vat 1930s

A very old bottle of Victoria VAT, produced by Dewar's \"by appointment to the Late King George V,\" dating this bottle to somewhere in the vicinity of 1936.

There are no volume or ABV measurements on this bottle. It is full size.

Diamond 1999 Demerara Distillers 15 Year Old Rum

An official bottle of 15 year old Diamond distillery rum.

Distilled in a Metal Coffey Still in 1999, matured in new charred barrels, and bottled in July 2014 from only 5 barrels yielding an outturn of only 1,411 bottles.

Dallas Dhu 1968 Douglas Laing 31 Year Old

A rare late 60's Dallas Dhu from Douglas Laing, distilled December 1968 and bottled May 2000.

Part of the Old Malt Cask series.

One of 253 Bottles.

Dingle Irish Single Malt Small Batch No. 1 / Bourbon Casks

Matured exclusively in Bourbon casks, this was the first small batch release from the Dingle Whiskey Distillery which opened in 2012.

Bottle number 6144.

Old Pulteney 1982 Sherry Wood Cask 15 Year Old #1525​

A single cask Old Pulteney, distilled in December 1982 and matured for 15 years in sherry cask #1525.

Specially selected by distillery manager, Don Raitt and bottled in March 2008.

Bottle number 521.

Dallas Dhu 1975 Rare Malt 21 Year Old / 61.9%

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.

Released at a natural cask strength of 61.9%, distilled in 1975 and bottled in April 1997.

Dalmore 1992 Mackenzie / includes Death of the Stag Print​

The Dalmore Mackenzie was released to commemorate the long lasting relationship between Dalmore and Clan Mackenzie.

The whisky was matured in a bourbon hogsheads for 11 years before a finishing period of 6 years in port pipes.

A limited and highly sought after bottling of which only 3,000 were made.

Lot includes a limited edition print of The Death of the Stag by Benjamin West, which initial purchasers of the bottle were given the chance to send away for.

Dallas Dhu 1975 Rare Malt 21 Year Old / 61.9%

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.

Released at a natural cask strength of 61.9%, distilled in 1975 and bottled in April 1997.

Overholt '1810' Straight Rye Whiskey 1970s / Giovinetti Import​

This brand of Rye whiskey is very old, established as the label suggests, over 150 years ago.

This was produced in Pennsylvania at the Old Overholt Distillery by National Distillers. The brand is now bottled by Fortune Brands (owners of Jim Beam) in Kentucky.

Imported to the Italian market by Gioventti, Milan.

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old

The 10 year old rom the Van Winkle range, this is the entry level edition. Absolutely stonking!

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

Dailuaine 16 Year Old Flora and Fauna 6 x 70cl

If you don't like Mortlach, you will probably love Dailuaine - they are renowned for splitting opinions.

This is a great example of a strongly sherried whisky and part of the Flora and Fauna series none of which were ever made widley availabel outside of the UK

Orphan Barrel Lost Prophet 22 Year Old 

From the Orphan Barrel Website: 

 \"Lost Prophet speaks softly but carries a big stick. Eloquent and gentle, this Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey was unearthed after spending 22 long years resting in charred American white oak barrels, tucked away in a corner of the historic Stitzel-Weller rickhouses in Shively, Kentucky. Only a small amount of Lost Prophet exists and it will only be released once. After the last bottle has been sold, it's gone for good, its nomadic journey coming to an end.\"