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it in New York and bottled it in 1934 under a special medicinal license, despite the fact prohibition had already been repealed a year earlier.

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.

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. 

Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon / Commemorative Bottling​

This whisky is named after the legendary Elmer T. Lee, 1919-2013, who was hired in 1949 by Col. Albert B. Blanton to work at Buffalo Trace. (At the time named George T. Stagg Distillery!)

Starting from the bottom he worked his way up to Master Distiller, before retiring in 1985. He passed away in 2013 aged 93.

This is the special edition 2013 commemorative release of the single barrel sour mash Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey. 

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.

Eagle Rare 10 Year Old 101 Proof 1980s

A late 1980s bottling of 101 proof bourbon, bottled by the Old Prentice Company in New Orleans.

Interestingly, Old Prentice Distillery (now Four Roses) is based in Frankfort, Kentucky, meaning this is likely one of the first Eagle Rare to be bottled by the Sazerac company following their purchase of the brand in 1989.

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. 

Enmore 1987 Full Proof Demerara Rum / Velier Import

Pot still rum from Enmore, distilled in 1987 and bottled from special casks #193-197.

Bottled by Dutch company Breitenstein Produkten BV for Italian importers, Velier in November 2000.

One of 419 bottles.

Elijah Craig 23 Year Old Single Barrel

The 23 year old single barrel Elijah Craig was matured in a single charred oak barrel.

Barrelled on 21st April 1990 at the old Heaven Hill distillery.

Barrel number 153.

Released in very limited quantities.

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.

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.

Elijah Craig 23 Year Old Single Barrel

The 23 year old single barrel Elijah Craig was matured in a single charred oak barrel.

Barrelled on 30th November 1989 at the old Heaven Hill distillery.

Barrel number 52.

Released in very limited quantities.

Eagle Rare 10 Year Old 1980s

An old 1980s bottling of Eagle Rare for the Italian market. This was distilled and bottled at Old Prentice distillery (formerly Seagram's and now Four Roses).

The Eagle Rare brand nowadays is produced at Buffalo Trace after it was sold to the Sazerac company a few years after this was bottled.

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.

Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Wax Seal / Binnys Beverage Depot​

This whisky is named after the legendary Elmer T. Lee, 1919-2013, who was hired in 1949 by Col. Albert B. Blanton to work at Buffalo Trace. (At the time named George T. Stagg Distillery!)

Starting from the bottom he worked his way up to Master Distiller, before retiring in 1985. He passed away in 2013 aged 93.

Thisis an erly version of the Elmer T. Lee when the bottles were still sealed with wax.

Rated a very impressive 91 points by Whisky Advocate!

This single barrel release was exclusively selected and bottled for Binnys Beverage Depot.

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.\"

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old

From 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.

Eagle Rare 10 Year Old 1980s

An old 1980s bottling of Eagle Rare for the Italian market. This was distilled and bottled at Old Prentice distillery (formerly Seagram's and now Four Roses).

The Eagle Rare brand nowadays is produced at Buffalo Trace after it was sold to the Sazerac company a few years after this was bottled.

Octomore Masterclass 8.3

Released in 2017, the 8.3 Masterclass Octomore was marketed by Bruichladdich as being the peatiest whisky produced in Scotland at whopping 309.1ppm.

Matured in ex-Bourbon American oak, and ex-Pauillac, Ventoux, Rhone, and Burgundy European oak casks.

Old Perth 2004 13 Year Old Blended Malt No.2 / Macallan and Highland Park

A 13 year old blend of Macallan and Highland Park? Yes please!

One of only 620 bottles produced from a single cask.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon 2013 Release / Batch #A313

Cask Strength Elijah Craig produced at Heaven Hill and bottled at cask strength after 12 years.

This is the March 2013 release.

Oban Lifeboat RNLI 18 Year Old

A rare independent single cask bottling of Oban, bottled by Douglas Laing. The whisky was gifted to Oban lifeboat station by Oban distillery and bottled to mark its 40th Anniversary.

Initially sold to raise money for the RNLI, Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the cask sold out within days and a total of £12,716.92 was donated to the Oban lifeboat station.  

The hogshead was filled at the distillery on 29th July 1994 and bottled on 18th February 2013.

Octomore 2009 Futures 5 Year Old​

The 2014 Futures release, distilled on the 23rd February 2009.

This 5 year old was matured exclusively in Buffalo Trace casks, peated to 258ppm.

Bottle no. 653.