May 2018 Auction

Very Xtra Old Fitzgerald 1956 Bonded 10 Year Old 100 Proof / Stitzel-Weller

We don't see vintage Old Fitzgerald very often, so we are particularly excited about this bottle which was distilled in the Fall of 1956 and bottled in 1966.

Distilled by Julian Van Winkle I at the legendary Stitzel-Weller distillery, and bottled a year after his death by his son, Van Winkle II.

Presented in a felt lined, lock-and-key leather box with two 1 oz. glasses.

Weller's Antique Reserve 10 Year Old 110 Proof 1970s

A fantastic old bottling of Weller's Antique Reserve, aged 10 years and bottled at a barrel proof of 110.

Distilled and then bottled in the early 1970's at the legendary Stizel-Weller distillery, and given the age statement, likely from stock produced by Julien Van Winkle I before his death in the mid-1960's. The distillery was then run by his son, Julien Van Winkle II until its sale in 1972.

Presented in an ornate felt lined box with two glasses.

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.

Very Very Old Fitzgerald 1966 Bonded 12 Year Old 100 Proof / Stitzel-Weller

We don't see vintage Old Fitzgerald very often, so we are particularly excited about this bottle which was distilled in the Spring of 1966 and bottled in 1978.

Distilled by Julian Van Winkle II at the legendary Stitzel-Weller distillery.

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.

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.

William L Weller 1982 19 Year Old / Bottled 2001​

William L Weller bottlings now tend to contain whiskey aged for approximately 10 to 14 years however when this was released that was not the case,  This was distilled in Spring 1982 and bottled in Summer 2001. Making this a 19 year old.

Willett Family Estate 21 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon #C15A / Astor Wines​

A single White Oak barrel, wheated bourbon bottled by Willet after maturing for over 21 years!

Cask C15A was hand selected by Astor Wines and Spirits

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.

Willett Family Estate 22 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon #C69A​

Released on the 22nd August 2015 at the Willet gift shop, this well aged Bourbon was matured in barrel #C69A. This barrel is believed to be wheated bourbon produced at Bernheim distillery, prior to its takeover by Heaven Hill.

Bottle number 13 of 63 bottles.

Willett Family Estate 22 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon #324​

Released on the 30th May 2015 at the Willet gift shop, this well aged Bourbon was matured in barrel #324.

Bottle number 8 of 109 bottles.

Willett Family Estate 22 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon #B51

An exclusive release from cask #B51, which means that it was produced at Bernheim distillery, so will have a high wheat content mashbill. Bernheim is now known as Heaven Hill, and Kentucky Bourbon Distillers still procure much of their bottling stock from here while their renewed distilling operation at Willett is still in its infancy.

Matured in a single white oak barrel and bottled in December 2015 for exclusive retail in the Willett distillery gift shop.

One of just 94 bottles.

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.

Vintage Rye 23 Year Old

A well-aged Kentucky rye at 23 years old. This was produced at Willett by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers using very similar bottles and labels to that on the Very Olde St. Nick, and may have been similarly distilled at Heaven Hill.

Very Olde St. Nick 20 Year Old Barrel Proof

Very Olde St Nick was a bourbon brand designed for the Japanese export market.

The original bottlings of Very Olde St Nick were produced by Julien Van Winkle III in Lawrenceburg, using whiskey procured from Heaven Hill distillery. When his stock ran out, the brand was purchased by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers who began to bottle it at Willett distillery. Although the supply for for these newer releases has never been confirmed as continuing to be Heaven Hill stock, it is where most of KBD barrels were procured from, and Van Winkle himself has strongly hinted at the continued connection.

This Very, Very Rare, Ancient Reserve is 20 winters, or 240 moons old and was bottled at a barrel proof of 116.4.

Japanese Import

Very Olde St. Nick 17 Year Old Cask Strength

Very Olde St Nick was a bourbon brand designed for the Japanese export market.

The original bottlings of Very Olde St Nick were produced by Julien Van Winkle III in Lawrenceburg, using whiskey procured from Heaven Hill distillery. When his stock ran out, the brand was purchased by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers who began to bottle it at Willett distillery. Although the supply for for these newer releases has never been confirmed as continuing to be Heaven Hill stock, it is where most of KBD barrels were procured from, and Van Winkle himself has strongly hinted at the continued connection.

This Very Very Olde and Rare 17 year old was bottled at a cask strength of 116.2 US proof.

Japanese Import

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. 

W. L. Weller 1992 Single Barrel 12 Year Old​ / 'Stitzlel-Weller'

W. L. Weller bottlings now tend not to declare the vintage and bottling dates however when this was released that was not the case. 

This was distilled in Summer 1992 at the legendary Stitzel-Weller distillery, one of their last barrels given that it closed in the same year. Bottled by the Sazerac company at Buffalo Trace in the Fall of 2005. The brand is now produced at Buffalo Trace to this day, now simply known as Weller 12 Year Old.

This particular bottle of W.L. Weller is part of a select few known as the \"paper labels\" on account of the label style. This is one of 4 special bottlings from private single barrels selected specially by the Kentucky Bourbon Society, of which this is of particular note as it has infamously spelled Stitzel-Weller incorrectly on the label. The other 3 in the series are the 'Barrel of the Year,' 'Barrel C,' and 'The Fourth Barrel' bottlings.

Very Olde St. Nick 1973 Ancient Estate Reserve 25 Year Old

Very Olde St Nick was a bourbon brand designed for the Japanese export market.

The original bottlings of Very Olde St Nick were produced by Julien Van Winkle III in Lawrenceburg, using whiskey procured from Heaven Hill distillery. When his stock ran out, the brand was purchased by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers who began to bottle it at Willett distillery. Although the supply for for these newer releases has never been confirmed as continuing to be Heaven Hill stock, it is where most of KBD barrels were procured from, and Van Winkle himself has strongly hinted at the continued connection.

This Ancient Estate Reserve was distilled on 19th December 1973 and bottled on the 29th of April 1999.

Bottle #494

Japanese Import

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.

Very Old Fitzgerald 1960 Bonded 8 Year Old Half Pint / Stitzel-Weller

We don't see vintage Old Fitzgerald very often, so we are particularly excited about this bottle which was distilled in the Fall of 1960 and bottled in 1968.

Distilled at the legendary Stitzel-Weller distillery by Julien Van Winkle I, and bottled a few years after his death by his son, Van Winkle II.

W. L. Weller 1992 Single Barrel 12 Year Old / KBS 'The Fourth Barrel'

W. L. Weller bottlings now tend not to declare the vintages and bottling dates however when this was released that was not the case. 

This was distilled in July 1992 at Stitzel-Weller, the same year that it closed, and bottled at Buffalo Trace. Buffalo Trace now distills and bottles the Weller brand, with this expression now known simply as Weller 12 Year Old.

This particular bottle of W.L. Weller is part of a select few known as the \"paper labels\" on account of the label style. This is one of 4 special bottlings from private single barrels selected specially by the Kentucky Bourbon Society, of which this is 'The Fourth Barrel,' bottled in 2005. The other 3 in the series are the 'Barrel of the Year,' 'Barrel C,' and the infamous 'Stitzlel-Weller' mis-spell bottlings.

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.

W. L. Weller 10 Year Old Centennial Single Barrel / Whitehouse Liquor

Originally produced at the old Stitzel-Weller distiller, the 10 year old Centennial brand was revived by Buffalo Trace as part of their Bourbon Heritage Collection.

This particular bottling is from barrel #1, which was specially selected by Ben Faubel for Whitehouse Liquor, NY.

Willett Family Estate 13 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon #367 / Astor Wines​

Aged in hand-selected White Oak barrels for 13 years. This particular lot was bottled by hand from Barrel #367.

Selected exclusively for Astor Wines & Spirits.

Willett Family Estate 16 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon #1615

Aged in hand-selected White Oak barrels for 16 years.

Hand bottled in November 2017 for exclusive retail at the Willett distillery gift shop.

One of 149 bottles.

Vintage Bourbon 17 Year Old

A well-aged Kentucky bourbon at 17 years old. This was produced at Willett by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers using very similar bottles and labels to that on the Very Olde St. Nick, and may have been similarly distilled at Heaven Hill.

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.

Very Olde St. Nick 1974 Ancient Estate Reserve 23 Year Old

Very Olde St Nick was a bourbon brand designed for the Japanese export market.

The original bottlings of Very Olde St Nick were produced by Julien Van Winkle III in Lawrenceburg, using whiskey procured from Heaven Hill distillery. When his stock ran out, the brand was purchased by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers who began to bottle it at Willett distillery. Although the supply for for these newer releases has never been confirmed as continuing to be Heaven Hill stock, it is where most of KBD barrels were procured from, and Van Winkle himself has strongly hinted at the continued connection.

This Ancient Estate Reserve was distilled on 9th September 1974 and bottled on the 14th of October 1999, although is labelled at a 23 year old.

Bottle #19

Japanese Import

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.