May 2018 Auction

Laphroaig 1974 Sherry Cask 31 Year Old

A legendary official release of Laphroaig, distilled in 1974 and bottled 31 years later for La Maison Du Whisky.

This stunning whisky was limited to only 910 bottles and is reknowned for its incredible sherry influence.

Another highly acclaimed and award-winning whisky, this was given an impressive 95 points from Serge Valentin on Whisky Fun, not to mention its Gold Medal and Non Plus Ultra award from the Malt Maniacs!

Bottle No.403 of 910

Laphroaig 10 Year Old Circa 1970s / US Carlton Import

A rare bottling produced for the American market.

This particular bottle of Laphroaig was produced in the very early 1970s and was imported into the US by the Carlton Company.  A truly fantastic example of Laphroaig, containing distillate from the very early 1960s, maybe even 1950s.  We've never had a bottle of Laphroaig from this period before and are very excited to bring this to auction.

Saburomaru 1960 55 Year Old Japanese Single Malt

This is the oldest bottled Japanese whisky ever... 

Wakatsuru Shozou own Saburomaru Distillery, which has been producing limited amounts of whisky since 1952/3, This was distilled in 1960 and matured in a red wine cask with the characteristics of \"Port\" for 55 years.

The malt was heavily peated and distilled in a continuous still (By current Scotch Whisky Association rules this wouldn't be allowed to be called a single malt if produced in Scotland). 

Bottle number 75 of only 155 bottles. 

Laphroaig 10 Year Old 1970s / Bonfant Import​

An older bottling of Laphroaig from the 1970's, prior to the granting of the royal warrant.

Bonfant import for the Italian market.

Springbank 1967 Local Barley

Springbank produced several 'Local Barley' bottlings from the mid 1960s, all of which have reached legendary status.

Distilled in October 1967 and bottled in August 1988.

Lagavulin 16 Year Old Special Boat Service

A special bottling for the Special Boat Service of Lagavulin 16 year old.

Complete with tartan lined box and engaved labelling.

Lagavulin 1991 Single Cask / Bicentenary​ Edition

A single cask Lagavulin released in 2016, their bicentenary year.

One of 522 bottled from a single hand-selected ex-sherry butt.

Distilled in 1991.

Lagavulin 1991 Single Cask / Bicentenary​ Edition

A single cask Lagavulin released in 2016, their bicentenary year.

One of 522 bottled from a single hand-selected ex-sherry butt.

Distilled in 1991.

Springbank 12 Year Old 100 Proof Green Thistle​

A 12 year old bottling of Springbank from the mid 1990's at 100 Proof.

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.

Lagavulin 1976 Cask Strength 30 Year Old

A highly sought after bottle of Lagavulin, the oldest official release until the 37 year old from the same vintage came along.

Distilled in 1976 and released within Diageo's Super Premium selection back in 2006.

Limited to 2,340 bottles.

Longrow 1974 21 Year Old

Longrow, peated spirit was first produced at Springbank during the early 1970s. 

This was distilled in September 1974 and bottled in February 1996.

One of only 350 bottles.

Springbank 12 Year Old 100 Proof Green Thistle​

A 12 year old bottling of Springbank from the mid 1990's at 100 Proof.

Velier import for the Italian market.

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.

Strathisla 1937 Gordon and MacPhail 70 Proof​

Distilled in 1937 at Strathisla distillery and bottled in the late 1970's by Gordon & MacPhail.

Imported to the Italian market.

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.

Laphroaig 10 Year Old 1970s

Classic Laphroaig from the late 1970s when both imperial and metric measurements were used. 

Springbank 1969 Signatory Vintage 34 Year Old

Distilled December 1969 bottled in 2003 as a 34 year old.

Bottle No.149 of 408 bottles drawn from refill butt #262

Strathisla 1937 Gordon and MacPhail 34 Year Old​ / Pinerolo​

Distilled in 1937 at Strathisla distillery and bottled as a 34 year old by Gordon and MacPhail using their Connoisseur's Choice branding in the 1970s

Bottle number 11.

Pinerolo Italian Import. This particular bottling scored 88 points when reviewed by Serge Valentin for Whiskyfun.com!

Please note condition of lot as shown, including Italian and British Tax Stamps.

The liquid in this particular bottle has been carbon dated by Oxford University's Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit. The information corresponds with the vintage of this bottling. A pdf copy of the certificate is available on request.

Strathisla 1937 Gordon and MacPhail 35 Year Old​ / Pinerolo​

Distilled in 1937 at Strathisla distillery and bottled as a 35 year old by Gordon and MacPhail using their Connoisseur's Choice branding in the 1970s

Bottle number 714.

Pinerolo Italian Import. This particular bottling scored a 89 points when reviewed by Serge Valentin for Whiskyfun.com!

Please note condition of lot as shown, including Italian and British Tax Stamps.

The liquid in this particular bottle has been carbon dated by Oxford University's Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit. The information corresponds with the vintage of this bottling. A pdf copy of the certificate is available on request.

Laphroaig 30 Year Old 

Presented in this wooden box, Laphroaig 30 year old was originally released in 2000.  

This well aged Laphroaig has only been out-matured by the 40/32 year old releases.

75cl.

Longmorn 1967 Gordon and MacPhail Cask Strength​

Distilled on the 23rd of November 1967 this liquid was matured in single refill sherry hogshead #5132 and bottled by Gordon and MacPhail in on the 19th of July 2010..

Strathisla 1948 Gordon and MacPhail 1980s

This Strathisla was distilled way back in 1948 and was bottled during the 1980's by Gordon and MacPhail.

Springbank 12 Year Old 1980s

A fantastic 12 year old Springbank bottling from the early 1980's.

German 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.

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.

Littlemill 30 Year Old

We believe this to be the oldest bottling of Littlemill to have been bottled, at 30 years of age.  This F&G Italian import bottling is incredibly rare and we are fortunate to offer this bottle.

This is bottle number 53.

Lagavulin 25 Year Old Bicentenary Edition

Released in 2016 as part of Diageo's Super Premium malts.  This sherry cask matured, 25 year old Lagavulin is a celebration of the distillery's bicentenary anniversary. 

Bottle number 65586 of 8000.

Lagavulin 25 Year Old Bicentenary Edition

Released in 2016 as part of Diageo's Super Premium malts.  This sherry cask matured, 25 year old Lagavulin is a celebration of the distillery's bicentenary anniversary. 

Bottle number 5688 of 8000.

Longmorn 1968 Premier Malts 32 Year Old Single Cask

An independent Longmorn, distilled in November 1968 and bottled in August 2001 by Malcolm Pride Limited as part of their Premier Malts range.

Matured for 32 years in cask #5261.

Taiwanese import.

St Magdalene 1982 Cadenhead's 32 Year Old

A 32 year old St Magdalene, distilled in 1982 and bottled at cask strength by Cadenhead's in January 2015.

The closed St Magdalene distillery in Linlithgow is oneof Scotland's most sorely missed.

One of 282 bottles.  

Sherriff's Treasury 1940s / US Import

A relatively unknown blend from around the 1940's, produced by the legendary Sherriff's, owners of Bowmore distillery at the time.

Vintage Wines US Import.