May 2018 Auction

Johnnie Walker The Directors Blend Complete Collection 6 x 70cl

Never available at retail, this collection was only given to very important Diageo types. Very few bottles made it to the secondary market and collectors have fought to get hold of this essential part of Johnnie Walker history.

Incredibly rare, this is the complete 6 bottle collection consisting of annual releases between 2008 and 2013, each with their own unique presentation, design and character, yet all unmistakably Johnnie Walker.

• 2008 Release: ​​This grain whisky celebrates sweetness as the biggest component of any Blended Scotch.
  One of 450 bottles
  46%
   
• 2009 Release: A celebration of smokiness. This release contains Islay single malt whisky.
  One of 504 bottles
  43%
   
• 2010 Release: The rich smell of Autumn Fruit, focussed around the fruity flavours found in Johnnie Walker blends, using a generous number of sherry casks. This bottle features one of 6 different screen-printed labels by artist Lewis Moberly.
  One of 450 bottles
  65%
   
• 2011 Release: The effect of Wood on Whisky with packaging displaying the rich colour of oaked whisky, glorified through luxurious minimalism and delicate detailing. Featured in Ian Buxton's book, 101 Legendary Whiskies You're Dying to Try But (Possibly) Never Will.
  One of 504 bottles
  46%
   
• 2012 Release: Celebrating the aroma of Fresh Fruits. Instead of using the label to describe the contents of the bottle, LOVE design agency chose to use it to celebrate the recipient of the Blend, drawing inspiration from Johnnie Walker’s ‘Keep Walking’ philosophy.
  One of 504
  43%
   
• 2013 Release: Celebrating Malt and the deep resonance that aged Malts bring to the blend. Declared by Dave Broom to be one of the best whiskies of 2013.
  One of 588
  46%

Please note there will be a shipping charge for 6 bottles. 

Johnnie Walker Old Highland Whisky Circa 1907-1909 / White Label

Although not its official title at the time, this bottle of Old Highland Whisky was to become the Johnnie Walker White Label in 1909 after a re-branding exercise that saw all of their expressions renamed after their label colours and begin to feature the famous striding man, yet to appear here.

While the re-branded White Label was a 6 year old blend, the original Old Highland Whisky was a 5 year old.

The label on the bottle touts Johnnie Walker's Christchurch Exhibition award in 1907, meaning this example must have been bottled somewhere during the 2 year period between then and 1909, making this a wonderfully old bottle. It is not often that we can include the first world war when referring to pre-war whiskies!

There are no volume of ABV measurements on this bottle.

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.

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

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.

Talisker 1951 Gordon and MacPhail 21 Year Old​ / Pinerolo​

This Talisker was distilled on Skye in 1951 and bottled as 21 year old by Gordon and MacPhail using their Connoisseur's Choice branding in the 1970s.

Bottle number 293.

Pinerolo Italian Import. These particular bottlings all scored between 90 and 94 points when reviewed by Serge Valentin for Whiskyfun.com. Very impressive indeed!

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.​

Jura 1965 36 Year Old

A highly sought after Isle of Jura, distilled in 1965 and bottled in this stunning and unusual packaging.

Bottle number 46 of 449, filled on 19th July 2001 from cask #590.

Signed by Michael Heads, the former distillery manager.

Talisker 1953 Gordon and MacPhail 24 Year Old​ / Pinerolo​

This Talisker was distilled on Skye in 1953 and bottled as 24 year old by Gordon and MacPhail using their Connoisseur's Choice branding in the 1970s.

Bottle number 1725.

Pinerolo Italian Import. These particular bottlings all scored between 90 and 94 points when reviewed by Serge Valentin for Whiskyfun.com. Very impressive indeed!

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.

Jura 1969 Lord Astor

A 1969 vintage Jura, bottled by Lord Astor, otherwise known as Viscount Astor, or William Waldorf III. His family have held the Astor estate on Jura for many years and interstingly, the Viscount is planning to open up a second distillery on the Island.

If this indeed comes to pass, this private bottling may just be an important piece of its history.

There is no volume or ABV on the label.

Taketsuru 25 Year Old Pure Malt

A very rare bottling of Taketsuru, originally introduced in 2012 this blended malt contains casks from Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries.

It is extremely limited and only 120 bottles were available throughout Europe, this bottle was released in Asia. 

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.

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.

Taketsuru 25 Year Old Pure Malt

A very rare bottling of Taketsuru, originally introduced in 2012 this blended malt contains casks from Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries.

It is extremely limited and only 120 bottles were available throughout Europe, this bottle was released in Asia. 

Jefferson's 1991 Presidential Select 18 Year Old

Distilled from Wheat in the fall of 1991 and bottled 18 years later, after being aged in Stitzel Weller barrels. 

Jefferson's Reserve is a blend produced by Castle Brands, historically from whisky sourced from various distilleries. The company now owns the Kentucky Artisan Distillery in Crestwood and is increasingly warehousing more of its own stock.

Batch No. 7

Bottle No. 0059

Tullibardine 1966 

Distilled in 1966 and bottled in April 2006 from a single sherry butt.

Cask #1112 yielded 436 bottles.

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.

Jefferson's 1991 Presidential Select 17 Year Old

Distilled from Wheat in the fall of 1991 and bottled 17 years later, after being aged in Stitzel-Weller barrels. 

Jefferson's Reserve is a blend produced by Castle Brands, historically from whisky sourced from various distilleries. The company now owns the Kentucky Artisan Distillery in Crestwood and is increasingly warehousing more of its own stock.

Batch no. 5, bottle no. 406.

Talisker 1979 Cadenhead's Cask Strength

A legendary single cask Talisker distilled in 1979 and bottled by Cadenhead's at cask strength.

Bottle number 185.

Cask #4.

Johnnie Walker Excelsior 75cl

Johnnie Walker Excelsior is an incredibly hard to find Johnnie walker distilled in 1947 and released at around 50 years old in 1997.

John E. Fitzgerald 20 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon 37.5cl

The famous bourbon brand Old Fitzgerald was named for John E. Fitzgerald.

This is their Very Special Reserve, aged 20 years and packaged in an attractive presentation box.

Distilled at the legendary Stitzel-Weller distillery before it closed in the early 1990's, and bottled by Heaven Hill who purchased the brand soon after.

Whyte and Mackay 40 Year Old

A very high proportion of malt to grain (70% to 30%) went in to this very old blend. 

This release was dedicated to the 70 years that John McIlraith worked for Whyte and Mackay. 

One of 1000 bottles. 

Jefferson's 1991 Presidential Select 18 Year Old / DrinkUpNY

Distilled from Wheat in the fall of 1991 and bottled 18 years later, after being aged in Stitzel-Weller barrels. 

Jefferson's Reserve is a blend produced by Castle Brands, historically from whisky sourced from various distilleries. The company now owns the Kentucky Artisan Distillery in Crestwood and is increasingly warehousing more of its own stock.

Batch No. 63 is a single barrel release from cask #12, selected and bottled especially for DrinkUpNY.

Bottle No. 60.

Jura 1973 Single Cask 30 Year Old

A stunning presentation of Isle of Jura 30 year old distilled on 10th November 1973, and matured in a single Gonzales Byass Oloroso Sherry Butt.

Single cask #3155 yielded only 468 bottles, this is bottle number 357.

Signed by Michael Head.

William Larue Weller 2013 Release

Released within the infamous and eagerly awaited Buffalo Trace Antique Selection. 

William L Weller bottlings tend to contain whiskey aged for approximately 10 to 14 years.  In recent years the William Weller bottlings are increasingly difficult to get ahold of.

Bottled at 68.1% 

White Horse 1939 

A very old, pre-war bottling from this very popular blend, bottled in 1939.

There is no volume or ABV on this bottle.

Jameson 15 Year Old Limited Edition

All Triple distilled pot still whiskey with no grain added, this was created as a special edition for the millennium.

Jack Daniel's Old No.7 1 Litre / UK Collectors Limited Edition 2014

One of the best selling whiskies in the world, bottled in a limited edition UK collectors bottle with engraved labelling.

There is no displayed ABV on the bottle but it is likely 40%.