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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Laphroaig 10 Year Old 1970s

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

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..

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.

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 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.

Longmorn 1973 Blackadder 30 Year Old 75cl / US Import​

A wonderfully deep coloured Longmorn that has savoured everyone of its sherry casked 30 years.

Bottled by Blackadder International in September 2003.

Distilled in May 1973 and filled into sherry hogshead #3979.

One of 303 bottles.

Imported to the US by Heartland, Ohio.

Longmorn 1968 Scott's Selection 75cl / US Import

An independent Longmorn, distilled in 1968 and bottled in 2003 by Robert Scott & Co as part of their Scott's Selection range.

Imported to the US by International Brands

Laphroaig 10 Year Old 1980s

An older bottling of Laphroaig from the 1980's.

Laphroaig 10 Year Old 1980s

An older bottling of Laphroaig from the 1980's.

Unusually, this bottle has no volume or ABV on it. It was likely for the export market.

It was imported to Italy at a later date.

Laphroaig 10 Year Old 1980s / Cinzano Import

An older bottling of Laphroaig from the 1980's.

Officially imported to the Italian market by Cinzano.

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.

Laphroaig 15 Year Old 1980s

A stunning old bottle of Laphroaig bottled in the early 1980s, before the Royal Warrant was issued.

75cl

Laphroaig 15 Year Old 1980s

A stunning old bottle of Laphroaig bottled in the early 1980s, before the Royal Warrant was issued.

75cl

Laphroaig 1985 30 Year Old

Presented in a wooden box, this is the 2016 edition of the Laphroaig 30 year old which was originally released in 2000.  

Distilled in October 1985, we rarely see well-aged official bottlings from Islay, this well aged Laphroaig is up there with the oldest.

Bottled at cask strength.

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.