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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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%.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Cube (Porsche Design)

A special edition of Johnnie Walker Blue Label, produced as a collaboration between Diageo and the Porsche Design Studio. The Cube is a storage box for a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label and four whisky glasses, the top half forms an ice bucket with a pair of tongs included.

A stunning presentation case for this exquisite blend.

Please note, shipping will be charged for 6 bottles on this lot.

Tomintoul 1966 Stillman's Dram 33 Year Old​ 75cl / US Import

An independently bottled Tomintoul, part of Invergordon Distillers' The Stillman's Dram series.

Distilled in 1996 and matured for 33 years in single cask #4176 until 200.

One of 438 bottles, this is number 2.

Talisker 1982 Cask Strength 20 Year Old

A 1982 vintage cask strength Talisker that was matured in Bourbon casks, and bottled at 20 years old in 2003. A really under-rated dram.

One of 12,000 bottles.

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. 15

Bottle No. 1725

Jameson 2007 Rarest Vintage Reserve​

A very well respected and rare Jameson, including some of their oldest and rarest vintages. Some of which is pot-still whisky matured in a Port Pipe. 

Bottle 07990.

Tamdhu 1963 50 Year Old Miniature 5cl

This incredible single malt scotch whisky was drawn from a single first-fill European oak Sherry butt which was filled in November 1963​ and bottled 50 years later, making this the oldest ever Tamdhu to be released!

Tamdhu is always matured in sherry casks, the rarest of which can often at best hold the liquid for 25 years. To have yielded 100 bottles after 50 years, cask #4678 must have been something truly special, and the whisky it produced equally so.

Speaking of the cask, Leonard Russel, managing director of Tamdhu owners Ian MacLeod distillers said:

\"There was a time, before we bought and reopened Tamdhu, when some thought it was gone forever. This cask, which may never have been released had the distillery remained closed, can be now opened and savoured, and that is something we want to celebrate.\"

This lot is the 5cl miniature that was included with the full sized bottles, these miniatures were released without a seal.

Jameson 2007 Rarest Vintage Reserve​

A very well respected and rare Jameson, including some of their oldest and rarest vintages. Some of which is pot-still whisky matured in a Port Pipe. 

Bottle 04336.

Jameson 2007 Rarest Vintage Reserve​

A very well respected and rare Jameson, including some of their oldest and rarest vintages. Some of which is pot-still whisky matured in a Port Pipe. 

Bottle 04328.

Tamnavulin 33 Year Old Stillman's Dram

A Tamnavulin, bottled by Invergordon Distillers for the Stillman's Dram range at 33 year old. 

Jameson 2007 Rarest Vintage Reserve​

A very well respected and rare Jameson, including some of their oldest and rarest vintages. Some of which is pot-still whisky matured in a Port Pipe. 

Bottle 03614.

Jameson 2007 Rarest Vintage Reserve​

A very well respected and rare Jameson, including some of their oldest and rarest vintages. Some of which is pot-still whisky matured in a Port Pipe. 

Bottle 04323.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label New York Limited Edition 75cl / US Import

A limited bottling of Johnnie Walker Blue Label with an exclusive New York design on the bottle and box.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Great Inventions 75cl / Taiwan Edition​

A limited edition Blue Label in an attractive bottleand at a higher ABV than usual.

Jefferson's Presidential Select 25 Year Old 

Inspired by Thomas Jefferson's curiosity, experimental spirit and good taste.

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. 1

Bottle No. 0228.