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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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..

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.

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.

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 15 Year Old 1980s

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

75cl

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.

Laphroaig 15 Year Old 1980s

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

75cl

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

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.

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.

Longrow 1973

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

This 1973 vintage tells us little more about it but was likely bottled in the 1980s.

Lagavulin 1987 SMWS 14 Year Old 111.17​

This Lagavulin was distilled in January 1987 and bottled in September 2001.

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.