May 2019 Auction

Ardbeg 1965 Cadenhead's 23 Year Old / Mizuhashi Total Liquor Supply

An incredibly rare bottling of Ardbeg, distilled back in 1965 and sherry cask matured for 23 years.

This is part of series of five well-regarded cask selections by Mizuhashi Total Liquor Supply in Japan, all bottled in 1988 and 1989 by Cadenhead's. The series includes another sherry casked single malt, this time from Tamnavulin, as well an a Glendullan, Glen Ord and Glencadam. All were bottled at cask strength.

Serge Valentin of WhiskyFun loved this one, awarding it a princely 97 points, stating, \"an entrancing simplicity, and one of my favourite whiskies ever.\"

Please note condition of lot as shown. This bottle is leaking, Whisky Auctioneer Ltd cannot be held liable for any further leakage/damage caused whilst the bottle is in transit, including lots sent using Risk Free Shipping. Collection is advised.

Ardbeg 1976 Single Cask #2390 / Feis Ile 2002

This single sherry butt #2390 was filled on 24th November 1976 and matured for 25 years prior to bottling on 27th April 2002 for the Feis Ile festival on Islay. 

Only available at Ardbeg distillery, 494 bottles of this were filled. This is bottle 413.

Hand bottled at cask strength.

This bottling is one of the highest-scoring Ardbeg on WhiskyFun, scoring 96 points. 

Ardbeg 1974 Samaroli Sherry Wood

One of two 1974 vintage Ardbeg produced for Silvano Samaroli.

Samaroli is perhaps Italy's most revered independent bottler of Scotch whisky. With an impeccable taste in single cask whiskies, and an eye for aesthetics (if not English spelling at times!), he is regarded by many as a visionary. Many of his bottles now occupy deserved sports in pantheon of whisky greats.

Bottled in 1983 at cask strength after maturing in sherry wood, by long-time business partners R.W. Duthie of Aberdeen.

Almost unbelievably, Samaroli reportedly had great difficulty selling this first release in his Ardbeg series. It was not until a few years later that demand for the peaty flavours began to increase in Italy.

Limited to 2400 bottles. This is number 1938.

Ardbeg 1974 Single Cask #2743

A single cask Ardbeg, distilled on 14th June 1974 and bottled at over 31 years of age on 20th September 2005.

Taken from bourbon hogshead #2743, this is bottle number 78 of 106.

Ardbeg 1967 Signatory Vintage 30 Year Old / Dark Oloroso Butt #578

A legendary Ardbeg and part of the same batch of single casks as one awarded an impressive 93 points by Serge Valentin at WhiskyFun.

Distilled on the 1th February 1967 and matured in a single dark Oloroso sherry butt #578 for 30 years before bottling on 17th February 1997 by Signatory Vintage.

Signatory Vintage were established in 1988 by Andrew Symington and are one of Scotland's most prolific independent bottlers. Their offices and bottling facility are located next to Edradour distillery, which they have also owned since 2002.

Bottle number 300 of 540.

Ardbeg 1974 Provenance 1st Release

One of the legendary Ardbeg Provenance bottlings, distilled in 1974 and matured for 23 years until being released in 1998.

These whiskies are highly acclaimed and desirable, including certificate and tartan insert.

This is the first release, bottled on 18th November 1997.

Bottle number 3266, with certificate. 

Ardbeg 1974 Provenance 1st Release

One of the legendary Ardbeg Provenance bottlings, distilled in 1974 and matured for 23 years until being released in 1998.

These whiskies are highly acclaimed and desirable, including certificate and tartan insert.

This is the first release, bottled on 18th November 1997.

Bottle number 132, with certificate. 

Ardbeg 1974 Single Cask #3475

A single cask Ardbeg filled on 9th August 1974 and bottled over 28 years later at cask strength.

Bottle number 116 of 126 yielded from single cask #3475.

Ardbeg 1976 Single Cask #2394

A very highly sought after Ardbeg, distilled on 24th November 1976 and bottled on 18th July 2000.

Exclusively bottled by hand for the Ardbeg Committee this single cask sherry butt yielded only 466 bottles, this is bottle number 215.

Signed by Stuart Thomson.

Ardbeg 1975 Single Cask #1378

Vintage Ardbeg is a rare commodity these days and we are lucky to offer this 1975 vintage single cask.

Distilled on the 28th March 1975 and bottled on the 8th November 2006 from a single sherry butt #1378.

Bottle number 4 of 453.

Port Ellen 1979 37 Year Old 17th Release​

The seventeenth edition of the incredibly popular Port Ellen annual releases. Distilled in 1979 and bottled 37 years later in 2017, bottled at cask strength and limited to 2988 bottles, this is bottle 1687.

Port Ellen is the lost jewel in the Islay crown. Closure in 1983 has enabled this distillery to receive a near mythical amount of love and respect. As stocks get thinner on the ground, these bottles become rarer and rarer.

Port Ellen 1979 22 Year Old 1st Release

The first of the incredibly popular Port Ellen annual releases. Distilled in 1979 and bottled 22 years later in 2001 at cask strength.

Port Ellen is the lost jewel in the Islay crown. Closure in 1983 has enabled this distillery to receive a near mythical amount of love and respect. As stocks get thinner on the ground, these bottles become rarer and rarer.

Limited to 6,000 bottles, this is number 1068.

Auchentoshan 1966 44 Year Old

A fantastic vintage bottling of Auchentoshan, distilled on 25th April 1966 and matured in North American oak barrels. 

Bottled on 20th January 2011, this is one of 263 bottles. 

Ardbeg 1976 Samaroli

A very highly sought after Ardbeg, distilled 1976.

Samaroli is perhaps Italy's most revered independent bottler of Scotch whisky. With an impeccable taste in single cask whiskies, and an eye for aesthetics (if not English spelling at times!), he is regarded by many as a visionary. Many of his bottles now occupy deserved sports in pantheon of whisky greats.

This bottling was bottled for Samaroli in Scotland by R.W. Duthie & Co. in 1993, and is the final addition to his Ardbge series. Almost unbelievably, Samaroli reportedly had great difficulty selling the first release in this series, the 1974 vintage from 1983. It was not until a few years later that demand for the peaty flavours began to increase in Italy.

This is one of the final bottlings from Samaroli's partnership with R.W. Duthie, who had to stop working with him in the early 1990s due to increasing demand from their other client, Cadenhead's.

Bottle 567 of 1020.

A.H. Hirsch Reserve 1974 16 Year Old Bourbon / 2003 Release

A legendary bottle of bourbon that has had a whole book written about itself: The Best Bourbon You'll Never Taste by Charles K Cowdery.

Distilled in Spring 1974, this bourbon is bottled from a single 400 barrel batch commissioned by Adolph Hirsch and distilled under contract at Michter's distillery (then known as Pennco), just outside Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania. Hirsch was a former Schenley executive who had briefly worked at Michter's during his time there, and it is believed he commissioned the whisky as financial favour to the distillery, and actually had little plans for its use. So, it lay ageing in the warehouses for much longer than generally expected for a bourbon at the time. 

With the closure of Michter's distillery, the bourbon was sold by Hirsch to Gordon Hue in 1989, who set about bottling it immediately.

Responsibility for the early bottling was entrusted to Julian Van Winkle III at his Old Commonwealth site in Lawrenceburg. However, his partnership with the Sazerac Company and creation of the Pappy Van Winkle brand in 2002, also saw bottling of the Hirsch Reserve moved briefly to Buffalo Trace. This is one of the Buffalo Trace bottles, filled in 2003 for the new owners of the Hirsch Reserve, Preiss Imports, who purchased it from Gordon Hue that year.

Preiss Imports moved the subsequent and final bottling (technically re-bottling) to Kentucky Bourbon Distillers' Willett facility.

In his book Cowdery refers to the bourbon as one of the \"best whiskeys I've ever tasted.\"

Mash bill contains 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley.

Port Ellen 1979 32 Year Old 12th Release

The twelfth edition of the incredibly popular Port Ellen annual releases.  Distilled in 1979 and bottled 32 years later in 2012, bottled at cask strength.

Port Ellen is the lost jewel in the Islay crown. Closure in 1983 has enabled this distillery to receive a near mythical amount of love and respect. As stocks get thinner on the ground, these bottles become rarer and rarer.

Limited to 2,964 bottles, this is bottle 906.

Ardbeg 1975 Douglas Laing 25 Year Old

A very rare independent bottling from Islay's famous Ardbeg distillery.

This was distilled in 1975 and bottled in October 2000 by Douglas Laing, part of their Old Malt Cask series.

The Old Malt Cask series is one of the most established independent labels on the market. It was launched by Douglas Laing in 1998 and bottled by them until 2013 when the brand became part of the Hunter Laing portfolio instead.

This is one of 702 bottles.

Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year Old Family Reserve

The oldest release as part of the 'Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve' series of bourbons.  

Matured for an incredible 23 years, this is now one of the most desirable, collectable and stunning Bourbon whiskeys in the world. This is a 2016 bottling.

Bottle number H3338. 

The bottle laser code is obscured by an import sticker. However, we are confident of the bottles authenticity. 

Port Ellen 1978 34 Year Old 13th Release

The thirteenth edition of the incredibly popular Port Ellen annual releases. Distilled in 1978 and bottled 34 years later in 2014, bottled at cask strength.

Port Ellen is the lost jewel in the Islay crown. Closure in 1983 has enabled this distillery to receive a near mythical amount of love and respect. As stocks get thinner on the ground, these bottles become rarer and rarer.

Limited to 2958 bottles, this is bottle 180.

Port Ellen 1978 34 Year Old 13th Release 75cl / US Import

The thirteenth edition of the incredibly popular Port Ellen annual releases. Distilled in 1978 and bottled 34 years later in 2014, bottled at cask strength.

Port Ellen is the lost jewel in the Islay crown. Closure in 1983 has enabled this distillery to receive a near mythical amount of love and respect. As stocks get thinner on the ground, these bottles become rarer and rarer.

 Limited to 2,958 bottles, this is bottle number 322.

Port Ellen 1978 31 Year Old 10th Release 

The tenth release of this famed Limited Edition series from Diageo. Port Ellen is the lost jewel in the Islay crown. Closure in 1983 has enabled this distillery to receive a near mythical amount of love and respect. As stocks get thinner on the ground, these bottles become rarer and rarer.

Distilled 1978 and bottled in 2010.

This is bottle 1618 of only 3000.

Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year Old Family Reserve

The oldest release as part of the 'Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve' series of bourbons.  

Matured for an incredible 23 years, this is now one of the most desirable, collectable and stunning Bourbon whiskeys in the world. This is a 2016 bottling.

Bottle number J6077. 

Bottle code: L180610107:27N

Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year Old Family Reserve

The oldest release in the 'Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve' series of bourbons.  

Matured for an incredible 23 years, this is now one of the most desirable, collectable and stunning Bourbon whiskeys in the world.

This is a 2018 bottling. Bottle number J5083. 

Bottle code: L180610107:22N

Port Ellen 1979 32 Year Old 11th Release

The eleventh of the incredibly popular Port Ellen annual releases. Distilled in 1979 and bottled 32 years later in 2011 at cask strength. 

Port Ellen is the lost jewel in the Islay crown. Closure in 1983 has enabled this distillery to receive a near mythical amount of love and respect. As stocks get thinner on the ground, these bottles become rarer and rarer.

Limited to 2,988 bottles, this is bottle 2772.​

Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year Old Family Reserve

The oldest release as part of the 'Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve' series of bourbons.  

Matured for an incredible 23 years, this is now one of the most desirable, collectable and stunning Bourbon whiskeys in the world. This is a 2016 bottling.

Bottle number #I3736 

The bottle laser code is obscured by an import sticker. However, we are satisfied with the authenticity of this bottle.

Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year Old Family Reserve

The oldest release as part of the 'Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve' series of bourbons.  

Matured for an incredible 23 years, this is now one of the most desirable, collectable and stunning Bourbon whiskeys in the world. This is a 2016 bottling.

Bottle number #I3928 

The bottle laser code is obscured by an import sticker. However, we are satisfied with the authenticity of this bottle.

Port Ellen 1978 27 Year Old 6th Release

The sixth edition of the incredibly popular Port Ellen annual releases. 

Distilled in 1978 and bottled 27 years later in 2006, bottled at cask strength.

Port Ellen is the lost jewel in the Islay crown. Closure in 1983 has enabled this distillery to receive a near mythical amount of love and respect. As stocks get thinner on the ground, these bottles become rarer and rarer.

Bottle number 1202 of 4560. 

Port Ellen 1979 22 Year Old 1st Release

The first of the incredibly popular Port Ellen annual releases. Distilled in 1979 and bottled 22 years later in 2001 at cask strength.

Port Ellen is the lost jewel in the Islay crown. Closure in 1983 has enabled this distillery to receive a near mythical amount of love and respect. As stocks get thinner on the ground, these bottles become rarer and rarer.

Limited to 6,000 bottles, this is number 4924.

Port Ellen 1978 27 Year Old 6th Release

The sixth edition of the incredibly popular Port Ellen annual releases. 

Distilled in 1978 and bottled 27 years later in 2006, bottled at cask strength.

Port Ellen is the lost jewel in the Islay crown. Closure in 1983 has enabled this distillery to receive a near mythical amount of love and respect. As stocks get thinner on the ground, these bottles become rarer and rarer.

Bottle number 1234 of 4560. 

Port Ellen 1978 24 Year Old 2nd Release

The second of the incredibly popular Port Ellen annual releases.  Distilled in 1978 and bottled 24 years later in 2002, bottled at cask strength and limited to 12,000 bottles.

Port Ellen is the lost jewel of the Islay crown. Closure in 1983 has enabled this distillery to receive a near mythical amount of love and respect. As stocks get thinner on the ground, these bottles become rarer and rarer.

Bottle number 8606.

Ardbeg 1965 Cadenhead's 13 Year Old / Mario Rossi Import

Cadenhead's are Scotland's oldest independent bottler, operating for over 175 years, but perhaps none of their bottlings are as sought after as these 'dumpy' style bottles. All of these were produced with brown glass and an iconic black label, with each distillery given its own letterpress font in homage to William Cadenhead's early career in the printing business.

A spectacular vintage of Ardbeg, this was distilled in April 1965, matured for 13 years and bottled in July 1978.

Imported to Italy by Mario Rossi Jr, whose son would go on to found the Wilson & Morgan bottling company.

Port Ellen 1979 24 Year Old 3rd Release​

The 3rd release of the incredibly popular Port Ellen annual releases. Distilled in 1979 and bottled 24 years later in 2003, bottled at cask strength and limited to 9000 bottles.

Port Ellen is the lost jewel in the Islay crown. Closure in 1983 has enabled this distillery to receive a near mythical amount of love and respect. As stocks get thinner on the ground, these bottles become rarer and rarer.

This is bottle number 5904 of 9000.