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.

Hanyu 1991 Ichiro's Malt 'Card' #9412 / Two of Diamonds

Part of the legendary Card series from Ichiro Akuto.

Distilled in 1991 and bottled 2008 from cask #9415 after being finished in a bourbon hogshead.

This is bottle number 101 of 259.

Hibiki 30 Year Old Aritayaki Decanter

Hibiki 30 year old is a very popular and stunning blend produced by Suntory.  This limited edition version was bottled to commemorate the first ceramics to be made in Japan.

• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2004 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2006 
• Word Whisky Awards 2007 - World's Best Blended Whisky 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2007 
• Word Whisky Awards 2008 - World's Best Blended Whisky 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2008 

Dalmore 1981 Constellation 30 Year Old Cask #3

An impressively aged Dalmore from their elegant Constellation collection. Distilled in 1981 and aged for 30 years in cask #3.

The Constellation Collection consists of 21 vintages, dating from 1964 through to 1992. Each bottle features hallmarked silver stoppers and an engraved decanter style bottle.

Cak #3 was matured until 2006 in American white oak before being tranferred into a Matusalem Oloroso serry butt for 5 years.

Bottle 93 of 669.

Hanyu 2000 Ichiro's Malt 'Card' #1305 / Five of Diamonds​

One of Ichiro's Malt's legendary 'Card' series bottlings from the lost Hanyu distillery.

Distilled in 2000 and matured in a hogshead before being moved into a Sherry butt for a second maturation period. 

Bottle number 263 of 652.

Hanyu 2000 Ichiro's Malt 'Card' #9601 / Five of Spades

A Hanyu from Ichiro Akuto's legendary 'Playing Card' series. This release was distilled in 2000 and bottled in 2008. 

Originally matured in a hogshead then finished in an American oak refill sherry butt. 

Bottle number 136 of 632.

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.

Hibiki 30 Year Old

A popular and stunning blend produced by Suntory. Here is a hint of its success:

• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2004 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2006 
• Word Whisky Awards 2007 - World's Best Blended Whisky 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2007 
• Word Whisky Awards 2008 - World's Best Blended Whisky 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2008

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. 

Hibiki 30 Year Old

A popular and stunning blend produced by Suntory. Here is a hint of its success:

• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2004 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2006 
• Word Whisky Awards 2007 - World's Best Blended Whisky 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2007 
• Word Whisky Awards 2008 - World's Best Blended Whisky 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2008

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. 

Hibiki 30 Year Old

A popular and stunning blend produced by Suntory. Here is a hint of its success:

• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2004 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2006 
• Word Whisky Awards 2007 - World's Best Blended Whisky 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2007 
• Word Whisky Awards 2008 - World's Best Blended Whisky 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2008

This is bottle number 69842.

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.

Hakushu 25 Year Old

The very rare Hakushu 25 Year old... Jim Murray gave it 93 out of 100 and said \"a malt which is impossible not to be blown away by\".

Bottle number 9079. 

Hibiki Suntory Whisky 21 Year Old Kutani Decanter 2003

A n old Hibiki blend from Suntory. This is their annual ceramic release, from 2003 in this instance.

Presented in a Kutani decanter produced from Arita porcelain.

Hakushu 25 Year Old

The very rare Hakushu 25 Year old... Jim Murray gave it 93 out of 100 and said \"a malt which is impossible not to be blown away by\".

Bottle number 9026. 

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.

Hanyu 1990 Full Proof 'The Wave' Single Cask #9305 / Batch I

A single cask release for Full Proof of the closed Japanese distillery Hanyu. 

Distilled in 1990 and bottled in 2009 from cask #9305. This is the first of two batches of 200 bottles.

This is bottle number 55.

Hakushu 25 Year Old

The very rare Hakushu 25 Year old... Jim Murray gave it 93 out of 100 and said \"a malt which is impossible not to be blown away by\".

Bottle number 9925. 

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. 

Hibiki 17 Year Old 6 x 70cl

A well-aged, popular, and stunning blend produced by Suntory.

Suntory announced in May 2018 that the 17 year old would be discontinued.

This lot includes a six bottle shipping fee.

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.

Hibiki 17 Year Old 6 x 70cl

A well-aged, popular, and stunning blend produced by Suntory.

Suntory announced in May 2018 that the 17 year old would be discontinued.

This lot includes a six bottle shipping fee.

Hakushu 18 Year Old 6 x 70cl

Suntory's other excellent distillery, which is often over-looked for Yamazaki.

This lot has a 6 bottle shipping fee.

Hanyu 23 Year Old Ichiro's Malt Cask Strength​

Another stunning bottle from the infamous Ichirio's Malt series of whiskies.  

Distilled in 1985 and 1986 and fully matured in sherry casks before bottling at full strength 23 years later.

Highland Park 40 Year Old

First released in April 2008, this is a delicious offering from Scotland's northernmost distillery.

The glassware was produced by Stölzle Flaconnage.

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.