May 2019 Auction

Nikka 40 Year Old

This is Nikka's oldest stock including 1945 Yoichi and 1969 Miyagikyo. With over 65% malt content this is Nikka's ultimate premium product. 

Presented in a crafted wooden box with a branded glass. 

Bottle number 541 of 1000.

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.

Old Weller Original 107 Barrel Proof 7 Year Old 1960s / Stitzel-Weller

W L Weller is the original wheated bourbon, produced at the famous Stitzel-Weller distillery by the legendary Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle I.

Bottled in the late-1960s, likely sometime after the death of 'Pappy' as he is immortalised for the first time on a Weller label here, with William Larue Weller on the left hand side. pappy's son, Julian II is noted as the proprietor on the label and box, he assumed control in 1964.

Nowadays Weller is produced by the Sazerac company at Buffalo Trace, and these old Stitzel-Weller bottlings have become increasingly sought after.

Old Fitzgerald 1963 Bottled in Bond 6 Year Old 100 Proof / Stitzel-Weller

We don't see vintage Old Fitzgerald very often, so we are particularly excited about this bottle which was distilled in the 'Fall' of 1963 and bottled in 'Fall' 1969.

Distilled at the legendary Stitzel-Weller distillery while it was under the management of Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle I, and bottled a few years after his death by his son, Julian Van Winkle II.

Stitzel-Weller was eventually sold in 1972, with the Van Winkle family departing the business in the process.

Old Rip Van Winkle 15 Year Old 1990s

From the Van Winkle range this is a 15 year old at 107 proof. Absolutely stonking!

This was bottled in the late 1990s by Julian Van Winkle III at Old Commonwealth distillery (formerly known as Hoffman). Van Winkle moved the bottling of the Old Rip Van Winkle brand there following the death of his father in 1981. He reached an agreement with Buffalo Trace in 2002 that saw production and the remaining Van Winkle stock transferred there. The Old Rip Van Winkle 15 year old was discontinued shortly after, in 2004, and replaced by the familiar Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve of the same age.

Bottle number K9737.

Dalmore 20 Year Old 1970s

A very old bottle of Dalmore, bottled at 20 years of age in the 1970's.  

Bottled by the Mackenzie brothers at 75 proof. 

Dalmore 1973 Gonzalez Byass Finish 30 Year Old 75cl / US Import - Signed

Distilled on the 22nd March 1973 and matured in American oak before being finished in Matusalem Oloroso sherry casks from Gonzalez Byass, Jerez de la Frontera. This was then bottled as a 30 year old.

From the rear of the box of this whisky, 'In essence, the 1973 is a collector's item witnessing a unique collaboration between two premium brands to bring you the ultimate single malt experience.'  We couldn't have put it better!

Bottle number 1494. 

Dalwhinnie 1957 Cadenhead's 22 Year Old

As Scotland’s oldest independent bottler, Cadenhead’s have long been known for releasing stunning whiskies but none more so than those from their famous ‘dumpy’ series, which features some incredible 1950s and 60s vintages. Whisky from this bygone era of production have become increasingly elusive in recent years, making them exceptionally desirable. 

This Dalwhinnie was distilled in May 1957 and bottled in June 1979 in the iconic brown dumpy bottle. 

Oban 1969 Cask Strength 32 Year Old

A well-aged and incredibly desirable Oban, distilled in 1969 and released as a 32 year old.

Bottled in 2002, this is number 0838 of 6000.

Diplomatico 1997 Sherry Cask Finish

Diplomatico is a very highly respected rum, due to licensing arrangements this goes by the name Botucal in some regions. 

This is one of three single vintages produced, and has been finished in sherry casks. 

Dalmore Clan Mackenzie Series  3 x 70cl / Mackenzie, Castle Leod, Cromartie

These whiskies were release to pay homage to the Clan Mackenzie and generate funds for the restoration of the Clan Mackenzie's ancestral home, the Castle Leod.

• Dalmore Mackenzie 
  Distilled in 1992 and bottled in 2010. Matured in a bourbon hogsheads for 11 years before a finishing period of 6 years in port pipes. 46%. 
• Dalmore Castle Leod
  Distilled in 1995 and bottled in 2011. Matured in American white oak and Spanish sherry wood, before being finished in Bordeaux casks. 46%. 
• Dalmore Cromartie
  Distilled in 1996 and bottled in 2012. Matured in American white oak before being transferred to Oloroso sherry casks, from Gonzalez Byass. 45%

This lot has a 3 bottle shipping fee.

North Port 1978 SMWS 74.1

The very first bottling of North Port by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. 

Distilled in March 1978 and bottled in September 1989. 

Old Rip Van Winkle 7 Year Old Decanter 1975 / Bay Colony Bicentennial

This is an incredible piece of bourbon history. Following the forced sale of Stitzel-Weller distillery by the Van Winkle family in 1972, Julian II (son of the legendary 'Pappy') was granted an office and a license to continue procuring and bottling Stitzel-Weller stock on site, as a gesture of goodwill by new distillery owners, Somerset Imports.

Although Julian had sold the distillery and all of its brands, he retained one, the pre-prohibition Old Rip Van Winkle label, which he immediately revived. The earliest releases from the Old Rip Van Winkle brand were decanters like this. Bottled in 1975 at 7 years old, the Stitzel-Weller whiskey it contains would have been barrelled at the distillery while Julian II was still in charge. While Old Rip Van Winkle was generally always bottled using Stitzel-Weller stock procured form its new owners, there aren't many like this that contain Van Winkle era Stitzel-Weller whiskey.

Following the death of Julian II, his son, Julian III took over the family business, moving bottling to Old Commonwealth distillery in 1983. With Stitzel-Weller's closure by United distillers in 1992 causing his stocks to begin thinning out, Van Winkle reached an agreement with the Sazerac company to store and bottle his remaining stock. He also entrusted production of new Van Winkle whiskey to their Buffalo Trace distillery, who were already using the familiar recipe to produce W.L. Weller, another former Stitzel-Weller brand. The Pappy Van Winkle brand we are familiar with today has been produced at Buffalo Trace since 2002.

This then, a Van Winkle era Stitzel-Weller bourbon, bottled for the Old Rip Van Winkle brand is a true collector's item. The decanter itself is a celebration of the Bay Colony bicentennial in 1975, and was produced by Cumberland Porcelain.

Dailuaine 1975 Samaroli & Moon Import / Dreams

Moon Import was founded by Pepi Mongiardino in 1980 and he bottled his first whisky in 1982. Always beautifully labelled, Pepi is acclaimed for designing the packaging for Moon Import bottles himself, often using images found in old books. These iconic designs, coupled with the quality of the liquid saw Moon Import steadily grow in popularity. The company is still going strong, and their early releases are some of the brightest gems in any whisky collection.

The Dreams series was a 1999 collaborative effort between longtime friends Mongiardino and Samaroli. The unusually labelled series feature artworks designed by Nadia Pini and Hans Piu, and all bear Silvano Samaroli's signature printed on the capsule.

This Dailuaine was distilled in 1975 and is bottle number 308 of 594. 

Old Rip Van Winkle 4 Year Old Handmade Bourbon 1980s

An interesting bottle of Old Rip Van Winkle, the pre-prohibition whisky brand retained by the Van Winkle family following the sale of Stitzel-Weller distillery and its associated products in 1972.

Julian Van Winkle III continued bottling Stizel-Weller produced bourbon at Hoffman distillery in Lawrenceburg in the early 1980s, renaming it Old Commonwealth. This 4 year old bourbon was bottled using Stitzel-Weller stock in the ate 1980s, some of the last before the distillery would close a few years later in 1992.

Japanese import.

Old W.L. Weller 7 Year Old Special Reserve 1 Litre 1980s / Stitzel-Weller

An older 'Special Reserve' release of the original wheated bourbon.

This was likely distilled in the mid-1970s. The Van Winkle family were no longer owners of Stitzel-Weller distillery at this point, but were still using its stock to bottler their own eponymous brands. As we all know, that stuff itsn't half bad.

Old Forester 2006 Birthday Bourbon 12 Year Old

Released on 2nd September annually to mark the birthday of the distilleries founder George Garvin Brown.  This is the 17th.

This Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is a 12 year old vintage-dated expression, barrelled in 2006 and bottled in 2018.

Old Forester is produced by Brown-Forman and is one of bourbon's historic brands. It was ne of the first to ever be sold by the bottle in order to ensure quality control to capitalise on the medicinal whiskey trade in the 19th century. It was even named after local Louisville physician, Dr. William Forrester (they dropped the second 'R' fro the name when he retired).

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old

The 10 year old Handmade Bourbon is one of the original Old Rip Van Winkle brands bottled by Julian Van Winkle III at his facility in Lawrenceburg.

With stocks beginning to run thin in the early 2000s, Van Winkle came to an agreement with the Sazerac company to move bottling and future production to Buffalo Trace, who were already using the old Stitzel-Weller recipes for the Weller brand.

All Van Winkle products have been produced at Buffalo Trace since 2002. This is a 2017 bottling.

Bottling code is B1705510:407

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old

The 10 year old Handmade Bourbon is one of the original Old Rip Van Winkle brands bottled by Julian Van Winkle III at his facility in Lawrenceburg.

With stocks beginning to run thin in the early 2000s, Van Winkle came to an agreement with the Sazerac company to move bottling and future production to Buffalo Trace, who were already using the old Stitzel-Weller recipes for the Weller brand.

All Van Winkle products have been produced at Buffalo Trace since 2002. This is a 2018 bottling.

Bottling code is L181230206:457

Old Forester 2005 Birthday Bourbon 12 Year Old

Released on 2nd September annually to mark the birthday of the distilleries founder George Garvin Brown.  This is the 16th.

This Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is a 12 year old vintage-dated expression, barrelled in 2005 and bottled in 2017.

Old Forester is produced by Brown-Forman and is one of bourbon's historic brands. It was ne of the first to ever be sold by the bottle in order to ensure quality control to capitalise on the medicinal whiskey trade in the 19th century. It was even named after local Louisville physician, Dr. William Forrester (they dropped the second 'R' fro the name when he retired).

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old

The 10 year old Handmade Bourbon is one of the original Old Rip Van Winkle brands bottled by Julian Van Winkle III at his facility in Lawrenceburg.

With stocks beginning to run thin in the early 2000s, Van Winkle came to an agreement with the Sazerac company to move bottling and future production to Buffalo Trace, who were already using the old Stitzel-Weller recipes for the Weller brand.

All Van Winkle products have been produced at Buffalo Trace since 2002. This is a 2017 bottling.

Bottling code is B1705508:307

Nikka 12 Year Old Premium 6 x 70cl / Case

First released in 2014 during Nikka's 80th anniversary, this is a premium blend of 12 year old whiskies. 

In original cardboard case. 

Shipping will be charged at 6 bottles on this lot.

Old Perth 1971, 1977 & 1994 3 x 70cl

Three different vintages of Old Perth blended malt brought to you by Morrison & MacKay of Aberargie. This lot includes...

• Old Perth 1977 41 Year Old. One of 515 bottles, 45.3% ABV
• Old Perth 1971 46 Year Old. One of 270 bottles, 49.9% ABV
• Old Perth 1994 23 Year Old. 44.9% ABV. 

Note that this LOT will include a three bottle shipping fee.

Octomore Orpheus 2.2 

Similar to the Comus, the Orpheus release was peated to the same degree as its counter-part Octomore 2.1, at 140ppm. The Orpheus was finished using Château Pétrus Bordeaux casks, recognised as one of the world’s top vineyards. Matured for only 5 years, this alongside the Comus have proven to be quite desirable bottlings.

One of 15,000 bottles.

North British 1962 Berry Brothers and Rudd  50 Year Old Exceptional Casks

A stunning release of 50 year old grain whisky produced at North British Distillery in Edinburgh. 

Berry Brothers & Rudd married together their two remaining sister casks and bottled them as part of their Exceptional Casks series on the anniversary of their date of distillation: 50 years to the day. 

This is bottle number 323 of 472. 

Berry Brothers and Rudd is a firm steeped in history. They were established in the 17th century, and received a Royal Warrant from King Edward VII in 1903. The company has been bottling single malt whisky from almost as early as that, and produced their first ever blend, Cutty Sark, in 1923.

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old

The 10 year old Handmade Bourbon is one of the original Old Rip Van Winkle brands bottled by Julian Van Winkle III at his facility in Lawrenceburg.

With stocks beginning to run thin in the early 2000s, Van Winkle came to an agreement with the Sazerac company to move bottling and future production to Buffalo Trace, who were already using the old Stitzel-Weller recipes for the Weller brand.

All Van Winkle products have been produced at Buffalo Trace since 2002.

This is a 2018 release.

L181230108:267

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old

The 10 year old Handmade Bourbon is one of the original Old Rip Van Winkle brands bottled by Julian Van Winkle III at his facility in Lawrenceburg.

With stocks beginning to run thin in the early 2000s, Van Winkle came to an agreement with the Sazerac company to move bottling and future production to Buffalo Trace, who were already using the old Stitzel-Weller recipes for the Weller brand.

All Van Winkle products have been produced at Buffalo Trace since 2002.

The bottle laser-code is obscured by an import sticker. 

North Port-Brechin 1977 Cask Strength 28 Year Old

One of the 2005 Diageo special releases, this is a 28 year old from the lost Brechin distillery, also known as North Port.

Distilled in 1977 and bottled at cask strength.

Bottle number 1044.

Delamain 1942 Grande Champagne Cognac

A nicely presented bottle of Delamain 1964.

Landed 1965, bottled 1989 and shipped by Averys of Bristol, UK.

Old Pulteney 1982 Sherry Wood Cask 18 Year Old #1303

A single cask Old Pulteney, distilled in November 1982 and matured for 18 years in sherry cask #1303.

Bottle number 297.

Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Old Prime Bourbon Half Pint 1970s / Stitzel-Weller

A popular bourbon produced at Stitzel-Weller distillery. This is an older bottling of the 7 year old product, bottled in 1972. This was the final year in which the distillery was run by the Van Winkle family, specifically Julian II. He was forced to sell the company to Somerset Imports the same year.

The Old Fitzgerald brand is now owned and produced by Heaven Hill, with these older Stitzel-Weller productions becoming real collector's items.

Dallas Dhu 1983 Last Cask Filled

A very rare official bottling of Dallas Dhu by the now 'guardians' of the distillery Historic Scotland (now known as Historic Environment Scotland).

Bottled from the last cask to be filled from the distillery in 1983, cask #327.

Bottle number 117.