May 2019 Auction

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.

Clynelish 12 Year Old Ainslie and Heilbron Cask Strength 1969 / Edward and Edward 

A fantastic old bottling from the original Clynelish, nowadays referred to as Brora. Bottled in 1969 by proprietors, Ainslie & Heilbron Distillers on behalf of the legendary Italian bar owner, Edoardo Giaccone.

Giaccone was something of a trailblazer, and was importing specially bottled official single malts for his bar from the late 1960s, this is one of his earliest. He opened the famous venue in 1958, and it has been called a few different things over the years, including Garten, Edward & Edward (during the period this was imported), and La Taverna del Comandante.

Edoardo set the stage for later legendary bottlers such as Silvano Samaroli, Nadi Fiori and Ernesto Mainardi. Moon Import founder, Pepi Mongiardino said, \"he was the first person I visited\" when he became the distributor for Bruichladdich in 1981. Giaccone did not have any of his own labels or series, but was the first person in Italy to have official bottlings produced exclusively for him. Through his bar, Italy was treated to exclusive releases from Clynelish, Bowmore, Dalmore, Highland Park and even Jack Daniel's.

This 12 year old was bottle at a cask strength of 56.9%, at his request. Clynelish bottled three batches of this for Giaccone in 1969, 1971 and 1973.

Bottle 109.

Clynelish 1973 Prestonfield House 33 Year Old / 1st Bottling

Prestonfield House have released a number of excellent whiskies over the years, this Clynelish is certainly one of them!

The second 1973 vintage bottled for them in 2006 at 33 years old.

One of 405 bottles drawn from cask #8912 and bottled by Signatory Vintage for The Prestonfield Whisky Co.

The label features an image of the eponymous Prestonfield Hotel and one of their famous peacocks which roam the grounds.

Cask #8912 was awarded an incredible score of 95 points (an all time best for Clynelish) by Serge Valetin of WhiskyFun.

Clynelish 1965 Signatory Vintage 28 Year Old

An independently bottled Clynelish has become a very rare indeed.

A real gem for any Clynelish enthusiast, this was distilled at the original Clynelish distillery, nowadays referred to as Brora. Modern day Clynelish is distilled next-door, at the facility opened in 1967. Brora has been closed since 1983.

Bottled in 1993 after 28 years in sherry butt #666.

Bottle 235 of 520.

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.

Clynelish 12 Year Old Ainslie and Heilbron Cask Strength 1971 / Edward and Edward

A fantastic old bottling from the original Clynelish, nowadays referred to as Brora. Bottled in 1971 by proprietors, Ainslie & Heilbron Distillers on behalf of the legendary Italian bar owner, Edoardo Giaccone.

Giaccone was something of a trailblazer, and was importing specially bottled official single malts for his bar from the late 1960s, this is one of his earliest. He opened the famous venue in 1958, and it has been called a few different things over the years, including Garten, Edward & Edward (during the period this was imported), and La Taverna del Comandante.

Edoardo set the stage for later legendary bottlers such as Silvano Samaroli, Nadi Fiori and Ernesto Mainardi. Moon Import founder, Pepi Mongiardino said, \"he was the first person I visited\" when he became the distributor for Bruichladdich in 1981. Giaccone did not have any of his own labels or series, but was the first person in Italy to have official bottlings produced exclusively for him. Through his bar, Italy was treated to exclusive releases from Clynelish, Bowmore, Dalmore, Highland Park and even Jack Daniel's.

This 12 year old was bottle at a cask strength of 56.9%, at his request. Clynelish bottled three batches of this for Giaccone in 1969, 1971 and 1973.

Bottle 292.

Clynelish 12 Year Old Ainslie and Heilbron Cask Strength 1971 / Edward and Edward 

A fantastic old bottling from the original Clynelish, nowadays referred to as Brora. Bottled in 1971 by proprietors, Ainslie & Heilbron Distillers on behalf of the legendary Italian bar owner, Edoardo Giaccone.

Giaccone was something of a trailblazer, and was importing specially bottled official single malts for his bar from the late 1960s, this is one of his earliest. He opened the famous venue in 1958, and it has been called a few different things over the years, including Garten, Edward & Edward (during the period this was imported), and La Taverna del Comandante.

Edoardo set the stage for later legendary bottlers such as Silvano Samaroli, Nadi Fiori and Ernesto Mainardi. Moon Import founder, Pepi Mongiardino said, \"he was the first person I visited\" when he became the distributor for Bruichladdich in 1981. Giaccone did not have any of his own labels or series, but was the first person in Italy to have official bottlings produced exclusively for him. Through his bar, Italy was treated to exclusive releases from Clynelish, Bowmore, Dalmore, Highland Park and even Jack Daniel's.

This 12 year old was bottle at a cask strength of 56.9%, at his request. Clynelish bottled three batches of this for Giaccone in 1969, 1971 and 1973.

Bottle 817.

Chichibu 2011 Ichiro's Malt Single Cask #1535 / Malt Dream Cask TMC

Chichibu cask #1535 was distilled 2011 and bottled in January 2019 as part of the Malt Dream Cask series. 

Bottled for TMC this is one of 173 bottles. 

Very Very Old Fitzgerald 1957 Bonded 12 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 1959.

Distilled at the Stitzel-Weller distillery while it was still being run by the legendary Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle, and bottled at the distillery by his son, Julian II in 1971, just a year before he was forced to sell to Somerset Imports, with his family departing the business.

These pure Van Winkle era Stitzel-Weller bottlings are rare gems and incredibly sought after, with the \"A Collector's Item\" shoulder label continuing to prove a remarkable piece of foresight.

Clynelish 1969 Gordon and MacPhail Private Collection

A Gordon & MacPhail bottling fro the Director's private collection. This is a 1969 vintage from Clynelish, and will contain some of the earliest distillate from the modern distillery, which opened just a year before.

Bottled in January 2005 from refill sherry hogshead #5893.

Bottle 46 of 93.

Chichibu 2009 Ichiro's Malt Single Cask #2369 / Warrior Series No.1

An exciting release from Ichiro Akuto's Chichibu distillery. 

Distilled in 2009 and aged in French white wine cask #2369 until 2017.

This was the first in what looks to be an eagerly anticipated range of releases. 

Chichibu Ichiro's Malt 2018 / The Peninsula Hotel Tokyo

This incredible single cask blended whisky from Ichiro’s Malt was created at the famous Chichibu distillery before being bottled exclusively for The Peninsula Hotel in Tokyo.

Bottled at a cask strength of 58%, this is bottle number 42 of only 240 available. 

Clynelish 5 Year Old Ainslie and Heilbron 1970s / Di Chiano Import

A rare 1970s bottling of Clynelish by Ainslie & Heilbron Distillers. This 5 year old bottling was distributed in Italy, by Di Chiano.

This is a later 1970s bottling of the 5 year old, and will contain single malt from the modern day Clynelish, built in 1968. The original Clynelish, nowadays referred to as Brora, produced heavily peated malt in the early 1970s to make up for a shortfall in the style due to a drought on Islay in the late 1960s.

Clynelish 1965 Sestante 24 Year Old 'Brick Label'

A stunning lates 1980s bottling by Cadenhead's, produced at Brora distillery whilst it was still known as Clynelish. Part of the rare 'Brick Label' series produced for Italian importers and bottlers Sestante. The series is of particular aesthetic interest, using short cap and bottle style more commonly seen back in the 1960s.

Distilled February 1965, matured in sherry wood and bottled July 1989. The new Clynelish distillery was opened in 1968, with the original site renamed Brora in 1975 before falling silent in 1983.

The Sestante import company was founded in the 1970s by Ernesto Mainardi, and he bottled his first single casks under the name in 1985. Alongside his contemporary, Silvano Samaroli, Mainardi pioneered giving his customers a choice of both standard 40-46% bottlings, and cask strength releases from the same casks. Along with his other brand, Silver Seal, Mainardi's bottlings are incredibly sought after.

Clynelish 12 Year Old Ainslie and Heilbron Cask Strength 1973 / Edward and Edward

A fantastic old bottling of Clynelish, bottled by proprietors, Ainslie & Heilbron Distillers in the classic orange label used between 1977 and 1984 (Gordon & MacPhail also used it from 1984 onwards). Should the bottle have been filled prior to 1981, it will contain single malt from the original Clynelish distillery, nowadays referred to as Brora. This distillery was closed in 1969 when the current Clynelish was built nextdoor, re-opening the following year to produce heavily peated whisky to make up for a shortfall after a drought on Islay. 

This was bottled on behalf of the legendary Italian bar owner, Edoardo Giaccone.

Giaccone was something of a trailblazer, and was importing specially bottled official single malts for his bar from the late 1960s, this is one of his earliest. He opened the famous venue in 1958, and it has been called a few different things over the years, including Garten, Edward & Edward (during the period this was imported), and La Taverna del Comandante.

Edoardo set the stage for later legendary bottlers such as Silvano Samaroli, Nadi Fiori and Ernesto Mainardi. Moon Import founder, Pepi Mongiardino said, \"he was the first person I visited\" when he became the distributor for Bruichladdich in 1981. Giaccone did not have any of his own labels or series, but was the first person in Italy to have official bottlings produced exclusively for him. Through his bar, Italy was treated to exclusive releases from Clynelish, Bowmore, Dalmore, Highland Park and even Jack Daniel's.

This 12 year old was bottle at a cask strength of 56.9%, at his request. Clynelish bottled three batches of this for Giaccone in 1969, 1971 and 1973. This particular release is the first outing for the new orange and brown label style, that would become the official Clynelish livery in 1977.

Bottle 466.

Van Winkle 1985 Family Reserve Rye / Un-Chillfiltered European Exclusive

Blink and you might miss it, but this is not the standard 13 year old Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye that at first glance it may appear. Labelled simply as the 1985 vintage, this was released in 2001 when the Family Reserve was actually 15 years old. Although it is commonly known as a 13 year old, the rye actually continued to age in cask until 2004 when it was eventually tanked at Buffalo Trace. 

The Family Reserve Rye is presumed to have been distilled at Medley in Owensboro, with Cream of Kentucky rye from Bernheim blended through it after it was tanked in 2004. More recent bottlings are also expected to contain whiskey distilled at Buffalo Trace. This however is the unblended Medley liquid.

Bottled by Julian Van Winkle III at Old Commonwealth distillery in Lawrenceburg, he has personally confirmed that this un-chillfiltered version was an experiment for the European market, at the request of a French customer. Un-chillfiltering is unheard of with bourbon in the US, but is the preference here. Van Winkle also noted that he believes this release does have some flavour lost in the regular chillfiltered product.

Bottled at the higher strength of 100 proof, this is a particularly rare gem.

Bottle number A97. 

Clynelish 1973 Prestonfield House 33 Year Old / 2nd Bottling

Prestonfield House have released a number of excellent whiskies over the years, this Clynelish is certainly one of them!

The second 1973 vintage bottled for them in 2006, again at 33 years old.

One of 439 bottles drawn from cask #8913 and bottled by Signatory Vintage for The Prestonfield Whisky Co.

The label features an image of the eponymous Prestonfield Hotel and one of their famous peacocks which roam the grounds.

Cask #8913 is the sister of #8912, which scored an incredible (and all time best for Clynelish) 95 points by Serge Valentin of WhiskyFun.com

Clynelish 1973 Prestonfield House 33 Year Old / 2nd Bottling

Prestonfield House have released a number of excellent whiskies over the years, this Clynelish is certainly one of them!

The second 1973 vintage bottled for them in 2006, again at 33 years old.

One of 439 bottles drawn from cask #8913 and bottled by Signatory Vintage for The Prestonfield Whisky Co.

The label features an image of the eponymous Prestonfield Hotel and one of their famous peacocks which roam the grounds.

Cask #8913 is the sister of #8912, which scored an incredible (and all time best for Clynelish) 95 points by Serge Valentin of WhiskyFun.com

Clynelish 1972 Gordon and MacPhail 36 Year Old 'Book of Kells' / LMDW

An exceptionally sought after bottling of Clynelish. 

Distilled in 1972 and aged in single refill sherry hogshead #14301 before bottling in June 2009.

Bottled exclusively for La Maison du Whisky by Gordon & MacPhail and bearing label art based on the medieval, illuminated manuscript for which the series is named.

Chichibu Ichiro's Malt Single Cask #5036 & #1700 2 x 70cl / Sweden & Norway

A pair of Scandinavian exclusive bottlings of Chichibu

Single American white oak cask #1700 was filled in 2012 and produced 268 bottles at 62.4% exclusively for Sweden.

Single Pinot Noir cask #5036 was filled in 2011 and produced 185 bottles at 59.1% exclusively for Sweden and Norway

Shipping on this lot will be charged for two bottles

Very Old Fitzgerald 1961 Bonded 8 Year Old 100 Proof Half Pint / Stitzel-Weller

We don't see vintage Old Fitzgerald very often, so we are particularly excited about this bottle which was distilled in 1961 and bottled in 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. The 'A Collectors Item' label affixed to the shoulder therefore representing an incredible piece of foresight.

Presented in a lock and key box with two glasses.

Chichibu 2011 Ichiro's Malt Single Cask #1292 / LMDW

This is from the relatively new and incredibly popular Japanese distillery Chichibu.

Distilled in 2011 and bottled in 2017, this has been produced from unpeated malt and was matured in a first-fill bourbon barrel. 

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. 

Chichibu 2012 Ichiro's Malt Peated Single Cask #2087 / LMDW

A 2017 release from the relatively new and incredibly popular Japanese distillery, Chichibu.

Distilled in 2012, from peated barely, this has been matured in second-fill bourbon barrel #2087. 

Selected and imported by La Maison du Whisky.

The label features the artwork Silver cockscomb of winter by Asuka Irie.

Caol Ila 1983 Casks of Distinction 33 Year Old #MC603

A single cask Caol Ila, distilled in 1983 and matured in European Oak cask #MC603.

This Caol Ila is part of Diageo's Casks of Distinction programme. Casks of Distinction is the private sale of individual casks of rare and exceptional single malt from Diageo’s extensive stocks in Scotland. Hand selected by a team of whisky experts under guidance from Master Blender Dr. Craig Wilson, each cask is entirely unique and incredibly rare.

Bottled in 2016, this is bottle number 172 of 204. 

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. 

Chichibu 2011 Ichiro's Malt Single Cask #5080 / LMDW

Chichibu cask #5080 was distilled 2011 and bottled after finishing in an ex-Burgundy wine cask. 

Selected by La Maison du Whisky. The label features the artwork Mangacamo #2 by Fantasista Utamaro.

One of 210 bottles.

Chichibu 2011 Ichiro's Malt Single Cask #4548 / LMDW

This Chichibu was distilled in 2011 and bottled after finishing in a Belgian Stout cask. 

Selected by La Maison du Whisky. The label features the artwork Mangacamo #3 by Fantasista Utamaro.

One of 250 bottles.

Chichibu 2012 Ichiro's Malt Peated Single Cask #2070 / LMDW

A recent release from the relatively new and incredibly popular Japanese distillery, Chichibu.

This LMDW exclusive contains peated Chichibu which has matured in an ex-Hanyu hogshead, this is certainly no Joker of a whisky!

One of only 250 bottles.

Chichibu 2011 Ichiro's Malt Single Cask #1296 / LMDW

This Chichibu was distilled in 2011 and matured in a first-fill bourbon barrel. 

Selected by La Maison du Whisky. The label features the artwork Mangacamo #3 by Fantasista Utamaro.

One of 216 bottles.

Caol Ila 1983 Casks of Distinction 33 Year Old #MC603

A single cask Caol Ila, distilled in 1983 and matured in European Oak cask #MC603.

This Caol Ila is part of Diageo's Casks of Distinction programme. Casks of Distinction is the private sale of individual casks of rare and exceptional Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Diageo’s extensive stocks in Scotland. Hand selected by a team of whisky experts under guidance from Master Blender Dr. Craig Wilson, each cask is entirely unique and incredibly rare. Each Cask of Distinction is chosen on the basis of their quality, representing the most exceptional and singular expression of the distillery’s character.

Bottled in 2016, this is bottle number 129 of 204. 

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. 

Chichibu 2010 Ichiro's Malt Single Cask #2649 / Dr. Jekyll's Pub

A single cask Chichibu selected exclusively for Dr Jekyll's Pub.

Distilled in 2010 and bottled in December 2017 from sherry hogshead #2649.

286 bottles released.