May 2019 Auction

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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. 

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.

Old Fitzgerald 101 Proof 10 Year Old Circa 1980s / Loose Stopper

A fantastic presentation of Old Fitzgerald from the 1980s. At 101 Proof this is a very rare expression, sure to be absolutely cracking.

Bottom of bottle has 85 embedded on it which sugggests that this bottling is from around 1985, 7 years before the famous Stitzel-Weller distillery closed it's doors.

Please note condition of lot as shown. This stopper is loose but there is no evidence of leakage. Shipping is not available for this lot. The lot is available for collection only from our offices here in Perth, Scotland. 

Old Overholt 5 Year Old Straight Rye Whiskey 1950s

This brand of rye whiskey is very old, established, as the label suggests, over 150 years ago.

At the close of Prohibition the brand's owners, the Mellon family, sold Old Overholt to National Distillers who continued to produce it for the next half century despite declining popularity in rye whiskey in US after the second world war.

Old Overholt still exists today, produced alongside Old-Grandad by Jim Beam, who acquired both of 'The Olds' from National Distillers in 1987.

Old Fitzgerald 12 Year Old Very Special

Currently distilled at Heaven Hill, this brand was once under the ownership of the legendary Pappy Van Winkle, who bought it for the princely sum of $10,000 from Old Judge distillery at the close of prohibition in 1933.

Heaven Hill procured the brand from United Distillers in 1999, who had been producing it until then using the remaining Stitzel-Weller stock.

This is an early version of the Heaven Hill product, produced at their Bernheim distillery in Louisville, KY.

This bottle was produced for the Japanese market. 

Old Taylor Kentucky Straight Bourbon 1970s / Cinzano Import

A 1970s produced bourbon from Old Taylor distillery, built by Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr, grand-nephew of former US president Zachary Taylor, and generally considered to be the father of modern bourbon. E.H. Taylor is also referred to as Colonel Taylor due to his holding of the honourary title of Kentucky Colonel. He shares the title with many famous sons of Kentucky, perhaps none more so than a famous fried chicken vender though....

This would have been distilled and bottled by National Distillers at the long defunct Old Taylor Castle distillery in Frankfort.

National Distillers and their portfolio was acquired by Jim Beam in 1987, who then sold the Old Taylor brand to the Sazerac company in 2009. They now produce it at Buffalo Trace. The Old Taylor distillery was re-opened in 2016 as Castle & Key, but has no affiliation to its former name or brands.

Cinzano import for the Italian market.

Octomore 2007 Lochindaal Private Cask 11 Year Old #3348

A private cask bottling of Octomore, the super-heavily peated single malt from Bruichladdich.

Distilled in 2007 and bottled from bourbon barrel #3348 in March 2019.

Old Fitzgerald 2006 Bottled in Bond 11 Year Old

Currently distilled at Heaven Hill, this brand was once under the ownership of the legendary Pappy Van Winkle, who bought it for the princely sum of $10,000 from Old Judge distillery at the close of prohibition in 1933.

Heaven Hill procured the brand from United Distillers in 1999 along with the Bernheim distillery, who had been producing it until then using the remaining Stitzel-Weller stock.

This was distilled at Heaven Hill's Bernheim site in 2006, and bottled in Spring 2018.

Oban 1996 Cask Strength 21 Year Old

An official release from Oban. Distilled in 1996 and bottled 21 years later at a cask strength of 57%.

Old Fitzgerald 12 Year Old Very Special

Currently distilled at Heaven Hill, this brand was once under the ownership of the legendary Pappy Van Winkle, who bought it for the princely sum of $10,000 from Old Judge distillery at the close of prohibition in 1933.

Heaven Hill procured the brand from United Distillers in 1999, who had been producing it until then using the remaining Stitzel-Weller stock.

This is an early version of the Heaven Hill product, produced at their Bernheim distillery in Louisville, KY.

This bottle was produced for the Japanese market. 

Old Grand-Dad 114 Proof Bourbon / Lot No.18

Featuring the image of Basil Hayden, Old Grand-dad is a classic of the bourbon world. 

Jim Beam purchased the brand in 1987, and this was produced at their distillery in Clermont, KY. Old Grand-dad is now silent, although Beam continue to use it as a warehouse for ageing barrels.

This edition is 114 barrel proof.

Japanese import.

Octomore 10 Year Old First Release

Octomore is the super-heavily peated expression from Bruichladdich distillery on Islay.

Peated to 80.5ppm the coming of age 10 year old Octomore was limited to only 6,000 bottles.

Octomore Masterclass 8.3

Released in 2017, the 8.3 Masterclass Octomore was marketed by Bruichladdich as being the peatiest whisky produced in Scotland at whopping 309.1ppm.

Matured in ex-Bourbon American oak, and ex-Pauillac, Ventoux, Rhone and Burgundy European oak casks.

Old Rhosdhu 1967

An official bottling from Loch Lomond. Loch Lomond produce quite an array of different spirits, Rhosdhu is apparently the fourth most heavily peated spirit.

Distilled in 1967 and bottled August 1999. 

Octomore 10 Year Old First Release

Octomore is the super-heavily peated expression from Bruichladdich distillery on Islay.

Peated to 80.5ppm the coming of age 10 year old Octomore was limited to only 6,000 bottles.

Old Fitzgerald '1849'

A premium bourbon distilled at Heaven Hill and highly rated by Dave Broom in Whisky Mag.

This is a Japanese Import bottling of the 1849, historically produced at Stitzel-Weller by the Van Winkle family and named after the year in which the W.L. Weller company was founded. The brand has been produced at Heaven Hill since 1999 when it was sold to them by United Distillers along with the Bernheim distillery.

The expression is named 1849 after the year in which the W.L. Weller company was formed.