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.

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.

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.

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.

Ardbeg Guaranteed 30 Year Old 

This 'Guaranteed' 30 year old Ardbeg was one of the last releases by Allied Distillers before the Glenmorangie takeover in 1997.

This release was limited to only 29 casks.

Ardbeg 1974 Sestante 21 Year Old / Bar Metro

A very very rare Ardbeg indeed, distilled in 1974 and bottled by the world renowned Italian bottlers Sestante in 1996.

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.

This bottled was imported for \"G. D'A,\" or Georgio d'Ambrosio, founder of the esteemed Bar Metro in Milan, a favourite of connoisseurs for its incredible selection. Giorgio was a contemporary of the legendary Edoardo Giaconne of the Edward & Edward whiskyteca in Salo, and both men were among the first in Italy to have special bottlings produced for their bars.

Bottle number 470 of 600.

Ardbeg 1980 Kildalton

Quite simply, a legendary Ardbeg. Released in 2004, this was a combination of experimental unpeated Ardbeg and lightly peated Ardbeg.  It is known that these experiments took place between 1979 and 1981.

Only a mere 1,300 bottles of Kildalton were bottled and it is certainly a popular collectors item now.

Famous Grouse 40 Year Old Blended Malt

In 2013, Edrington released just 276 decanters of this delightfully packaged blended malt edition of Famous Grouse.

Composed by Master Blender John Ramsay. 

Ardbeg 1980 Kildalton

Quite simply, a legendary Ardbeg. Released in 2004, this was a combination of experimental unpeated Ardbeg and lightly peated Ardbeg.  It is known that these experiments took place between 1979 and 1981.

Only a mere 1,300 bottles of Kildalton were bottled and it is certainly a popular collectors item now.

Ardbeg 21 Year Old Committee Release 2001

Released in July 2001, this is a vatting of 12 bourbon casks, which were hand-chosen exclusively for the Ardbeg committee.

One of only 2,500 bottles, each signed by Stuart Thomson.

Ardbeg 1975 Douglas Laing 30 Year Old / Old and Rare

A rare independant bottling of Ardbeg, distilled in 1975.

This is part of Douglas Laing's former premium range, the Old & Rare, which became part of the Hunter Laing portfolio in 2013.

Bottle number 246 of only 274 produced.

Ardbeg 1978 Sestante 21 Year Old / White Crest

A very, very rare Ardbeg indeed, distilled in 1978 and bottled as a 21 year old by Sestante.

Released under the White Crest label which included a number of releases from Ardbeg as well as other distilleries.

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.

Ardbeg Lord of the Isles 25 Year Old

A highly sought after and iconic Ardbeg, released between 2002 and 2007.

Named after the 'Lord of the Isles' who ruled the Western Isles and parts of Argyll between the 12th and 15th Century. 

This is a 2001 bottling. 

Ainslie's Specially Selected 1960s / Di Chiano Import - Spring Cap

Ainslie's blends are famous for containing whisky from Brora and Clynelish distilleries.

This spring cap bottling from the 1960s will contain only malt from the original Clynelish, better known to us nowadays as Brora.

Di Chiano import for the Italian market.

Ardbeg Lord of the Isles 25 Year Old

A highly sought after and iconic Ardbeg, released between 2002 and 2007.

Named after the 'Lord of the Isles' who ruled the Western Isles and parts of Argyll between the 12th and 15th Century. 

This is a 2003 bottling. 

Ardbeg 26 Year Old Hunter Laing Kinship / Feis Ile 2017 - Signed

To celebrate the commencement of the construction of the Ardnahoe distillery on Islay, Hunter Laing released a selection of 6 bottles called the Kinship collection during the 2017 Feis Ile on Islay. Each celebrates a different Islay distillery.

This is Edition 5 and is a well-aged Ardbeg at 26 years old. It was bourbon oak matured and is one of 209 bottles.

The hessian sack with this bottle has been hand-signed by Jim McEwan.

Abraham Bowman 1993 Cask Strength 18 Year Old Bourbon

Distilled by the Sazerac company at their A Smith Bowman distillery, using the same #1 mashbill as George T Stagg, this is a 18 year old 138.6 proof bourbon.

The whiskey is named for Commander Abraham Bowman, who led the American revolutionary war unit The 8th Virginia Regiment or German Regiment. His ancestors founded the A Smith Bowman distillery. 

Sold only at the distillery gift shop in Virginia in 2011.

In his book about the A.H. Hirsch Reserve, Chuck Cowdery recommends A. Smith Bowman products as one to try for those seeking an more easily sourced, but equally good-tasting bourbon experience.

Ardbeg 2000 Single Cask #368

Distilled on 25th February 2000 and bottled on 3rd March 2010 from first-fill bourbon barrel #368.

This is bottle number 61 of only 240.

Ardbeg 25 Year Old Single Malts of Scotland Director's Special / TWS Old & Rare 2019

Director's Special is a premium subcategory in the Single Malts of Scotland brand from Elixir Distillers.

This Ardbeg was aged 25 years and is one of just 175 filled at cask strength. This comprises one of two exclusive single casks of Ardbeg bottled for annual The Whisky Show: Old & Rare in Glasgow in 2019.

Ardbeg 1974 Sestante 18 Year Old / White Crest

A very, very rare Ardbeg indeed, distilled in 1974 and bottled as an 18 year old by Sestante.

Released under the White Crest label which included a number of released from Ardbeg as well as other distilleries.

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.

Ardbeg 1997 Very Young For Discussion

The very first release of Ardbeg Very Young, bottled ‘For Discussion’ with the Ardbeg Committee.  Containing some of the first spirit created under the ownership of Glenmorangie PLC, distilled during in 1997 bottled 12th November 2003.

Matured using first fill casks only 4002 bottles ever existed.