November 2018 Auction

Karuizawa 1965 Single Sherry Cask 50 Year Old #2372​ 

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim. They have released almost 300 single casks which are becoming increasingly rarer and rarer as demand soars.

A special release from La Maison Du Whisky, this vintage Karuizawa was distilled in 1965 and matured in a sherry cask. 

This is bottle number 26 of 300 bottles.

Bowmore 1964 Black Bowmore 42 Year Old 75cl / US Import

Arguably the most famous of all Bowmore's, one of the most collectible and most memorable whiskies on the market.  The Black Bowmore is an icon of whisky collecting, whisky drinking and whisky investing!

This is the first of the more recent releases from this famous Bowmore vintage, officially released in 2007 at 42 years of age in an impressive wooden presentation case.

The Black Bowmore was followed by the slightly older, Gold and White Bowmore.

Bottle number 720 of only 827 produced.

Bowmore 1955 40 Year Old / US Import

A very old Bowmore put into a bourbon hogshead cask on the 22nd of November 1955, then 20 years later it was transferred into a Sherry cask prior to being bottled in 1995. 

The glass decanter was hand crafted by the artists of Caithness Glass, Scotland, each being individually numbered.The presentation case has been hand made from oak by the Master Cabinet Makers of Charles Kirkby & Sons, England. 

As a combination this is an impressive liquid presented in the most elegant of styles. 

Bottle number 298 of only 306 bottles. 

Includes glass stopper and padlock key. 

Brora 1972 Cask Strength 40 Year Old

At time of launch this was both the most expensive whisky ever released by Diageo and the oldest Brora ever made.

Presented in a stunning engraved glass decanter and wooden display case  this is bottle number 160.

Distilled in 1972 this is a vintage mate to some of the most sought after and legendary Broras ever produced, including the rare malts and the slightly more recent 44 year old.

Bowmore 1964 Fino Cask 37 Year Old / US Import

1964 is often refered to as the golden year from Bowmore as there has been a high number of iconic releases from the vintage. The iconic Black Bowmore hails from this year along with other awesome Bowmores, these are no differtent. 

This famous range contains three single cask releases, one from a bourbon cask, one Oloroso cask and a Fino sherry cask.

The Fino is a 37 Year old limited to 300 bottles. 

Bottle number 227 of 300 Bottles.

Bowmore 1964 Oloroso Cask 38 Year Old / US Import

1964 is often referred to as the golden year for Bowmore, as there have been a high number of iconic releases from the vintage.

This 38 year old Oloroso sherry casked gem is no different. A single cask that comes from the same batch as that of the esteemed Black Bowmore releases.

This famous release was part of the Trilogy Series which also contained single cask bottlings from a bourbon cask and a Fino sherry cask. The three whiskies were presented in these stunning wooden cabinets.  

Bottle number 86. 

Karuizawa 29 Year Old Sherry Cask / Murasaki Geisha

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim. They have released almost 300 single casks which are becoming increasingly rarer and rarer as demand soars.

One of two highly sought after 'Purple Geisha' released in 2018 by Elixir distillers. This particular single cask has been matured for over 29 years in a single sherry cask.

Bottle number 14 of only 60.

Bowmore 1964 Bourbon Cask 38 Year Old / US Import

Distilled on the 11th of November 1964, this hails from the era of epic Bowmores. 

Matured in a Bourbon cask for 38 years this bottle has been presented in a lockable wooden box.

Bottle number 64 of 300 Bottles.

Bowmore 1964 White Bowmore 43 Year Old 75cl / US Import

The second in this famous series, the White Bowmore was matured exclusively in Bourbon casks to create a comparison to the more famous Oloroso sherry-casked Black Bowmore.

Bottled at 42.8%

Bottle 679 of 732.

Bowmore 1964 Gold Bowmore 44 Year Old 75cl / US Import

The third and final in this famous series, the Gold Bowmore was matured in a mixture of bourbon and sherry casks, to provide a comparison to the more famous Oloroso casks.

Bottled at 42.4%.

Bottle number 151 of 701. 

Bowmore 1964 Black Bowmore 30 Year Old 2nd Edition 75cl / US Import

An icon of the whisky world, it's hard to fathom where whisky collecting would be today without the Black Bowmore. 

The second release of three, all distilled in 1964 and matured within single Oloroso sherry casks before being bottled in the mid-nineties. Sherry casks were used far more regularly in the 1960's than they are now, and this bottle is testament to the quality of these casks.

The Black Bowmore not just a whisky but a true artefact from the history of the spirit, representing a turning point for single malts. Appearing at a zenith in the popularity of sherry-casked whisky, which was for the first time creating a fashionable buzz around single malt whiskies, seeing it replace cognac as the after dinner drink of choice at banqueting tables, and customers now willing to pay the heady sum of £120 for a bottle. We may look back and scoff at this now but this was a princely fee back in the early 90's when the Black Bowmore was first stocked by Oddbins in the UK.

Speaking of the Black Bowmore, Dave Broom writes:

\"If you look at Black Bowmore as fiction, you see it grow from being a simple tale about a product into something which acquires the trappings of legend and myth. What was once ‘Islay’ had been condensed into distilleries; distilleries compressed into specific peculiarities – in Black Bowmore’s case, the magical, never fully explicable weirdness of the conditions in No 1 Vaults, one of walls of which sits below the level of the loch outside; a place of cold and damp, where evaporation is minimal, where elements are both preserved and warped into new shapes, where time slows and things deepen.\"

This is bottle number 1713 of 2000.

Bowmore 1964 Black Bowmore Final Edition 75cl / US Import

An icon of the whisky world, it's hard to fathom where whisky collecting would be today without the Black Bowmore. 

Distilled in 1964 and matured within Oloroso sherry casks before bottling in 1995. This is the last of three Black Bowmores released in the mid-nineties. 

This is bottle number 543 of 1812.

Karuizawa 1978 Single Cask 35 Year Old #8383 / Wealth Solutions

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim. 

This is a single cask release from a single ex-bourbon cask #8383, distilled in December 1978 and bottled in July 2014.

Titled Koishikawa-Kōrakuen, this was named after am 17th century garden in the Tokyo. Work on the garden was begun by Mito Yorifusa in 1629 and was completed by his son Mito Mitsukuni. The garden was cretaed on the advice of Chinese scholar Zhu Shun Shui, and incorporates elements of Japanese and Chinese culture.

The bottle, produced by Wealth Solutions features a depiction of the garden gilded on it.

This is one of just 24 bottles.

Karuizawa 1980 Single Cask 35 Year Old #8283 / Moon Above the Sea at Daimotsu Bay

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim. They have released almost 300 single casks which are becoming increasingly rarer and rarer as demand soars.

This limited bottling was distilled in 1980 and bottled in 2015 at an impressive 35 years old..

Produced from single bourbon cask #8283, which yielded only 401 bottles.

Bottled at cask strength, this is stunning bottling presents  Moon above the Sea at Daimotsu Bay, part of theTsukioka Honen's \" One Hundered Aspects of the Moon series on the box and label art

Presented in a stunning lock and key presentation box.

Karuizawa 35 Year Old Bourbon Cask #8518 / Emerald Geisha​

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim. They have released almost 300 single casks which are becoming increasingly rarer and rarer as demand soars.

This is another sought after single cask release from Elixir Distillers, the bottling arm of London's The Whisky Exchange. Here's what they had to say:

\"The distinctive emerald labels combine beautiful Japanese art forms with complex hot foil and intricate embossing embellishments, giving the bottles a sculptured finish. They were designed by The Whisky Exchange’s creative director Raj Chavda, who is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Art.\"

Number 3 of only 265 bottles drawn from single Bourbon cask #8518. Released in February 2018.​

Brora 1972 Rare Malt 22 Year Old / 58.7%

The Rare Malt Selection is a historic selection of single malt whiskies from operational and lost distilleries that were released by Diageo between 1995 and 2005.

It is often said that 1972 Brora is exceptional, and this is one of five Rare Malts of that vintage. The 1972 continued to be an important vintage when Diageo also released a 40 year old of the same vintage. 

Since its closure in 1983 the popularity of Brora has soared, this is a fantastic opportunity to own an historic bottle.

Karuizawa 1981 Single Cask 35 Year Old #171 / Eight Headed Dragon

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim. They have released almost 300 single casks which are becoming increasingly rarer and rarer as demand soars.

This limited bottling was distilled in 1981 and bottled in 2016 at an impressive 35 years old..

Produced from single sherry cask #171, which yielded only 530 bottles.

Bottled at cask strength, this is one of several 35 year old releases depicting Japanese mythology on their labels. The Eight Headed Dragon on this label is borrowed form the cover of a popular series of stories published by Hasegawa Takejiro in the 18th century. The dragon is named Yamata no Orochi.

Presented in a stunning lock and key presentation box.

Karuizawa 31 Year Old Sherry Cask #3667 / Golden Geisha

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim. They have released almost 300 single casks which are becoming increasingly rarer and rarer as demand soars.

This is one of two highly sought after 'Golden Geisha' releases, which were available to purchase by winners of a ballot hosted by The Whisky Exchange.

Aged for 31 years in sherry cask #3667 this bottle is number 209 of 225. 

Bottled at cask strength.

Bowmore 31 Year Old Hart Brothers Dynasty Decanter

A very rare and impressive independently bottled Bowmore. 

This is decanter number 100 of 850, with the decanter itself produced by the world's leading crystal glass manufacturer, Atlantis. 

Each of the six sides of the decanter features a silver gilt medallion of a member of the Royal House of Stewart. 

No capacity or strength stated. 

Karuizawa 1981Single Cask 35 Year Old #7427 / Snow Scene

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim. They have released almost 300 single casks which are becoming increasingly rarer and rarer as demand soars.

This limited bottling was distilled in 1981 and bottled after 35 years in the cask.

Cask number #7427 yielded only 208 bottles.

Presented in a striking blue box which depicts The Tale of Genji in Snow Scenes by Edo era Ukiyo-e artist, Utagawa Hiroshige.

Karuizawa 1981 Single Cask 35 Year Old #164 / The Great Battle of Yashima

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim. They have released almost 300 single casks which are becoming increasingly rarer and rarer as demand soars.

A new impressive bottling, bottled last year 2016.  Distilled in 1981 and matured exclusively in sherry butt #164.

The box represents half of a scene from The Great Battle of Yashima.

Bowmore 1964 Black Bowmore 29 Year Old 1st Edition 75cl / US Import

An icon of the whisky world, it's hard to fathom where whisky collecting would be today without the Black Bowmore.  

The first release of three, all distilled in 1964 and matured within single Oloroso sherry casks before being bottled in 1993. Sherry casks were used far more regularly in the 1960s than they are now, and this bottle is testament to the quality of these casks.

The Black Bowmore not just a whisky but a true artifact from the history of the spirit, representing a turning point for single malts. Appearing at a zenith in the popularity of sherry-casked whisky, which was for the first time creating a fashionable buzz around single malt whiskies, seeing it replace cognac as the after dinner drink of choice at banqueting tables, and customers now willing to pay the heady sum of £120 for a bottle. We may look back and scoff at this now but this was a princely fee back in the early 90s when the Black Bowmore was first stocked by Oddbins in the UK.

Speaking of the Black Bowmore, Dave Broom writes:

\"If you look at Black Bowmore as fiction, you see it grow from being a simple tale about a product into something which acquires the trappings of legend and myth. What was once ‘Islay’ had been condensed into distilleries; distilleries compressed into specific peculiarities – in Black Bowmore’s case, the magical, never fully explicable weirdness of the conditions in No 1 Vaults, one of walls of which sits below the level of the loch outside; a place of cold and damp, where evaporation is minimal, where elements are both preserved and warped into new shapes, where time slows and things deepen.\"

Bottle number 312 of 2000 produced.

This example comes with the more common foil seal, due to the poor design of the original wax seal, they were recalled and re-sealed. 

Bowmore 22 Year Old Cadenhead's 1980s

An unusual non-vintage single cask Bowmore from Cadenhead's.

This was aged 22 years and bottled at some point in the 1980s.

Karuizawa 1972 Single Cask #7038

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim. They have released almost 300 single casks which are becoming increasingly rarer and rarer as demand soars.

This limited bottling was distilled in 1972 and bottled on 4th October 2011.

Produced from single cask #7038 and bottled at cask strength.

Bowmore 1973 43 Year Old​

A 2016 super-premium Bowmore bottling.

Vatting the last 6 remaining bourbon hogsheads of 1973 this joins the ranks of some impressive bottles from that vintage. 

Casks 3883-3888 were distilled on the 10th of May 1973 and bottled on the 2nd of June 2016 at a staggering 43 years old.

Due to the strip of ribbon on this bottle not travelling well, Bowmore wax dipped some of the seals. This is one such bottle. 

Karuizawa 1984 30 Year Old Single Cask #6432 / Samurai

Karuizawa distillery was the smallest distillery in Japan. The distillery was established in 1955  on the slopes of Mount Asama, an active volcano. Karuizawa was mothballed in 2000 and the remaining stocks were thankfully ‘saved’ by Ichiro Akuto.   

Karuizwa’s style was that of a certain Speyside whisky, they almost exclusively used Golden Promise barley imported from Scotland and primarily matured whisky in sherry casks imported from Spain. The key to Karuizawa’s success was the hidden earthiness and peatiness that gave many of their legendary single cask bottlings it’s unique character.

The water source used in production has flowed through the volcanic lava rock and soil that surround the distillery, giving it a unique mineral quality. This high quality led Karuizawa to be the first whisky exported out of Japan but ultimately led to their downfall, as both Japan and the world were not ready to accept such a high quality spirit which was not produced in Scotland. As a result, the distillery was not financially viable, which resulted in a great loss for whisky drinkers but produced an interesting rarity for whisky collectors.

Karuizawa is unique, there are so few releases in the last couple of years of this legendary malt.

Distilled 1984 and matured for 30 years until bottling in 2015, limited to only 404 bottles at 63.2%.

Benromach 1949 Classic 55 Year Old

An incredible offering from the storied Speyside distillery. This is an early post-war vintage, distilled all the way back in 1949. Since then the distillery has changed hands twice, and closed down in the intervening 55 years between then and bottling.

Closed in 1983, the distillery lay silent for 10 years before being re-opened by Gordon & MacPhail in 1998 after a year of restoration. Despite all of this upheaval, this whisky lay patiently maturing in refill bourbon barrel #706 until it was bottled in 2004.

This 55 year old is one of only 83 bottled in hand-blown glass bottles, and presented in an individually numbered burnished copper tube.

This is bottle 34.

Each set also includes a copy of the cask's \"Brewing Report.\"

Bowmore 1973 43 Year Old​

A 2016 super-premium Bowmore bottling.

Vatting the last 6 remaining bourbon hogsheads of 1973 this joins the ranks of some impressive bottles from that vintage. 

Casks 3883-3888 were distilled on the 10th of May 1973 and bottled on the 2nd of June 2016 at a staggering 43 years old.

Ardbeg 1975 Samaroli

A 1975 vintage Ardbeg from 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.

This bottling was bottled for Samaroli in Scotland by R.W. Duthie & Co. in 1987, and is bottle number 594 of 648. 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.

Bowmore 1973 43 Year Old​

A 2016 super-premium Bowmore bottling.

Vatting the last 6 remaining bourbon hogsheads of 1973, this joins the ranks of some impressive bottles from that vintage. 

Casks 3883-3888 were distilled on the 10th of May 1973 and bottled on the 2nd of June 2016 at a staggering 43 years old.

Bruichladdich 1965 Cask Strength 10 Year Old / Samaroli Import

An incredibly rare and interesting bottle of 1965 vintage Bruichladdich.

This is an official distillery bottling for Silvano Samaroli, and represents the genesis of his transition from simple importer, to independent bottler. After a visit to Scotland in the 1970s, Silvano met with the Managing Director of Bruichladdich, a Mr Blake, and after an inspiring discussion, he selected his first two casks for bottling. They were both sherry matured 10 year olds, and this is one of them. His first ever official selection was also 1965 vintage, the rarer of the two (they are all hand-signed). This is from the second cask, bottled shortly after.

Inspired by these releases, Samaroli went on to produce his very first independent bottlings in 1979, a collaboration with Cadenhead's. The rest is history, but it might not have been were it not for this spectacular Bruichladdich.

Bowmore 7 Year Old Sherriff's 1960s / Cogis Import

This is an incredibly rare Bowmore from the 1960s, prior to the distillery's purchase by Stanley Morrison.

Aged 7 years, this was imported to the Italian market by Venezian importers, Cogis.