November 2018 Auction

Very Old Fitzgerald 1945 Bonded 8 Year Old 100 Proof / Stitzel-Weller

An incredible old example of Very Old Fitzgerald, the 8 year old version of the brand. This was distilled in 1945, and was likely some of the first spirit to run from the still after operations resumed following the second world war.

Distilled and bottled at the Stitzel-Weller distillery while it was still being run by the legendary Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle.

These bottled in bond Old Fitzgerald from the Van Winkle era at Stitzel-Weller are incredibly sought after.

Islay Samaroli 'New Filling Malt' / Bowmore

A very young Islay malt, referred to by Samaroli as a 'New Filling Malt / British Spirit'. The New Filling Malts series was Samaroli's answer to grappa, the popularity of which had always confused him. He believed these under 3 year old single malts were a superior alternative.

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 on the pantheon of whisky greats.

Samaroli's great friend, the collector Emmanuel Dron has stated that this is more than likely a new spirit from Bowmore distillery. It was bottled in 1992 for Samaroli by R.W. Duthie, one of the last before their business relationship came to an end due to the latter's commitments to Cadenhead's.

Bottle number 64 of only 460 produced.

Vintage Rye 21 Year Old

Vintage Rye is a boutique brand owned byAllied Lomar in California, who's other products include Rare Perfection, Wattie Boone and Very Olde St Nick. They have been sourcing whiskey and bottling it for several decades, and they are instantly recognisable from their uniform use of the same cursive script-style typeface. Allied Lomar president, Marci Palatella, was Julian Van Winkle III's agent in the Japanese market for many years, and their early bottlings were contracted to him at his Old Commonwealth distillery.

The Van Winkle partnership with the Sazerac company in the early 2000's ended this agreement however, with the production of bottles such as this moved to Willett distillery, where they were bottled by its owners, Evan Kulsveen's Kentucky Bourbon Distillers. The stills at Willett were silent at this point and most of the well-aged rye in the KBD warehouses was the unused Cream of Kentucky distilled by Schenley at Bernheim. This is the same rye that is a constituent in some of the Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve and was bottled as early versions of the Sazerac 18 year old at Buffalo Trace.

Allied Lomar opened their own Preservation distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky in 2018.

Van Winkle 13 Year Old Family Reserve Rye / 2008 Release

This is bottle A3185, and was released in 2008 (possibly early 2009) when the whiskey was actually now 19 years old, despite the label. The Van Winkle Family Reserve rye was distilled in 1985 and actually continued to age in cask until 2004 when it was eventually tanked at Buffalo Trace. They are all labelled as 13 years old regardless.

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. The rye was the last of the true Van Winkle family reserves to run out, in 2016. New batches have been maturing at Buffalo Trace however, and were bottled for the first time in 2018.

Van Winkle 13 Year Old Family Reserve Rye / 2008 Release

As sought after as the other members of this 'family'.

This is bottle A01205, and was released in 2008 when the whiskey was actually now 19 years old, despite the label. The Van Winkle Family Reserve rye actually continued to age in cask until 2004 when it was eventually tanked at Buffalo Trace. They are all labelled as 13 years old regardless.

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. The rye was the last of the true Van Winkle family reserves to run out, in 2016. New batches have been maturing at Buffalo Trace however, and were bottled for the first time in 2018.

Ichiro's Malt & Grain Kiyosato Field Ballet 27th Anniversary / Hanyu & Kawasaki

Bottled for the 27th Anniversary of the Kiyosato Field Ballet.

This blend from Ichiro Akuto of the Chichibu distillery was created from a single cask of 1990 Hanyu and a single cask of 1982 Kawasaki. 

Bottle number 205 of 700.

Ichiro's Malt & Grain Kiyosato Field Ballet 26th Anniversary / Hanyu & Kawasaki

A very rare and collectible marriage of two lost Japanese distilleries: this very limited blended whisky contains 1990 Hanyu and 1982 Kawasaki.

The Hanyu was a 25 Year Old and the Kawasaki was a 33 year old. 

This is bottle number 351 of 700. 

Irish Single Malt 1990 Whisky Agency 28 Year Old / 10th Anniversary

This Irish single malt was distilled in 1990, and bottled for The Whisky Agency in Germany.

This is a Whisky Agency 10th anniversary bottling, and was released in 2018.

Matured for 28 years in sherry wood.

Inchgower 1959 Cadenhead's 19 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 Inchgower was distilled in December 1959 and bottled in December 1978 .

Very Old Fitzgerald 1962 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 the spring of 1962 and bottled in 1970.

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.

Very Olde St. Nick 15 Year Old Handmade Bourbon 107 Proof

Very Old St Nick is a boutique bourbon brand owned by Allied Lomar in California, who's other products include Rare Perfection, Wattie Boone and the Vintage Bourbon and Rye bottles. They have been sourcing bourbon and bottling it for several decades, and they are instantly recognisable from their uniform use of the same cursive script-style typeface. Allied Lomar president, Marci Palatella, was Julian Van Winkle III's agent in the Japanese market for many years, and their early bottlings of Old St Nick were contracted to him at his Old Commonwealth distillery.

The Van Winkle partnership with in the early 2000s ended this agreement however, with the production of bottles such as this moved to Willett distillery, where they were bottled by its owners, Evan Kulsveen's Kentucky Bourbon Distillers. The stills at Willett were silent at this point and KBD were sourcing most of their whiskey from Heaven Hill.

Although the source of the KBD bottling has never been confirmed, Van Winkle has strongly asserted that these Very Olde St Nick are bottled using Heaven Hill bourbon.

Allied Lomar opened their own Preservation distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky in 2018.

This 15 year old expression is from cask lot #B131. For what its worth, most Kentucky Bourbon Distillers casks marked with a \"B\" denote pre-Heaven Hill era Bernheim distillery.

Japanese import.

Irish Single Malt 1989 Whisky Agency 28 Year Old / The Perfect Dram

This Irish single malt was distilled in 1989, and bottled for The Whisky Agency in Germany as part of their The Perfect Dram series.

This is a Whisky Agency 10th anniversary bottling, and was released in 2018.

A single barrel produced just 87 bottles.

Irish Single Malt 1988 Whisky Agency 26 Year Old / ART Taiwan

Distilled in 1988 and bottled at 26 years of age, this is a mystery Irish single malt whiskey bottled for The Whisky Agency in conjunction with ART Taiwan.

This was sherry wood matured and bottled in 2015.

One of 138 bottles.

Van Winkle 12 Year Old Special Reserve

The 12 year old Special Reserve 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 2016 bottling.

Serial code: B1618219:464

Van Winkle 12 Year Old Special Reserve

The 12 year old Special Reserve 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 2016 bottling.

Serial code: B1618219:294

Van Winkle 12 Year Old Special Reserve

The 12 year old Special Reserve 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 2012 bottling.

Serial code: B1514815:334.

Very Olde St Nick Lot 12 Ancient Cask Bourbon

Very Old St Nick is a boutique bourbon brand owned by Allied Lomar in California, who's other products include Rare Perfection, Wattie Boone and the Vintage Bourbon and Rye bottles. They have been sourcing bourbon and bottling it for several decades, and they are instantly recognisable from their uniform use of the same cursive script-style typeface. Allied Lomar president, Marci Palatella, was Julian Van Winkle III's agent in the Japanese market for many years, and their early bottlings of Old St Nick were contracted to him at his Old Commonwealth distillery.

The Van Winkle partnership with in the early 2000s ended this agreement however, with the production of bottles such as this moved to Willett distillery, where they were bottled by its owners, Evan Kulsveen's Kentucky Bourbon Distillers. The stills at Willett were silent at this point and KBD were sourcing most of their whiskey from Heaven Hill.

Although the source of the KBD bottling has never been confirmed, Van Winkle has strongly asserted that these Very Olde St Nick are bottled using Heaven Hill bourbon.

Allied Lomar opened their own Preservation distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky in 2018.

Japanese import.

Very Olde St Nick Lot 12 Ancient Cask Bourbon

Very Old St Nick is a boutique bourbon brand owned by Allied Lomar in California, who's other products include Rare Perfection, Wattie Boone and the Vintage Bourbon and Rye bottles. They have been sourcing bourbon and bottling it for several decades, and they are instantly recognisable from their uniform use of the same cursive script-style typeface. Allied Lomar president, Marci Palatella, was Julian Van Winkle III's agent in the Japanese market for many years, and their early bottlings of Old St Nick were contracted to him at his Old Commonwealth distillery.

The Van Winkle partnership with in the early 2000s ended this agreement however, with the production of bottles such as this moved to Willett distillery, where they were bottled by its owners, Evan Kulsveen's Kentucky Bourbon Distillers. The stills at Willett were silent at this point and KBD were sourcing most of their whiskey from Heaven Hill.

Although the source of the KBD bottling has never been confirmed, Van Winkle has strongly asserted that these Very Olde St Nick are bottled using Heaven Hill bourbon.

Allied Lomar opened their own Preservation distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky in 2018.

Japanese import.

Inchgower 1976 Douglas Laing 26 Year Old

An independent Inchgower from Douglas Laing.

Distilled October 1976 and bottled November 2002

One of 318 Bottles

Invergordon 1965 Whisky Agency 47 Year Old / Perfect Dram

A 47 year old single grain from Invergordon bottled under the Perfect Dram label from the Whisky Agency.

Distilled in 1965 aged 47 years in a single bourbon hogshead.Selected and bottled for Spirits in the Sky, Leuven in 2012

Invergordon 1972 Thompson Brothers 43 Year Old

An independent bottling of single grain whisky from Invergordon distillery

Distilled in 1972 and matured for 43 years in cask #37 until bottling by the Thompson Brothers. 

Invergordon 1972 The Whisky Angel 43 Year Old

Distilled in 1972 and matured for 43 years until being hand bottled on the 25th of May 2016.

Vega 1977 North Star 40 Year Old

A limited edition 40 year old blended malt whisky produced by North Star Spirits.

Distilled in October 1977 and bottled in January 2018

One of only 400 bottles, bottled at cask strength.

Invergordon 1973 Whisky Broker 43 Year Old

An independent bottling of Invergordon grain whisky from Whisky Broker.

Distilled 1973 and bottled 2016 from a Bourbon barrel.

Invergordon 1974 Creative Whisky Co 43 Year Old​

Old Invergordon can be incredible. This Creative Whisky Co bottling is 43 years of age, and is part of the Exclusive Grains series.

Distilled on 12th March 1974 and matured in a refill barrel #41

One of 305 bottles.

Invergordon 1974 Creative Whisky Co 43 Year Old​

Old Invergordon can be incredible. This Creative Whisky Co bottling is 43 years of age, and is part of the Exclusive Grains series.

Distilled on 12th March 1974 and matured in a refill barrel #41

One of 305 bottles.

Invergordon 1973 Whisky Agency 42 Year Old / Birthdays United

An independent bottling of Invergordon grain whisky from Whisky Agency.

Distilled 1973 and bottled 2016 from a single hogshead.

Selected for Birthdays United

Irish Single Malt No.1 That Boutique-y Whisky Company 24 Year Old Batch #1

The first Irish whisk(e)y to be bottled by That Boutique-y Whisky Company / Master of Malt.

One of 264 bottles.

Imperial 1970 Gordon and MacPhail 1980s

Mothballed in 1998, Imperial distillery has been completely demolished and is becoming increasingly sought after.

This example was distilled in 1970 and bottled in the late 1980s by Gordon & MaPhail.

Inchmurrin 1974 First Cask 28 Year Old

A single cask Inchmurrin distilled in 1974 and bottled from cask #1651 28 years later.

Bottle number 92.

Irish Single Malt No.1 24 Year Old That Boutique-y Whisky Company Batch #1

The first Irish whisk(e)y to be bottled by That Boutique-y Whisky Company / Master of Malt.

Bottle 18 of of 264.

Invergordon 1973 Cadenhead's 43 Year Old

An independent bottling of Invergordon grain whisky distilled in 1973 and bottled in 2017 from a single bourbon barrel.

One of 222 bottles .