November 2018 Auction

Dalmore 40 Year Old

The oldest release within Dalmore's Rare and Prestigious range, this 40 year old is matured in the classic Dalmore combination of American oak and Gonzalez Byass sherry casks.

One of only 1,000 bottles produced and released in a very elegant leather bound case.

Distilled on 21st March 1966.

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.

Ardbeg 1967 Signatory Vintage 30 Year Old / Dark Oloroso Butt #1138

A legendary Ardbeg, awarded an impressive 93 points by Serge Valentin at Whisky Fun.

Distilled on the 22nd March 1967 and matured in a single dark Oloroso sherry butt #1138 for 30 years before bottling on 24th March 1997 by Signatory Vintage.

Bottle number 441 of 580.

Ardbeg 1967 Signatory Vintage 30 Year Old / Dark Oloroso Butt #1140

A legendary Ardbeg and part of the same batch of single casks as one awarded an impressive 93 points by Serge Valentin at Whisky Fun.

Distilled on the 22nd March 1967 and matured in a single dark Oloroso sherry butt #1140 for 30 years before bottling on 15th December 1997 by Signatory Vintage.

Bottle number 495 of 536.

Ardbeg 1967 Signatory Vintage 30 Year Old / Dark Oloroso Butt #1140

A legendary Ardbeg and part of the same batch of single casks as one awarded an impressive 93 points by Serge Valentin at Whisky Fun.

Distilled on the 22nd March 1967 and matured in a single dark Oloroso sherry butt #1140 for 30 years before bottling on 15th December 1997 by Signatory Vintage.

Bottle number 165 of 536.

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 451 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.

Ardbeg 1973 Samaroli / 20th Anniversary

A 1973 vintage Ardbeg, bottled by R.W. Duthie for Samaroli in 1988 as part of a series celebrating their 20th anniversary.

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.

The labels on this 20th anniversary series have been lovingly reappropriated from Samaroli's first ever series, his 1979/1980 collaboration with Cadenhead's. The image on this Ardbeg was first used on the 14 year old Glen Elgin from that set.

Bottle 45 of 540.

Ardbeg 1975 Single Cask 26 Year Old #4703

Vintage Ardbeg is a rare commodity these days and we are lucky to offer this 1975 vintage.

Sherry hogshead #4703 was filled on 26th December 1975 and bottled 26th March 2002. 

Bottled exclusively for Velier Italy, this is bottle number 5 of 240. 

Ardbeg 1974 Provenance 23 Year Old 2nd Release  / US Import

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.

Bottled on 9th April 1998: number 1598 however the certificate is for the neighbouring bottle of 1599. 

The were roughly 1000 bottles produced. 

Demerara Dark Rum 1975 Samaroli

A 1975 vintage Demerara dark rum from an unnamed distillery in Guyana. Although there is only one distillery left in operation nowadays, Diamond, back in the 70s there were several active and now collectible distilleries producing, including Uitvlugt and Enmore.

Bottled in 1997, this is part of a series of rums which incudes a 1948 West Indies that Samaroli described as his favourite spirit he ever bottled.

Bottle number 134 of only 936 produced.

Aultmore 1973 Samaroli / Handwritten Labels

A 1973 vintage Aultmore, bottled in the 1980s by R.W. Duthie for Samaroli.

Samaroli is perhaps Italy's most revered independent bottler of Scotch whisky. With an impeccable taste in single cask whiskies, (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.

This is part of the Handwritten Labels series. While Samaroli was famed for his keen eye for aesthetic in designing his own labels, this series simply features his own elegant calligraphy reproduced on them.

Bottle number 82 of 180.

Ardbeg 1974 Single Cask 31 Year Old #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 76 of 106.

Ardbeg 1975 Single Cask 23 Year Old #4702

Vintage Ardbeg is a rare commodity these days and we are lucky to offer this 1975 vintage.

Sherry cask #4702 was filled 26th December 1975 and bottled 20th October 1999.

Bottle number 98 of 261.

Ardbeg 1975 Single Cask 23 Year Old #4702

Vintage Ardbeg is a rare commodity these days and we are lucky to offer this 1975 vintage.

Sherry cask #4702 was filled 26th December 1975 and bottled 20th October 1999.

Bottle number 74 of 261.

A.H. Hirsch 1974 16 Year Old Reserve 1990s / Squat Black Wax​

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 Michters 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 aging 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 1991, 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 Van Winkle's earlier 1990's bottlings. Van Winkle's ledgers show that he was drip-fed orders for the Hirsch Reserve, and only produced limited case numbers to order when requested by Hue. This has lead to a variety of different bottlings at different ages. This black wax topped \"squat\" bottle was filled at a slightly lower proof than others.

Gordon Hue, who had maintained exclusive distribution rights to the Hirsch product despite the Van Winkle and Sazerac connections, eventually sold the brand to Preiss Imports who 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 Single Single Cask 23 Year Old #4718

Vintage Ardbeg is a rare commodity these days and we are lucky to offer this 1975 vintage.

Cask filled 26th December 1975 and bottled 20th October 1999

Cask No. 4718

Bottle No.7 of 238

Dalmore Ceti 30 Year Old

This 30 year old Dalmore is named after a star Kappa Ceti within the Cetus constellation. Kappa Ceti is approximately 30 light years from Earth, making it the perfect namesake for this 30 year old single malt.

This rare Dalmore has spent 23 years maturing in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels prior to a further 7 years within 30 year old Matusalem Oloroso sherry butts sourced from Gonzalez Byass. 

Only 1,000 bottles were produced.

Ardbeg 1965 Cadenhead's 14 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. 

A very old vintage of Ardbeg bottled by Cadenhead's.

Distilled in 1965, matured for 14 years and bottled in June 1979.

Ardbeg 1974 Signatory Vintage 23 Year Old

A single vintage Ardbeg from Signatory Vintage.

Distilled on Islay on the 22nd March 1974, and bottled in August 1997 from casks #1063 and #1066.

Bottle number 109 of 386 filled at cask strength.

Dailuaine 1962 Cadenhead's 27 Year Old

Distilled in November 1962 and then bottled in December 1989, this is a 27 year old Dailuaine.

Bottled by Cadenhead's in their iconic 'dumpy bottle'

Drop by Drop Velier 70th Anniversary Warren Khong Collection 6 x 70cl

A six bottle bottle collection of limited edition Rums produced for Velier's 70th anniversary.

• Chamarel 2011 Two Cask 6 Year Old Rum / Velier 70th Anniversary​
  A vatting of two casks produced at Chamarel in Mauritius.
  Fut #i27 and #i29 were both ex-French Oak casks distilled in 2011.
  Bottled in 2017 after 6 years aging in the tropics.
  55.5% ABV
   
• Nine Leaves 2014 Encrypted Single Cask 3 Year Old Rum / Velier 70th Anniversary
  ​​A special barrel proof release from Japan's Nine Leaves rum distillery.
  Entitled \"Encrypted,\" this rum was distilled in 2014 and bottled at 3 years old in 2017 from cask #3.
  64.8%
   
• Mount Gilboa 2008 Pure Single Rum 9 Year Old / Velier 70th Anniverary​
  A barrel proof 9 year old single rum, blended from 3 ex-French brandy casks.
  Distilled in 2008 at Mount Gay Distillery and bottled in 2017.
  66% ABV
   
• St Lucia 2010 Single Cask 7 Year Old Rum / Velier 70th Anniversary​
  Single ex-Bourbon cask #734-0908 JD2 was filled in 2010 and spent 7 years ageing in the tropics before bottling in 2017
  58.6% ABV
   
• Hampden 2010 Pure Single 7 Year Old Rum / Velier 70th Anniversary​
  100% pot distilled Molasses rum produced at Velier in 2010 aged 7 years in the tropics
  62% ABV
   
• Bielle 2007 Single Barrel 10 Year Old Rum / Velier 70th Anniversary​
  A transatlantic rum, distilled on Guadeloupe in the Caribbean, and bottled by Velier.
  This rum was aged 10 years in ex-bourbon cask #218.
  55% ABV

This lot has a 6 bottle shipping fee.

Ardbeg 1975 Douglas Laing 29 Year Old

A rare independant bottling of Ardbeg, distilled in 1975.

Part of Douglas Laing's Platinum Range

Bottle #058/145.

Ardbeg 1975 Douglas Laing 29 Year Old

A rare independent bottling of Ardbeg, distilled in 1975.

Bottled at 29 years old as part of Douglas Laing's Old & Rare Platinum Selection single cask series.

Bottle 25 of 145.

Dalmore 1963 Cadenhead's 15 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 Dalmore was distilled in November 1963 and bottled in November 1978 .

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.

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 John Milroy 25 Year Old

Distilled in 1975 and bottled 25 years later in 2001, this is a single cask bottling for John Milroy. 

Matured in a single sherry butt. 

Ardbeg 1977 SMWS 33.23

Ardbeg bottled by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, in their older livery.

Distilled in September 1977 and bottled in September 1993.

Ainslie's Royal Edinburgh 2 Litre 1950s / Di Chiano Import​

Produced by Ainslie and Heilbron, Royal Edinburgh is a revered blend containing high quantities of Brora.  

This large swing top bottle is form the 1950s.

Imported to Italy by Di Chiano.

This lot has a 3 bottle shipping fee.

Demerara Dark Rum 1980 Samaroli

A 1980 vintage Demerara dark rum from an unnamed distillery in Guyana. Although there is only one distillery left in operation nowadays, Diamond, back in the 80s there were several active and now collectible distilleries producing, including Uitvlugt and Enmore.

Bottled in 2000, this is part of a series of rums which incudes a 1948 West Indies that Samaroli described as his favourite spirit he ever bottled.

Bottle number 85 of only 300 produced.

Ardbeg 2005 Single Cask #1321

A single cask release form Islay's Ardbeg distillery. Distilled on 1st April 2005 and matured until being bottled on 3rd April 2018 as a 13 year old. 

Matured in Oloroso sherry butt #1321. 

Bottle number 100 of 543. 

Dailuaine 1962 Cadenhead's 16 Year Old

Distilled in November 1962 and then bottled in December 1980, this is an 18 year old Dailuaine.

Bottled by Cadenhead's in their iconic 'dumpy' bottle.