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.

Orkney Single Malt 1977 Samaroli / Fragments of Scotland

Distilled in 1977, this is a single malt from an undisclosed Orkney distillery, so either Highland Park or Scapa. Bottled by Samaroli in 1988 as part of the the Fragments of Scotland series.

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 Fragments of Scotland series was bottled in 1988, and each of them feature artworks depicting different elements of Scotland, all painted by Samaroli's friend, Agostino Perrnini.

Bottle number 186 of only 648 bottles.

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.

Old Mock 1916 A Ph Stitzel 18 Year Old Pint / Prohibition Era Bottling

A fantastic old Prohibition era bottling of Kentucky straight bourbon whisky. Although the Volstead Act of 1919 had banned the production and sale of alcohol throughout the US, a certain number of distilling companies were permitted to continue bottling existing stock, mostly for medicinal use, but also for weekly baking rations.

One such company was A. Ph. Stitzel Inc, who procured this particular barrel from the Davies County Distillery (registered distillery 2 in the 2nd district of KY). This distillery was one of the majority that were forced to close after prohibition was enacted. Records show that most of their stock was purchased by the American Medicinal Spirits Company, but some reached smaller companies like A. Ph. Stitzel as well, who bottled this using their Old Mock  brand.

A. Ph. Stitzel survived Prohibition, and was one of the few to emerge with a functioning distillery, refinancing themselves after the difficult 13 dry years by contract distilling for other companies as well, including the juggernaut Schenley corporation. They would of course would go on to merge with Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle's W.L. Weller company to create the legendary Stitzel-Weller. The \"18 Summers Old \" phrase on this label was a persistent motif on Stitzel-Weller bottlings too, and can also be seen on some modern Van Winkle bottlings.

Bottled in 1933, shortly before repeal, this includes the standard \"medicinal purposes\" only label, guaranteeing a pre-January 1920 distillation date.

Overholt 1909 Rye Whiskey 1 Quart / Pre-Prohibition

More commonly known as 'Old' Overholt, this brand of Rye whiskey is very old, even more so than this particular bottle. Overholt Rye was first produced in the early 1800s, with this bottle appearing over a century later. Bottled just before Prohibition, this 1909 vintage was apparently a reserve of the Mellon family, who stockpiled it for fear of running out in the wake of the Prohibition legislation banning all production and consumption in 1920. The whiskey is believed to be aged around 10-14 years.

As it turns out, Overholt distillery owner, Andrew Mellon was a close friend of Warren G. Harding, then secretary of the Treasury, a connection that provided him with a license to continue selling \"medicinal\" whiskey during Prohibition. The original West Overton distillery however closed down, and with stocks running out, the brand was sold to National Distillers in 1932. National Distillers were consolidating interests in as much of the industry as possible with the repeal of Prohibition expected the following year, most notable was their acquisition of the Wathen family's American Medicinal Spirits Co.

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

This is a fascinating artefact from a long and storied whiskey history, and tastes fantastic too. Serge Valentin of Whiskyfun.com rated this 93 points.

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.

Old Overholt 1914 Bottled in Bond 14 Year Old Pint / Prohibition Era Bottling

The Old Overholt brand is a legend in the world of American whisky, established all the way back 1810. This bottle was distilled over 100 year later (and over 100 years ago!) in 1914 at West Overton distillery in Pennsylvania. The Rye whisky was then bonded at the distillery, where it was stored and, thankfully, protected from the Prohibition Act of 1920 which banned all production and consumption of the alcohol in the US for the next 13 years.

As it turns out, Overholt distillery owner, Andrew Mellon was a close friend of Warren G. Harding, then secretary of the Treasury, a connection that provided him with a license to continue selling \"medicinal\" whiskey during Prohibition. This whiskey was bottled in bond at the distillery warehouses in 1929.

Prohibition did however cause the original West Overton distillery to cease production, and with stocks running out, the brand was sold to National Distillers in 1932. National Distillers was the resurrection of the infamous pre-Prohibition Whiskey Trust, who resumed their aims of consolidating as many interests in the industry as possible, starting with the American Medicinal Spirits Co, with the repeal of Prohibition expected the following year.

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

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.

Old Kentucky 1913 Bottled in Bond Straight Whiskey Quart / Pre-Prohibition

A fine example of pre-Prohibition American whisky, distilled in 1913 and bottled in 1917, just three years before the production, sale and consumption of alcohol in the US was to be banned for the next 13 years.

Old Kentucky was a brand produced at the distillery of the same name. The site was built in the later 19th century, and was historically known as the Mayflower distillery before it was purchased by German immigrant, Dietrich Meschendorf in 1892, who changed the name to Old Kentucky. Meschendorf is an important figure in the history of American distilling, managing the historic Old Times plant in Louisville for 7 years prior to his ownership of Old Kentucky, and serving as an advisor to two Presidents, Roosevelt and Taft during the early 20th century discussions about the legal terminology of what constituted \"whiskey.\" He argued successfully for his blended products to retain their status as whiskey, against fierce opposition from the likes of Colonel E.H. Taylor who believed only straight whiskies deserved the title.

Taylor had campaigned successfully for the Bottled in Bond Act in 1897, and this is a product of that legislation. A straight whiskey with both the year of bottling and distillation stated, as well as the site of both. It is also the legally required 100 US proof.

The Old Kentucky distillery was eventually shut down by Prohibition in 1920, with its stocks removed and warehouses razed. The distillery building itself was retained, although badly damaged in a fire in 1925. It then served as a riding school for many years before it was finally demolished in 1960.

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 .

Old W L Weller 7 Year Old Special Reserve Quart 1971 / Stitzel-Weller

An older 'Special Reserve' release of the original wheated bourbon.

This was likely distilled in the early 1960s when Stitzel-Weller was still under the management of the legendary Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle. It was bottled in 1971 by his son, Julian II, just a year before he was forced to sell the distillery to Somerset Imports, and the Van Winkle family departing the business.

Old Elgin 1939 Gordon and MacPhail

Named after Speyside's largest town, which is home to Gordon and MacPhail who produced this blended malt. 

Oban 16 Year Old Manager's Dram Bicentenary 1994

The Manager’s Dram series of whiskies were bottled exclusively for employees of what is now known as Diageo.  These whiskies were selected by the respective distillery managers within Diageo malt distilling and bottled at natural cask strength.

Bottled to celebrate Oban’s 200th anniversary 1794–1994  this 16 year old was released exclusively from sherry casks by distillery manager John William and his employees listed on the rear of the bottle.

Bottled July 1994.

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.

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.

Demerara Rum 1974 Samaroli 

A Guyanese rum, matured in Scotland and bottled from selected casks #1578, #1566 and #1567 in 2001.

Although Guyana has only had one distillery since 2000, Diamond, there were several in production in 1974 when this was distilled.

Bottle number 155 of 510.

Dingle Irish Single Malt Cask Strength Batch No. 1 / Bourbon Casks

Dingle whisky distillery opened in Ireland in 2012. This is the first triple distilled small batch release produced entirely from single malt.

Matured exclusively in Bourbon casks

Bottle number 35.

Dunville's VR Old Irish Whisky circa 1910/1920s 

A fantastic example of Dunville's VR Old Irish Whisky, produced at the distillery in Belfast. 

A gold medal winner at the 1900 Paris Exhibition, the company went into liquidation in 1936 following the death of the chairman and the last Dunville heir.

Unlike other Irish distillers of this era, the company was actually quite profitable when it went into liquidation. 

No capacity or strength stated. 

This lot includes original wrapping, which is torn, and straw.

Dalmore 12 Year Old 1970s

The old style bottling of Dalmore from the late 1970s.

Demerara Rum 1974 Silver Seal 28 Year Old

A 28 year old Demerara rum, distilled in 1974 and bottled by Silver Seal in December 2002.

The location of the distillery in question is unknown. Although there is only a single distillery in Guyana now, Diamond, there were plenty in 1974.

Silver Seal was founded by Ernesto Mainardi in 2000. This was Mainardi's second bottling company after the esteemed Sestane in 1979, and this later Silver Seal collection is named in its honour. Both companies were sold to Massimo Righi in 2010, with Ernesto's original releases becoming increasingly prized possessions by collectors.

Bottle number 110 of only 650.

Dallas Dhu 1975 SMWS 27 Year Old 45.9

A single cask bottling from the famous closed Speyside distillery, Dallas Dhu. Bottled by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society from cask 45.9.

Distilled in August 1975 and bottled in March 2003 at 27 years old years old.

\"Cherry on top.\"

Delva \"Afrika Corps Lost Liquor\" Special Brand

This is a fascinating bottle. The contents of which are some of the near 250,000 gallons of whisky, discovered along with stores of Cognac, Rum and Gin by Erwin Rommel's Afrika Corps in a wine cellar in North Africa during the early stages of World War 2. After sharing the spoils among his men, the remaining casks were shipped to the Italian village of Nettuno, Italy in the holds of Axis ships.The town was then captured by Allied forces in 1944, the alcohol along with it, and US forces ordered it to be bottled at the local Delva Distillery, to be distributed among the troops. The bottles were tested by a long-forgotten Allied Military Government unit called the R.A.A.C. who labelled them, \"chemical tests carried out on Delva Liquors showed all to be within standards of purity prescribed for use by Allied Military personnel.\"

After the war the bottles were transferred into the care of the Linz National Customs Forces in Austria where they remained untouched until the 1970's. Then, in early 1976 the Afrika Corps \"Lost Liquor\" bottles were released, for sale predominantly within US Army Class VI stores. Many of the bottles had significant damage to the labels, so they were removed and replaced with replicas that looked identical but read, \"this is a true and faithful reproduction of the original label-combination on this bottle\" (and now bore volume and ABV indicators). The bottles however are still those filled at Delva, and the liquid is still that discovered by the Nazi Afrika Corps forces in the 1940's.

This is a fantastic piece of both whisky and World War 2 history.

Please note condition of lot as shown. The capsule is loose. 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.

Diamond and Versailles 1996 Blended in the Barrel Rum

2 Experimental barrels aged 18 years in the tropics. 

One of 1,148 bottled in July 2014.

Oban 19 Year Old Manager’s Dram 1995

The Manager’s Dram series of whiskies were bottled exclusively for employees of what is now known as Diageo. These whiskies were selected by the respective distillery managers within Diageo malt distilling and bottled at natural cask strength.

Released in 1995 from a refill cask, this Oban was bottled for United Distillers (Diageo) and chosen by John Williams.

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.

Daftmill 2005 Inaugural Release

Daftmill was granted a license to begin producing spirit in 2005, and has not bottled a single drop of that first distillate until now. This 12 year old expression is an unprecedentedly well-aged first release, and is a vatting of 3 casks, #02, #03 and #07, all filled in that first year of production.

Daftmill is a farm distillery, owned and run by the Cuthbert family, who grow all of the barley used in their whisky on-site. The distillery is only operational during the farm's quiet periods in mid-summer and mid-winter, sometimes producing as few as 100 casks per year. This first release is no heralding of an opening of the floodgates then, and future Daftmill releases should prove every bit as difficult to come by, and as sought after as this, the first. A true boutique product.

The Chariot barley used for this bottling was harvested in 2014 from the farm's Dam Park and Curling Pond fields. It was malted locally in Fife by Robert Kilgour & co, some of the last in fact, as that company has long since closed down.

One of just 629 bottles.

Old Pulteney World's Best Whiskies Pack 2 x 70cl / 21 Year Old & 1989 Vintage

A nicely presented twin pack containing 'the world's best whiskies'. 

Jim Murray named Old Pulteney 21 Year Old as his World Whisky of the Year in 2012, whilst the 1989 Vintage (bottled 2015) won the World's Best Single Malt award at the World Whiskies Awards in 2016. 

This is twin pack number 112 of 276. Both bottles are 46% ABV.

This lot has a 2 bottle shipping fee. 

Douglas Laing Regional Malts 20 Year Old Dutch Editions 5 x 70cl / with Plinth

The Region Malts series from Douglas Laing are a collectible series of blended malts, from each of the 5 of the Scotch whisky regions. Big Peat is an Islay blend, The Epicurean is Lowland, Rock Oyster contains Island malt, Scallywag is the Speysider and Timorous Beastie is the Highland variant.

These 20 year olds are Dutch exclusives and were bottled to commemorate the 100th anniversary of De Monnik Dranken.

Each bottle is one of only 200 produced.

The lot includes a display plinth for all 5 bottles.

This lot has a 6 bottle shipping fee.

Daftmill 2005 Inaugural Release

Daftmill was granted a license to begin producing spirit in 2005, and has not bottled a single drop of that first distillate until now. This 12 year old expression is an unprecedentedly well-aged first release, and is a vatting of 3 casks, #02, #03 and #07, all filled in that first year of production.

Daftmill is a farm distillery, owned and run by the Cuthbert family, who grow all of the barley used in their whisky on-site. The distillery is only operational during the farm's quiet periods in mid-summer and mid-winter, sometimes producing as few as 100 casks per year. This first release is no heralding of an opening of the floodgates then, and future Daftmill releases should prove every bit as difficult to come by, and as sought after as this, the first. A true boutique product.

The Chariot barley used for this bottling was harvested in 2014 from the farm's Dam Park and Curling Pond fields. It was malted locally in Fife by Robert Kilgour & co, some of the last in fact, as that company has long since closed down.

One of just 629 bottles.

Oban 16 Year Old Manager's Dram Bicentenary 1994

The Manager’s Dram series of whiskies were bottled exclusively for employees of what is now known as Diageo.  These whiskies were selected by the respective distillery managers within Diageo malt distilling and bottled at natural cask strength.

Bottled to celebrate Oban’s 200th anniversary 1794–1994  this 16 year old was released exclusively from sherry casks by distillery manager John William and his employees listed on the rear of the bottle.

Bottled July 1994.

Dailuaine 1962 Signatory Vintage 36 Year Old / Including 5cl

Distilled in 1962 and 26 years later in 1998 by Signatory Vintage in celebration of their 10th Anniversary.

One of 180 bottles drawn from cask #11282.