November 2018 Auction

Talisker 1978 Samaroli Sherry Wood / Curved Distillery Label

A beautifully coloured bottling of Talisker from Silvano Samaroli, distilled in 1978 and bottled in 1992. This is part of series of classic labels, affectionately termed as the 'Curved Distillery Name' series, released between 1986 and 1992.

This was one of the later releases, and one of the last where Samaroli was still in business with Aberdeen bottlers R.W. Duthie (their commitments to Cadenhead's were so time consuming by the early 1990s that this brought an end to the partnership).

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.

Bottle 1362 of 1572.

Tobermory 1973 42 Year Old

A truly spectacular bottling from this oft-overlooked Island distillery. 

Distilled in 1942 the liquid has been rested in cask for 42 years before being filled into individually number engraved bottles and presented in a very swish metal presentation box with revolving door.

Bottle number 172 of 650. 

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.

Talisker 1957 Gordon and MacPhail Cask Strength

A Talisker distilled in 1957 and bottled at cask strength by Elgin bottlers Gordon and MacPhail at some point in the 1980s.

Strathisla 1937 Gordon and MacPhail 34 Year Old / Co. Pinerolo​ Import

This Talisker was distilled on Skye in 1953 and bottled as 24 year old by Gordon and MacPhail using their Connoisseur's Choice branding in the 1970s.

Bottle number 1729.

Pinerolo Italian Import. These particular bottlings all scored between 90 and 94 points when reviewed by Serge Valentin for Whiskyfun.com. Very impressive indeed!

Please note condition of lot as shown, including Italian and British Tax Stamps.

The liquid in this particular bottle has been carbon dated by Oxford University's Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit. The information corresponds with the vintage of this bottling. A pdf copy of the certificate is available on request.

Talisker 1957 Gordon and MacPhail Cask Strength

A Talisker distilled in 1957 and bottled by Elgin bottlers Gordon and MacPhail at some point in the 1980s.

These are highly rated bottlings - Serge Valentin gave its sister G&M 1957 cask strength bottling an impressive rating of 96 points out of 100, his highest mark for any Talisker!

Talisker 1953 Gordon and MacPhail 24 Year Old / Co. Pinerolo Import

This Talisker was distilled on Skye in 1953 and bottled as 24 year old by Gordon and MacPhail using their Connoisseur's Choice branding in the 1970s.

Bottle number 1725.

Pinerolo Italian Import. These particular bottlings all scored between 90 and 94 points when reviewed by Serge Valentin for Whiskyfun.com. Very impressive indeed!

Please note condition of lot as shown, including Italian and British Tax Stamps.

The liquid in this particular bottle has been carbon dated by Oxford University's Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit. The information corresponds with the vintage of this bottling. A pdf copy of the certificate is available on request.

Tomintoul 1967 Samaroli / 50th Anniversary

An independent bottling of Tomintoul distilled in 1967, one of seeveral of this distillery and vintage bottled by Samaroli. This one is particularly special, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the company, which was marked the year after their great founder's death.

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.

This was drawn at over 50 years old from two casks, #4688 and #5425 and is bottle 80 of 180.

Talisker 1956 Gordon and MacPhail

An absolutely stunning bottle of Talisker, distilled in 1956 and bottled at some point in the 1980s by Gordon and MacPhail.

Taketsuru 25 Year Old Pure Malt

A very rare bottling of Taketsuru, originally introduced in 2012 this blended malt contains casks from Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries.

It is extremely limited and only 120 bottles were available throughout Europe. 

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. 

Talisker 1951 Gordon and MacPhail 21 Year Old / Co. Pinerolo​ Import

This Talisker was distilled on Skye in 1951 and bottled as 21 year old by Gordon and MacPhail using their Connoisseur's Choice branding in the 1970s.

Bottle number 118.

Pinerolo Italian Import.

Pinerolo Italian Import. These particular bottlings all scored between 90 and 94 points when reviewed by Serge Valentin for Whiskyfun.com. Very impressive indeed!

Please note condition of lot as shown, including Italian and British Tax Stamps.

The liquid in this particular bottle has been carbon dated by Oxford University's Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit. The information corresponds with the vintage of this bottling. A pdf copy of the certificate is available on request.

Taketsuru 25 Year Old Pure Malt

A very rare bottling of Taketsuru, originally introduced in 2012 this blended malt contains casks from Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries.

It is extremely limited and only 120 bottles were available throughout Europe. 

Tamdhu 1966 Kingsbury 33 Year Old

An independent 33 year old bottling of Tamdhu from Eaglesome Ltd.

Distilled in 1966 and matured in single hogshead #5153.

Bottle 122 of 132.

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.

Tullibardine 1965 Cask Strength

Distilled in 1965 and bottled in December 2007 from a single Hogshead. 

Cask #2337 yielded 112 bottles.

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 .

Tomatin 1967 40 Year Old

The Tomatin 40 year old is highly acclaimed and widely sought after.

Distilled in 1967 and matured in a combination of seven ex-bourbon hogshead casks. 

One of 1614 bottles

Tomatin 1970 Single Cask #12267

Distilled in 1970 then matured in single cask #12267 until August 2007 when it was bottled. 

Bottle number 93.  

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.

Tamnavulin 40 Year Old Single Malts of Scotland

A very impressive Single Malts of Scotland (AKA Elixir Distillers, AKA Speciality Drinks, AKA The Whisky Exchange) bottling of Tamnavulin, matured for whopping 40 years in two bourbon barrels. 

One of only 323 bottles produced released under the companies preium Director's Special label.

Immaculately presented in a sophisticated wooden box

Talisker 17 Year Old Manager's Dram 2011

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.

A 17 year old Talisker bottled in 2011.

Bottle No. 710.

Tomatin 1976 Cadenhead's 39 Year Old

An impressively aged single cask Tomatin from Scotland's oldest independent bottler, Cadenhead's.

Distilled in 1976 bottled from a bourbon hogshead in 2016.

One of 162 bottles.

Talisker 30 Year Old 2009 Release

Released in 2009, this is a 30 year old Talisker limited to only 3000 bottles.

Bottle number 1808. 

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye 2014 Release

Buffalo Trace's Antique Collection celebrates various historic bourbon brands and figures. The Thomas H. Handy rye is named after the company's founder, and features an image of the eponymous Sazerac Coffee House where everything started on the bottle.

In recent years, due to the supply shortage of bourbon, rye whiskeys - including those of Thomas H. Handy - have both become increasingly popular, and then increasingly harder to get hold of.  Particularly so after the T.H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey 2011 release was named Jim Murray's \"Whisky of the Year!\"

Thomas H Handy Sazerac Rye 2017 Release

Part of Buffalo Trace's annual antique collection. Bottled at 63.6% alcohol, they do get higher ABV than this but it's still impressive!

The 2011 release won Jim Murray's Whisky of the Year! 

Buffalo Trace's Antique Collection celebrates various historic bourbon brands and figures. The Thomas H. Handy rye is named after the company's founder, and features an image of the eponymous Sazerac Coffee House where everything started on the bottle.

Thomas H Handy Sazerac Rye 2017 Release

Part of Buffalo Trace's annual antique collection. Bottled at hot 63.6% alcohol, they do get higher ABV than this but it's still impressive!

The 2011 release won Jim Murray's Whisky of the Year! 

Buffalo Trace's Antique Collection celebrates various historic bourbon brands and figures. The Thomas H. Handy rye is named after the company's founder, and features an image of the eponymous Sazerac Coffee House where everything started on the bottle.

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.

Tomintoul 1968 Whisky Agency 45 Year Old / Perfect Dram

An independent bottling of Tomintoul by The Whisky Agency under their Perfect Dram label.

Distilled in 1968 and bottled in 2013 at 45 years old.

One of 143 bottles drawn from a a bourbon hogshead.

Talisker 30 Year Old 2011 Release

Released in 2011 alongside Diageo's annual special releases, this is bottle number 1203 of 2964.

Talisker 25 Year Old 2005 Release

A Talisker 25 year old released as part of Diageo's super premium selection in 2005.

Matured in refill casks and limited to 15,600 bottles.