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.

Weller's Antique Reserve 10 Year Old Original Barrel Proof 1970s / Stitzel-Weller

A fantastic old bottling of Weller's Antique Reserve, aged 10 years and bottled at a barrel proof of 110.

Distilled and then bottled in the early 1970s at the legendary Stizel-Weller distillery, and given the age statement, likely from stock produced by Julian Van Winkle I before his death in the mid-1960s. The distillery was then run by his son, Julian Van Winkle II until its sale in 1972. The leaflet in the box has a note signed off by Julian II as company president, meaning this bottle predates the sale.

Presented in an ornate felt lined box with two glasses.

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!

Willett Family Estate 23 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon #B58 / Wheated

An exclusive release from cask #B58, which means that it was produced at Bernheim distillery and will have a high wheat content mashbill. At 23 years old, this barrel pre-dates the Heaven Hill purchase of Bernheim, although Kentucky Bourbon Distillers still procure much of their bottling stock from there while their renewed distilling operation at Willett is still in its infancy.

Matured in a single white oak barrel and bottled for exclusive retail in the Willett distillery gift shop.

One of just 108 bottles.

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.

Willett Family Estate 22 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon #324​

A well-aged bourbon from Kentucky Bourbon Distillers' Willet Family Estate series.

Released on the 30th May 2015 at the Willet distillery gift shop, this was matured in barrel #324.

Bottle number 41 of 109 bottles.

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.

W.G. O'Doherty Matured Old Irish Whiskey circa 1880s

An incredible old bottle of Irish whiskey bottled by W.G. O'Doherty Ltd. Tea, Wine and Spirit Merchant of Bishop Street, Londonderry which was established in 1871 as a grocery and public house. It's thought that this bottle would have been produced when bottling took place below the shop between 1873 and 1883. More information can be found out about the company by clicking the following links:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-21951320

https://www.nmni.com/our-museums/ulster-american-folk-park/Things-to-see/WG-O-Doherty-Licensed-Grocer.aspx

No measurements present but the bottle is full sized. Please note this very old bottle is particularly fragile, Whisky Auctioneer Ltd cannot be held liable for any leakage/damage caused whilst the bottle is in transit.

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.

W. L. Weller 10 Year Old Centennial Single Barrel / Whitehouse Liquor

Originally produced at the old Stitzel-Weller distiller, the 10 year old Centennial brand was revived by Buffalo Trace as part of their Bourbon Heritage Collection.

This particular bottling is from barrel #1, which was specially selected by Ben Faubel for Whitehouse Liquor, NY.

Willett Family Estate 8 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon #494 / Binnys Beverage Depot

A single barrel bourbon, bottled by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers at Willett distillery. Barrel #494 was bottled in 2012 for Binny's Beverage Depot.

One of 124 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 .

Willett Family Estate 16 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon #1597

A single White Oak barrel bourbon, distilled and bottled at Willett by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers. KBD have barrels from nearly every major distillery in their warehouses, but the majority were sourced from neighbours, Heaven Hill.

Cask #1597 was bottled at 16 years old and 123 US proof.

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

Willett Family Estate 15 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon #1605​

A single White Oak barrel bourbon, distilled and bottled at Willett by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers. KBD have barrels from nearly every major distillery in their warehouses, but the majority were sourced from neighbours, Heaven Hill.

Cask #1605 was bottled in December 2016 and was available exclusively at the Willett distillery gift shop.

Wild Turkey 12 Year Old 101 Proof Limited Edition 1980s

A limited edition bottling of Wild Turkey 12 year old, bottled at the expected 101 US Proof / 50.5%. This was bottled at some point after 1985.

The Wild Turkey distillery, originally known as Boulevard, was built in 1869 in Tyrone, Kentucky. The name was not Wild Turkey until 1941 when some, shared on a hunting trip, was referred to as \"some of that wild turkey whiskey\". 

Wild Turkey 12 Year Old 101 Proof Limited Edition

A limited edition bottling of Wild Turkey 12 year old, bottled at the expected 101 US Proof / 50.5%. This was bottled at some point after 1985.

The Wild Turkey distillery, originally known as Boulevard, was built in 1869 in Tyrone, Kentucky. The name was not Wild Turkey until 1941 when some, shared on a hunting trip, was referred to as \"some of that wild turkey whiskey\". 

William L Weller 2017 Release

Released within the famous and eagerly awaited Buffalo Trace Antique Collection which celebrates historic bourbon brands and figures.

William Larue Weller was a 19th century whiskey rectifier and distiller, who's W.L. Weller and Sons company was run by the legendary Julian 'Pappy' Van Winkle. The Weller and Van Winkle brands are both produced at Buffalo Trace distillery nowadays, distilled to very similar old Stitzel-Weller recipes, and are among the most sought after bourbons on the market.

One of approximately 19,000 bottles from 155 handpicked barrels.

The 2017 release of the William L Weller is aged 12 years.

W. L. Weller 10 Year Old Centennial 1990s / Bernheim

Originally produced at the old Stitzel-Weller distiller, this 10 year old Centennial brand was produced by United Distillers (now Diageo) in the mid 1990s.

United Distillers owned Stitzel-Weller and its brands, but with the famous distillery out of operation, this was produced at Bernheim distillery in Louisville instead.

Diagwo would sell the Weller brand to Buffalo Trace in 1999, and Bernheim to Heaven Hill, making this bottle quite the novelty.

Tomatin 1970 Single Cask #12267

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

Bottle number 93.