November 2018 Auction

Johnnie Walker The Directors Blend 2011

Never available at retail, the Johnnie Walker Directors Blends were only given to very important Diageo types. Very few bottles made it to the secondary market and collectors have fought to get hold of these essential parts of Johnnie Walker history.

The 2011 release celebrates the flavour profiles of the cask. Each year Diagio offer one of their design partners the opportunity to push the envelope and offer their vision for the Directors blend. In 2011, Raison Pure design agency chose to highlight the exceptional colour of the liquid.

The bottle an labeling was designed to maximise the light entering the bottle.

Bottle number 37 of 504. 

Jura 1966 Duthie for Corti 20 Year Old 75cl / US Import

A 1966 vintage Jura, bottled by R.W. Duthie for the Corti Brothers of Sacramento, CA, which has become one of the rarest independent Jura around.

A real gem for any Jura enthusiast.

Bottled in 1986.

Jura 36 Year Old Single Cask #590 / One of 30 signed by Richard Paterson

A highly sought-after Isle of Jura, distilled in 1965.

Bottled on 19th July 2001 from cask #590, we believe this to have been bottled as part of an 'private bottling' of 30 bottles, in addition to the 449 originally released. 

Signed by distillery manager Michael Heads (now at Ardbeg), this bottle is also signed by The Nose himself, Richard Patterson. 

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.

Johnnie Walker The Directors Blend 2012

Never available at retail, the Johnnie Walker Directors Blends were only given to very important Diageo types. Very few bottles made it to the secondary market and collectors have fought to get hold of these essential parts of Johnnie Walker history.

The 2012 release celebrates the aroma of Fresh Fruits. Instead of using the label to describe the contents of the bottle, LOVE design agency chose to use it to celebrate the recipient of the Blend, drawing inspiration from Johnnie Walker’s ‘Keep Walking’ philosophy.

Bottle number 110 of 504. 

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.

Johnnie Walker The Directors Blend 2013

Only ever given to very important Diageo types, meaning this was never available at retail. This means that very few bottles made it to the secondary market and collectors have fought to get hold of this essential part of Walker history.

There were six bottles in the Director's blend range, this is the final bottle and was designed by Claessens, a simple yet elegant and effective design.

In the flavour department the blend is focused on age and succeeds in creating deep rich character, causing whisky expert Dave Broom to claim that it was one of the best whiskies of 2013.

Bottle number 581 of 588.

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.

Jura Elements Suitcase / Earth, Fire, Air & Water 4 x 70cl

One of only 200 stylish weather-beaten cases containing four expressions of Jura, each chosen to represent one of the four elements. 

• Jura 1999 / Earth
  Distilled on 20th January 1999 and bottled in 2008. This heavily peated expression was bottled as an earthy tribute to the role of peat in the history of the Scottish Islands, where it was relied upon to provide warmth. 
  This is one of 840 bottles, bottled at 46%. 
   
• Jura 1998 / Fire
  Distilled on 10th February 1998 and bottled in 2008. This expression was matured in fired (often referred to as 'charred') bourbon casks. 
  This is one of 684 bottles, bottled at 46%. 
   
• Jura 1993 / Air
  Distilled on 12th May 1993 and bottled in 2008. This expression was matured in air-seasoned Manzanilla casks. 
  This is bottle number 121 of 768, bottled at 46%. 
   
• Jura 1989 / Water
  Distilled on 12th October 1989 and bottled in 2008.  The water used in this bottle came from A'Bhaile Mhargaidh, a loch sought to have life-prolonging properties.
  This is bottle number 287 of 624, bottled at 49.6%. 

This lot has a shipping charge for 6 bottles. 

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.

James E Pepper 1912 Bottled in Bond Sour Mash Whiskey / Pre-Prohibition

A wonderful example of pre-Prohibition American whisky, distilled in 1912 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.

This was distilled at the historic Henry Clay distillery in Lexington, KY. The first distillery on the site was built by JOhn A. Headley and James A Farra, lasting only 2 years before being destroyed by a fire. The land was then purchased in 1880 by George C. Buchanan who built the Henry Clay distillery in partnership with James E. Pepper. The latter became its sole owner by 1891, operating it until his death in 1906. The company continued after this, introducing the Jas. E. Pepper & Co. brand in 1910, along with the \"Born in the Republic\" slogan, both of which can be seen on this bottle.

The Henry Clay plant distilled for the last time in 1918 due to wartime grain rations, and was mothballed two years later at the advent of Prohibition. The distillery was purchased by the Schenley company shortly before the repeal of the Act, who demolished it and built a new distillery under the James E. Pepper name. It operated until 1958 when it again fell silent before being rebuilt in 2017, filling its first barrel just before Christmas that year.

James E. Pepper is an important figure in the history of US distilling, campaigning in 1890 to get the state of Kentucky to allow him to bottle his own whiskey at the distillery rather than to sell it by the barrel to distributors. He was also chief proponent of the Bottled in Bond Act in 1897, along with Colonel E.H Taylor Jr, and was the first to introduce the strip stamp that became a legal requirement on such products.

Please note condition of lot as shown. This bottle is leaking, 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.

Johnnie Walker The Directors Blend 2013

Only ever given to very important Diageo types, meaning this was never available at retail. This means that very few bottles made it to the secondary market and collectors have fought to get hold of this essential part of Walker history.

There were six bottles in the Director's blend range, this is the final bottle and was designed by Claessens, a simple yet elegant and effective design.

In the flavour department the blend is focused on age and succeeds in creating deep rich character, causing whisky expert Dave Broom to claim that it was one of the best whiskies of 2013.

Bottle number 583 of 588.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Korea Sa Shin Do 75cl / The Casks Edition

A special edition bottle of Johnnie Blue label... the icon of whisky worldwide. 

This Blue Label is bottled in a porcelain decanter that was bottled for the South Korean market. On each of the four sides of the decanter is a depiction of a guardian god from Korean mythology. 

Hyunmu guards the north, The Blue Dragon guards the east, Jujak (a phoenix) guards the south and The White Tiger guards the East.  

Very unusually for Johnnie Walker, this has been bottled at cask strength. 

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.

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.

John Jameson & Son's Redbreast 10 Year Old circa 1971 / Gilbey's

An old bottle of Redbreast 10 year old Irish whiskey bottled by Gilbey's of Ireland Ltd. 

The practice of merchant bottlings was common throughout Ireland and indeed, many of the most recognisable Irish whiskies today started out as such. Jameson in particular did not officially bottle their own whiskey until 1968, after the Irish Distillers merger with Powers and Cork Distillers. The then Dublin-based distillers offered their products only by the barrel, which is how this Gilbey's bottling came about.

Distilled at the closed Bow Street distillery which ceased production 1971 and now houses the Jameson visitor's centre. 

We estimate this bottle to be from or slightly after 1971 based on the bottle press date.

No strength or capacity stated. 

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.

Jura 1976 Douglas Laing 40 Year Old / XOP

This is a Douglas Laing bottling of Jura, part of their Xtra Old Particular series. XOP is their ultra-premium range, launched in 2013 and reserved for casks considered the Laing \"family jewels.\"

Distilled in December 1976 and matured in refill barrel #11795.

Bottled in June 2017, this is bottle number 50 of 140. 

Jura 1984 30 Year Old

Jura has released two whiskies dedicated to 1984, an iconic vintage from this island distillery - inspired by George Orwell's novel '1984'.

This 1984 30 year old whisky was matured initially in ex-bourbon casks before a slightly complicated finishing process involving Gonzalez Byass Matusalem Sherry casks, Amaroso and Apostoles Oloroso casks.

One of only 1,984 bottles.

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\". 

Jura 1976 Douglas Laing 40 Year Old / XOP

This is a Douglas Laing bottling of Jura, part of their Xtra Old Particular series. XOP is their ultra-premium range, launched in 2013 and reserved for casks considered the Laing \"family jewels.\"

Distilled in December 1976 and matured in refill barrel #11795.

Bottled in June 2017, this is bottle number 54 of 140. 

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.

Jack Daniel's '1904' Gold Medal Series 1996

A limited bottle of Jack Daniel's, released in 1996 as part of the Gold Medal Series which celebrated each of those won by the distillery.

This is the 1904 version, the first year that Jack Daniel's was awarded gold at the World's Whisky Fair, that year held in St. Louis, Missouri.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Whistlepig 14 Year Old Single Barrel Rye / The Boss Hog 4th Edition

The fourth edition of this highly sought after whisky: The Black Prince.

The Boss Hog range is a straight rye whiskey from the Vermont based distillery, Whistlepig Farm. Although they have recently began bottling their own distillate, older expressions like this have been sourced from other distilleries, generally either MGP in Indiana, or Alberta Distillers in Canada.

Barrel #24 was aged 14 years and has been finished in Armagnac barrels from France.

All recent Boss Hog bottlings feature a Danforth Pewter stopper.

Johnnie Walker Liqueur 75cl / US Import

An incredibly rare Johnnie Walker Liqueur produced originally exclusively for the US market.