October 2018 Auction

Macallan 50 Year Old 2018 Release

Released in 1983, the first Macallan 50 year old was born into a world of uncertainty. Distilled in 1928, the planet was only a decade removed from a war that had changed it forever, and just 10 more years away from another. Many distilleries across Scotland were forced to close their doors during these periods. Macallan, thankfully was never one of them, but was surely casting a nervous eye across the globe for much of the first half of that 50 year old’s life, secreting it away in their warehouses to quietly and peacefully mature as the world fell apart and was rebuilt around it.

The 2018 release of Macallan 50 year old was a product of a far more optimistic world, not least at the distillery itself.  In Macallan’s own words, it was “created at a time when the distillery had the future in mind,” by increasing the number of stills at their Easter Elchies site, and confidently laying down a whisky to rest for half a century to come.

In those 50 years Macallan has become one of the global sales leaders in the Scotch whisky market, along with Glenfiddich and Glenlivet, and is consistently the most collectible. This Macallan, they believe, is a perfect representation of their “journey of discovery in the modern era.” Almost too serendipitously to be a coincidience, this has been bottled in a year when Macallan is again investing in its future, with its multi-million pound new distillery opening to the public and increasing its number of stills once again. Here's to the next 50 years...

Like all the great Macallan before it, this 50 year old was matured in only the finest handcrafted, hand-selected, sherry-seasoned European oak casks, all the way from the bodegas of Spain.  Allowed to interact for five decades with this wood, it is sure to have an incredible rich and full flavour.

Limited to just 200 bottles, this release is almost impossible to come by. Almost.

Bowmore 1964 Single Cask 35 Year Old / with Miniature 5cl

Released for Oddbins in the year 2000, this was bottled from single cask #3709. This sherry hogshead was from the same batch of casks as the legendary Black Bowmore series. 

Unsurprisingly for such a limited release, this is extremely rare. 

Bottle number 98 of just 99 Bottles.

Presented with a matching 5cl sample miniature and a stunning wooden lock-and-key box.

Bowmore 1961 50 Year Old​

Distilled way back in 1961, this 50 year old is the oldest publicly available Bowmore ever bottled (there are a few bottles of 54 year old available to procure from the distillery). The spirit was distilled in December of that year and laid down to rest for half a century in two ex-bourbon hogsheads. The \"angel's share\" in these casks left only enough for a limited 200 bottles.

The presentation of this 50 year old celebrates more than just the craftsmanship of whisky. The bottle was hand-blown and engraved by two of Scotland's foremost glass artists, Brodie Nairn and Nichola Burns. The wooden cabinet and stand were carved and carpented by acclaimed woodsmith Peter Toaig, who used highly-prized burr elm grown in the Scottish Highlands. Finally, the presentation is completed with a solid silver neck collar and 50-year perpetual calendar, allowing you to \"look into the future\" as you savour the past, both fashioned by sixth generation silversmiths, Thomas Fattorini.

This is bottle 83 of 200. 

Karuizawa 1964 Single Cask 48 Year Old #3603 / Wealth Solutions

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim. They have released almost 300 single casks which are becoming increasingly rarer and rarer as demand soars.

This limited release was distilled on the 1st September 1964 and bottled on the 24th December 2012 after 48 years of ageing.

Produced from single sherry cask #3603, which yielded only 143 bottles. This bottle number 143.

This release was an exclusive bottling for Wealth Solutions of Poland.  The box is constructed from Polish black fossil oak.

This extremely rare 1964 single cask is arguably one of the most sought after Karuizawa whiskies ever released and is always highly contested.

Bottled at cask strength.

Remy Martin Louis XIII Cognac Tres Vieille 3 Litre​

Remy Martin is perhaps the most well known of all Cognac producers and has established a reputation for quality that very few others can relate to.

A stunning example of their Louis XIII Baccarat decanter, which holds Grande Champagne cognac aged between 40 and 100 years. This particular bottle wis a limited edition 3 litre and comes in a custom made wooden crate/cabinet.

Includes 4 glasses, a book, pipette and display stand.

Due to the size and weight of this lot, shipping will be charged at 25 bottles.

Macallan 40 Year Old 2017 Release

The highly anticipated 2017 release of the Macallan 40 Year Old. Here's what the distillery's Nick Savage has to say about it:

\"After a gentle slumber for over 40 years in our exceptional Sherry-seasoned oak casks, this rare single malt offers a rich, classic Macallan flavour and a beautiful natural colour. An outstanding and distinct single malt to add to the collection of unique, mature expressions from The Macallan, this release has been limited to 465 bottles. This 40 years old will be highly sought after by whisky connoisseurs around the world.\"

Bottle number 265 of only 465.

Whisky Tint is a whopping 39!

Karuizawa 1974 Single Cask 40 Year Old #4560 / Blue Geisha

Karuizawa produced outstanding whiskies, many of which have received international acclaim. They have released almost 300 single casks which are becoming increasingly rarer and rarer as demand soars.

The \"Blue Geisha\" was bottled after 40 years of maturation in a single sherry butt #4560.

One of only 192 bottles. 

Presented in a beautiful hard wooden lockable cases.

Macallan 40 Year Old 2017 Release 75cl / US Import

The highly anticipated 2017 release of the Macallan 40 Year Old. Here's what the distillery's Nick Savage has to say about it:

\"After a gentle slumber for over 40 years in our exceptional Sherry-seasoned oak casks, this rare single malt offers a rich, classic Macallan flavour and a beautiful natural colour. An outstanding and distinct single malt to add to the collection of unique, mature expressions from The Macallan, this release has been limited to 465 bottles. This 40 years old will be highly sought after by whisky connoisseurs around the world.\"

Bottle number 270 of only 465!

Macallan 40 Year Old 2017 Release

The highly anticipated 2017 release of the Macallan 40 Year Old. Here's what the distillery's Nick Savage has to say about it:

\"After a gentle slumber for over 40 years in our exceptional Sherry-seasoned oak casks, this rare single malt offers a rich, classic Macallan flavour and a beautiful natural colour. An outstanding and distinct single malt to add to the collection of unique, mature expressions from The Macallan, this release has been limited to 465 bottles. This 40 years old will be highly sought after by whisky connoisseurs around the world.\"

Bottle number 253 of only 465!

Whisky Tint is a whopping 39!

Laphroaig 1970 Samaroli

A truly legendary Laphroaig, distilled in 1970 and bottled in 1986 by R.W. Duthie for 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 on the pantheon of whisky greats.

Emmanuel Dron, whisky collector and owner of the Auld Alliance bar has stated that, \"if I had to bring only one bottle to a desert island, it would be [this] Laphroaig 1970 bottled in 1986.\" This is part of the 'Distillery Drawing' collection of Laphroaig bottlings from Samaroli, which includes the legendary 1967 Sherry Cask.

Bottle number 106 of only 720 produced.

Karuizawa 1974 Single Cask 40 Year Old Cask # 3626 / Gold Geisha

A very exciting bottle of Karuizawa which is heads and tails above many of the rest.

Aged for an impressive 40 years, the 'Gold Geisha' bottling was distilled in 1974 and bottled in 2014, presented in a beautiful hard wooden lockable case.

This stunning whisky is the last cask from the 1974 vintage of Karuizawa, cask #3626 which yielded only 392 bottles.

Macallan 1951

Technically not part of the series, however this is certainly a fine and rare Macallan!

Distilled in 1951 and bottled from two sherry casks #1541 and #1542

One of only 632 bottles.

Karuizawa SMWS 132.1-6 Collection 6 x 70cl

The complete collection of the highly desirable SMWS Karuizawa bottlings:

• Karuizawa 1984 SMWS 28 Year OId 132.1 59.9%: 'Secret Moonlight Garden Dram'. Distilled on 30th August 1984 and bottled as a 28 year old, matured exclusively in a single refill ex-Sherry Butt yielded 229 bottles.
• Karuizawa 1991 SMWS 22 Year Old 132.2 62.4%: 'Stunning Panaorama of Exotic Fruits'. Distilled on 4th September 1999 and bottled as a 22 year old in 2013. A single refill ex-Sherry Butt yielded 355 bottles.
• Karuizawa 1993 SMWS 20 Year Old 132.3 61.1%: 'Dark, Mysterious and Seductive'. Distilled on 21st July 1993 and bottled as a 20 year old in 2013. A single refill ex-Sherry Butt that yielded 344 bottles.
• Karuizawa 1996 SMWS 17 Year Old 132.4 61.2%: 'Stunning Panaorama of Exotic Fruits'. Distilled on 4th September 1999 and bottled as a 17 year old in 2013. A single refill ex-Sherry Butt yielded 346 bottles.
• Karuizawa 1999 SMWS 14 Year Old 132.5 58.6%: 'Sweet and Darkly Beguiling'. Distilled on 25th June 1999 and bottled as a 14 year old in 2013. A single refill ex-Sherry Butt yielded 495 bottles.
• Karuizawa 2000 SMWS 12 Year Old 132.6 63%: 'Nite Nurse Nipped by Piranhas'. Distilled on 31st December 2000 and bottled in 2013 this 12 year old Karuizawa was matured in a refill ex-Sherry Butt yielding 553 bottles.

Please note there will be a charge for shipping six bottles. 

Scapa 1958 Samaroli 46% / Handwritten Labels

In the words of Emmanuel Dron, owner of the Auld Alliance - \"The 1958 Samaroli is probably the best Scapa ever bottled.\"  It's certainly one of the oldest vintages known to exist. 

Bottled in 1985, two versions were produced, one at 52% and this one at 46%. Both are exceptionally hard to find.

It 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 137.

Macallan 1946 Select Reserve 52 Year Old

A truly stunning bottle of Macallan distilled in 1946 and matured for over half a century until bottling. Presented in a gorgeous wooden box under lock and key. Complete with certificate.

Bottle number 1583. 

Bowmore 1964 Black Bowmore 30 Year Old 2nd Edition

An icon of the whisky world, it's hard to fathom where whisky collecting would be today without the Black Bowmore. 

The second release of three, all distilled in 1964 and matured within single Oloroso sherry casks before being bottled in the mid-nineties. Sherry casks were used far more regularly in the 1960's than they are now, and this bottle is testament to the quality of these casks.

The Black Bowmore not just a whisky but a true artefact from the history of the spirit, representing a turning point for single malts. Appearing at a zenith in the popularity of sherry-casked whisky, which was for the first time creating a fashionable buzz around single malt whiskies, seeing it replace cognac as the after dinner drink of choice at banqueting tables, and customers now willing to pay the heady sum of £120 for a bottle. We may look back and scoff at this now but this was a princely fee back in the early 90's when the Black Bowmore was first stocked by Oddbins in the UK.

Speaking of the Black Bowmore, Dave Broom writes:

\"If you look at Black Bowmore as fiction, you see it grow from being a simple tale about a product into something which acquires the trappings of legend and myth. What was once ‘Islay’ had been condensed into distilleries; distilleries compressed into specific peculiarities – in Black Bowmore’s case, the magical, never fully explicable weirdness of the conditions in No 1 Vaults, one of walls of which sits below the level of the loch outside; a place of cold and damp, where evaporation is minimal, where elements are both preserved and warped into new shapes, where time slows and things deepen.\"

This is bottle number 1267 of 2000.

Johnnie Walker Swing 1956 / Opening of Hill Street Premises

A very special bottling of Johnnie Walker Swing, produced in 1956 to celebrate the opening of famous Hill Street premises in Kilmarnock, which would become home to the brand for over 50 years. Who would have thought that this bottle would last longer than the facility itself.

Named \"Swing\", as the bottle is designed to rock gently back and forth if it so desires.

Please refer to images for condition, this bottle is very old. Whisky Auctioneer Ltd cannot be held liable for any leakage or damage caused whilst this bottle is in transit, including lots sent using Risk Free Shipping.

Springbank 30 Year Old Samaroli / Cadenhead's 1979

An incredibly rare older expression from this Campbeltown classic.

Springbank of this sort of age is very rare indeed, and tend to be brought to market as limited runs such as the Millennium Collection, or through unusual bottlings such as this.

Silvano Samaroli began his career in the whisky industry as an importer in 1968, operating as the Italian agent for Speyside's Linkwood distillery. This 1979 bottling of Springbank is part of his first foray into the independent bottling scene. The series comprises another, younger Springbank, as well as a Macallan, Highland Park and Glenlivet, among others. They were bottled for him by Cadenhead's, in the classic brown dumpy glass of the era, using unique labels that Samaroli had designed himself.

This is by far the rarest of the set. The other releases in the series were limited to 360 bottles each, we would imagine this is the same. 

Bottle number 25.

Ardbeg 1974 Samaroli 15 Year Old

One of two releases of a 1974 vintage Ardbeg bottled for Silvano Samaroli. At 240 bottles, this is the much rarer of the two.

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 1990, and is bottle number 127.

Glendronach Finest Highland Malt 1930s

An incredible example of pre-world war two Glendronach from the highland distillery in Forgue by Huntly. Glendronach was built in 1826 by James Allardice, and rebuilt following a fire in 1852 by an individual named Walter Scott (although not the one you might be thinking of). It eventually passed into the hands of perhaps Scotland's greatest distilling dynasty, the Grant's of Glenfiddich. Silent at the time, the distillery was sold by government (who had owned it since 1916) to Charles, the youngest son of William Grant in 1920, and his signature is present on this stunning bottle, which we believe dates to around the 1930s.

As such, this bottle will have been one of the first released from the newly revived distillery, and is likely aged around 12 years. It is one of the earliest example of an officially bottled single malt, or \" perfect self whisky\" as the label reads.

Interestingly, the bottle describes itself as \"most suitable for medicinal purposes.\" This is more likely archaic phrasing, suggesting that the whisky is also of excellent value as a medicinal product, rather than a suggestion of its best application, which we're sure nobody was under any allusions was for drinking!

Serge Valentin agrees, awarding a similar 75 proof bottle a solid 86 points on WhiskyFun.com

Karuizawa 1967 Single Cask 45 Year Old #2725 / Aqua of Life

A spectacular Karuizawa from one of the rarest vintages, this is a 45 year old that spent it's years maturing in Sherry butt #2725

This is pretty much as good as Karuizawa gets!

Bottle number 304 of only 310 produced.

Glenugie 1966 Samaroli

A very rare bottling of Glenugie, distilled in 1966 and bottled for Silvano Samaroli by R.W. Duthie in 1986.

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 is bottle number 310 of 480.

Macallan 1989 Fine and Rare 21 Year Old​

Another fantastic example of old Macallan. The Fine and Rare Series of whiskies was designed to represent the very best vintages and whisky that Macallan had to offer, dating back as far as 1926.

Distilled in 1989 and bottled 21 years later in 2010, from single cask #3247.

Unique Reference: a1habv.

Signed and dated on 2nd May 2017 by M Bennet.

Samaroli 1948 West Indies Dark Rum

Samaroli is perhaps Italy's most revered independent bottler of Scotch whisky, but he produced some outstanding rum as well. Legend has it, this was his favourite spirit that he ever committed to a bottle!

Distilled in the Caribbean in 1948, this was impressively aged before bottling in 1991.

Bottle 737 of 800.

Port Ellen 1981 Samaroli / Handwritten Labels

A meeting of two whisky legends, this is a Port Ellen bottled by Silvano Samaroli. Port Ellen has been closed since 1983 and has developed an incredible reputation ever since. Samaroli of course was well appreciated in his own time, bottling some of the finest and most collectible whisky on the market.

This Port Ellen was distilled in 1981 and bottled in 1991. It 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.

This bottle is number 604.

Glen Garioch 1971 Samaroli Sherry Wood Full Proof

This is one of Silvano Samaroli's earliest forays into the realm of independent bottling, following his successful collaboration with Cadenhead's in 1979. This was bottled in the same year. As an official Italian distributor for Glen Garioch, Samaroli had great access to top quality casks and it shows here.

Glen Garioch was a peaty single malt in the 1970s, and this is considered one of the finest examples of balancing the strong characters produced by peat and sherry casks, along with another Samaroli classic, the Laphroaig 1967.

This is the first of two 1971 vintage Glen Garioch released by Silvano, bottled at full proof. The second was single cask homage to this, bottled much later in 1997 at a lighter 43%.

Bottle number 1851 of 2280 produced.

Macallan 1990 Fine and Rare 22 Year Old

Another fantastic example of old Macallan. The Fine and Rare Series of whiskies was designed to represent the very best vintages and whisky that Macallan had to offer, dating back as far as 1926.

Distilled in 1990 and bottled 22 years later in 2013 from cask #24706

Unique Reference: ivL9d7.

Signed and dated on 2nd June 2017 by M. Bennet.

Bowmore 1964 Black Bowmore / Final Edition / Leaking

An icon of the whisky world, it's hard to fathom where whisky collecting would be today without the Black Bowmore. 

Distilled in 1964 and matured within Oloroso sherry casks before bottling in 1995. This is the last of three Black Bowmores released in the mid-nineties. 

This is bottle number 1374 of 1812.

Italian import. 

Please note this bottle is leaking and is only available for collection from our offices in Perth, Scotland.

Refer to condition report and images for further details.

Port Ellen 1981 Casks of Distinction 37 Year Old #1297 / Bottle No.5

Filled into single hogshead #1297 on the 15 April 1981, and then matured for over 37 years. 

One of the oldest bottles of Port Ellen ever released, this is an incredible 37 year old expression and one of only 174 produced.  A rare offering that becomes rarer still when you consider the increasing scarcity of Port Ellen stocks since the distillery closed in 1983. 

The whisky, bottled at 48.9% ABV, has been drawn from single cask #1297, which is part of Diageo's Casks of Distinction programme. Casks of Distinction is the private sale of individual casks of rare and exceptional Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Diageo’s extensive stocks in Scotland. Hand selected by a team of whisky experts under guidance from Master Blender Dr. Craig Wilson, each cask is entirely unique and incredibly rare. Each Cask of Distinction is chosen on the basis of their quality, representing the most exceptional and singular expression of the distillery’s character.

With the announcement of plans to reopen the legendary lost distillery there is hope that in years to come we will once again see outstanding whisky produced at Port Ellen. Until then it is safe to assume that this exceptional 37 Year Old is amongst the last of its kind.

Clynelish 1973 Single Cask 41 Year Old Wealth Solutions / Bottle #1

It is extremely uncommon to see private bottlings produced 'officially' by Diageo.

Their 'Hogmanay Cask' was filled 31st December 1973. The advent of a new year in Scotland is an important tradition for entire communities, with the Clynelish Hogmannay Casks reflecting this. They were a collaborative effort from the inhabitants of the areas, rarely poured into barrels within the confines of the distillery walls for this reason, and very few casks bear the honour of being named as such.

This single cask bottling for Wealth Solutions is twice as exceptional, having been aged for a whopping 41 years, making it the oldest official Clynelish going!

Bottle number 1 of 144 bottles.