October 2018 Auction

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Karuizawa 1984 Single Cask 30 Year Old #5347 / Geisha Label

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 in 1984 and bottled after 30 years of maturation.

Produced from single Sherry cask #5347.

This bottle is one of a pair which were released for The Whisky Exchange's 2014 Whisky Show; the other bottle being a single Bourbon cask #8897 which features a mirror-image label.

Bottled at cask strength.

Karuizawa 1981 Noh Single Cask 31 Year Old #4333 / Belgium Exclusive​

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 series features different masks used in Noh, one of Japan's traditional performing arts. This image features the mask of the Noh character, Shiwa-jō, a revered elderly gentleman nearing deity status.

This limited bottling was distilled in 1981 and bottled in 2013.

Produced from single cask #4333, which yielded only 94 bottles.

This was released as an exclusive to Belgium only.

Bottled at cask strength.

Karuizawa 31 Year Old Sherry Cask #3667 / Golden 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 two highly sought after releases were available to purchase by winners of a ballot hosted by The Whisky Exchange.

Aged for 31 years in sherry cask #3667 this bottle is number 17 of 225. 

Bottled at cask strength.

Glenfarclas 1955 50 Year Old / Bicentenary

A incredibly special bottle of Glenfarclas, selected by George Grant to celebrate the bi-centenary of the distillery's founder, and his great, great, great Grandfather, John Grant.

Only 110 were produced of this 50 Year Old, which comes in an attractive presentation box with certificate / scroll. Distilled on 30th September 1955 and bottled on the same day in 2005.

Bottle Number 105 of 110.

Glenfiddich 1964 Hart Brothers 48 Year Old / Dynasty Decanter

A very rare, independently bottled Glenfiddich. 

Distilled on 15th September 1964 and matured in a first fill Sherry Hogshead for over 48 years before being bottled in Glasgow on the 10th October 2012.

Cask #10796. 

Bottle number 234 of only 300. 

Presented in an attractive glossy black presentation box and silver plated decanter. 

\"The Dynasty Decanter was created to commemorate the last seven independent monarchs of the ancient kingdom of Scotland.\"

Interestingly, the booklet accompanying the bottle suggests that 500 decanters were produced. We presume this is incorrect.

Karuizawa 1980 Single Cask 35 Year Old #8283 / Moon Above the Sea at Daimotsu Bay

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 bottling was distilled in 1980 and bottled in 2015 at an impressive 35 years old..

Produced from single bourbon cask #8283, which yielded only 401 bottles.

Bottled at cask strength, this is stunning bottling presents  Moon above the Sea at Daimotsu Bay, part of theTsukioka Honen's \" One Hundered Aspects of the Moon series on the box and label art

Presented in a stunning lock and key presentation box.

Glenfiddich 1959 Private Vintage 

A stunning single cask bottling of 1959 vintage, which was selected by Glenfiddich's Malt Master and hand bottled on 9th August 2006 after over 46 years of maturation in cask #3934.

Presented in a crafted cherry wood case with certificate, this is bottle number 176.

Specially selected for World of Whiskies.

Karuizawa Cask Strength 1st-4th Release 4 x 70cl

This cask strength series of Karuizawa was exclusively released to the Taiwanese market. Included here are all four releases.

The cask strength series is a blend of sherry casks from 1999 and 2000, all bottled at 61.7%. 

This lot has a 4 bottle shipping fee.

Glen Grant 1949 Gordon and MacPhail 67 Year Old Wealth Solutions / Bottle #1

The third and final release of the Glen Grant Trilogy project by Polish based Wealth Solutions.

Distilled at the Speyside distillery in 1949, before being matured in a single cask #187 for 67 years, making it the oldest of the three bottlings.

The presentation comes complete with a purpose-written booklet by whisky writer Charles MacLean, which is only available with these bottles. A truly unique item in its entirety.

Bottled by Gordon and MacPhail and presented in a beautiful wooden box.

Decanter number 1 of 177. 

Karuizawa 1977 Single Cask #3584 / Geisha Label

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 in 1977 and bottled in 2011.

Produced from a single sherry butt, cask #3584, which yielded only 169 bottles.

Bottled at cask strength, Taiwan exclusive.

Karuizawa 35 Year Old Single Cask #7417 / Water of Life

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 35 year old was bottled in 2015.

Produced from single cask #7417, which yielded only 473 bottles.

Bottled at cask strength.

Karuizawa 1981 Single Cask 35 Year Old #226 / Battle of Kawanakajima

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 bottling was distilled in 1981 and bottled in 2016 at an impressive 35 years old..

Produced from single sherry cask #266, which yielded only 102 bottles.

Bottled at cask strength, this is part of a series of a set of two Battle of Kawanakajima releases. The Battle of Kawanakajima is a work of classical Japanese literature, and has inspired numerous artworks based around its themes, including that used on this label, by Edo era painter, Utagawa Hiroshige.

Presented in a stunning lock and key presentation box.

Karuizawa 1981 Single Cask 35 Year Old #171 / Eight Headed Dragon

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 bottling was distilled in 1981 and bottled in 2016 at an impressive 35 years old..

Produced from single sherry cask #171, which yielded only 530 bottles.

Bottled at cask strength, this is one of several 35 year old releases depicting Japanese mythology on their labels. The Eight Headed Dragon on this label is borrowed form the cover of a popular series of stories published by Hasegawa Takejiro in the 18th century. The dragon is named Yamata no Orochi.

Presented in a stunning lock and key presentation box.

Glen Grant 1948 Gordon and MacPhail 66 Year Old Wealth Solutions / Bottle #1

The first release of the Glen Grant Trilogy project by Polish based Wealth Solutions.

Distilled at the Speyside distillery in 1948, before being matured in a sherry cask #1369 for 66 years.

Bottled by Gordon and MacPhail and presented in a mahogany box.

This is decanter number 1 of 160. 

Glen Grant 1950 Gordon and MacPhail 65 Year Old Wealth Solutions / Bottle #1

The second release of the Glen Grant Trilogy project by Polish based Wealth Solutions.

Distilled at the Speyside distillery in 1950, before being matured in single sherry cask #2747 for 65 years.

Despite being matured for an incredibly long amount of time, The Angels behaved themselves: the cask was filled at 63.5% and bottled at 59.3%.

Bottled by Gordon and MacPhail and presented in a Mahogany box.

One of 218 bottles. 

Glen Garioch 1975 Samaroli / Coilltean

An Eastern Highland malt that is strongly believed to be Glen Garioch.

Bottled by R.W. Duthie & Co in 1987 for 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.

Bottle number 18 of only 648 bottles.

Glenfarclas 1953 Single Cask 58 Year Old / Wealth Solutions

So few whiskies of this age are available these days, even Glenfarclas has no whisky remaining older than 1953. The whisky was distilled on 20th November 1953 and bottled on 13th February 2012, matured exclusively in a first fill sherry butt #1674.

A panel comprising of whisky connoisseur and a key member of the internationally renowned Malt Maniacs, Serge Valentin, along with Ben Ellefsen, Sales Director for Master of Malt, Michał Kowalski of Wealth Solutions and George Grant himself unanimously made the selection from the remaining 4 casks distilled in 1953 and cask #1674 was selected to be bottled.

This single cask bottling was released at 58 years old and sold exclusively through the Wealth Solutions, Poland.

5* rated by Whiskyfun.com (no numerical score as Serge Valentin assisted with selection).

Bottle number 227 of 400.

Karuizawa 1964 Wealth Solutions 48 Year Old Miniature

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 bottling was distilled September 1964 and bottled December 2012

Produced from single cask #3603

Bottled at cask strength for Wealth Solutions, Poland

Lot includes booklet.

Glenfarclas 1953 Single Cask 58 Year Old Wealth Solutions / Bottle #1

So few whiskies of this age are available these days, even Glenfarclas has no whisky remaining older than 1953. The whisky was distilled on 20th November 1953 and bottled on 13th February 2012, matured exclusively in a first fill sherry butt #1674.

A panel comprising of whisky connoisseur and a key member of the internationally renowned Malt Maniacs, Serge Valentin, along with Ben Ellefsen, Sales Director for Master of Malt, Michał Kowalski of Wealth Solutions and George Grant himself unanimously made the selection from the remaining 4 casks distilled in 1953 and cask #1674 was selected to be bottled.

This single cask bottling was released at 58 years old and sold exclusively through the Wealth Solutions, Poland.

5* rated by Whiskyfun.com (no numerical score as Serge Valentin assisted with selection).

Bottle number 1 of 400.

Glenfiddich 30 Year Old Silver Stag's Head Decanter

An 1980s bottling of Glenfiddich 30 Year Old in a crystal decanter and presentation box. There is also a stopper with a hallmarked solid silver stags head.

A very elegant and ornate presentation that was ahead of its time.

Karuizawa 1984 30 Year Old Single Cask #6432 / Samurai

Karuizawa distillery was the smallest distillery in Japan. The distillery was established in 1955  on the slopes of Mount Asama, an active volcano. Karuizawa was mothballed in 2000 and the remaining stocks were thankfully ‘saved’ by Ichiro Akuto.   

Karuizwa’s style was that of a certain Speyside whisky, they almost exclusively used Golden Promise barley imported from Scotland and primarily matured whisky in sherry casks imported from Spain. The key to Karuizawa’s success was the hidden earthiness and peatiness that gave many of their legendary single cask bottlings it’s unique character.

The water source used in production has flowed through the volcanic lava rock and soil that surround the distillery, giving it a unique mineral quality. This high quality led Karuizawa to be the first whisky exported out of Japan but ultimately led to their downfall, as both Japan and the world were not ready to accept such a high quality spirit which was not produced in Scotland. As a result, the distillery was not financially viable, which resulted in a great loss for whisky drinkers but produced an interesting rarity for whisky collectors.

Karuizawa is unique, there are so few releases in the last couple of years of this legendary malt.

Distilled 1984 and matured for 30 years until bottling in 2015, limited to only 404 bottles at 63.2%.

Karuizawa 30 Year Old Single Cask #4201 / Samurai

Karuizawa distillery was the smallest distillery in Japan. The distillery was established in 1955  on the slopes of Mount Asama, an active volcano. Karuizawa was mothballed in 2000 and the remaining stocks were thankfully ‘saved’ by Ichiro Akuto.   

Karuizwa’s style was that of a certain Speyside whisky, they almost exclusively used Golden Promise barley imported from Scotland and primarily matured whisky in sherry casks imported from Spain. The key to Karuizawa’s success was the hidden earthiness and peatiness that gave many of their legendary single cask bottlings their unique character.

The water source used in production has flowed through the volcanic lava rock and soil that surround the distillery, giving it a unique mineral quality. This high quality led Karuizawa to be the first whisky exported out of Japan but ultimately led to their downfall, as both Japan and the world were not ready to accept such a high quality spirit which was not produced in Scotland. As a result, the distillery was not financially viable, which resulted in a great loss for whisky drinkers but produced an interesting rarity for whisky collectors.

Karuizawa is unique, there are so few releases in the last couple of years of this legendary malt.

Cask #4201 was matured for 30 years until bottling in 2015, limited to only 358 bottles.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Gods of Wealth Collection 5 x 1 Litre

The \"Five Gods of Wealth\" in Chinese culture represent wisdom, vision, integrity, fortune, and luck.

Each bottle in this collection depicts a different god, engraved in 18k gold.

Produced to celebrate Lunar New Year, one of only 1000 sets.

Please note there will be a shipping charge for 5 bottles.