October 2018 Auction

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bowmore 1964 Duthie for Corti 22 Year Old 75cl / US Import

Another outstanding 1964 vintage Bowmore, bottled in 1986 by R.W Duthie & Co of Aberdeen for the Corti Brothers of Sacramento. 

Despite the understated labels, these bottlings have become highly sought-after at auction. 

Bowmore 1965 Prestonfield 22 Year Old

A 1965 vintage sherry cask matured 22 year old Bowmore.

Drawn from cask number #47, this is bottle number 66. 

The Prestonfield House Hotel had several bottles produced for them by Morrision Bowmore in the 1980s. 

Bowmore 1964 Sherry Cask / Soffiantino Import

A 1964 vintage sherry cask matured Bowmore.

1960's sherry cask Bowmore vintages come highly recommended by those lucky enough to try them. 

Soffiantino import for the Italian market.

Hanyu 1990 Ichiro's Malt 'Card' #527 / Ten of Diamonds​

One of Ichiro's Malt's legendary 'Card' series bottlings from the lost Hanyu distillery.

Distilled in 1990 and bottled in 2011. 

First matured in a hogshead and then finished in an American oak puncheon. 

Bottle number 322 of 585. 

Hanyu 2000 Ichiro's Malt 'Card' #9020 / Six of Clubs

The Six of Clubs release within Ichiro's Malt's legendary 'Card' series, bottled in 2009 from cask #9020.

First matured in a hogshead before being re-racked into a cream sherry butt for a second maturation period.

Bottle 29 of 597. 

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.

Hanyu 2000 Ichiro's Malt 'Card' #7020 / Three of Clubs

One of Ichiro's Malt's legendary 'Card' series bottlings from the lost Hanyu distillery.

Distilled in 2000 and bottled in 2009. 

Originally matured in a hogshead and then \"double new wood\" finished in two subsequent new American oak puncheons.

Bottle number 54 of 592.

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.

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.

Bowmore 1973 43 Year Old​

A 2016 super-premium Bowmore bottling.

Vatting the last 6 remaining bourbon hogsheads of 1973, this joins the ranks of some impressive bottles from that vintage. 

Casks 3883-3888 were distilled on the 10th of May 1973 and bottled on the 2nd of June 2016 at a staggering 43 years old.

Bowmore 1973 43 Year Old​

A 2016 super-premium Bowmore bottling.

Vatting the last 6 remaining bourbon hogsheads of 1973 this joins the ranks of some impressive bottles from that vintage. 

Casks 3883-3888 were distilled on the 10th of May 1973 and bottled on the 2nd of June 2016 at a staggering 43 years old.

Due to the strip of ribbon on this bottle not travelling well, Bowmore wax dipped some of the seals. This is one such bottle. 

Bowmore 1973 43 Year Old​

A 2016 super-premium Bowmore bottling.

Vatting the last 6 remaining bourbon hogsheads of 1973 this joins the ranks of some impressive bottles from that vintage. 

Casks 3883-3888 were distilled on the 10th of May 1973 and bottled on the 2nd of June 2016 at a staggering 43 years old.

HKDNP

Bowmore 1973 43 Year Old​

A 2016 super-premium Bowmore bottling.

Vatting the last 6 remaining bourbon hogsheads of 1973 this joins the ranks of some impressive bottles from that vintage. 

Casks 3883-3888 were distilled on the 10th of May 1973 and bottled on the 2nd of June 2016 at a staggering 43 years old.

Hakushu 25 Year Old Limited Edition

The very rare Hakushu 25 Year old... Jim Murray gave it 93 out of 100 and said \"a malt which is impossible not to be blown away by\".

This limited edition bottling is decorated with a five-cord 'Mizuhiki', which symbolises the joining of hands and hearts of the giver and recipient. 

Hakushu 25 Year Old Limited Edition

The very rare Hakushu 25 Year old... Jim Murray gave it 93 out of 100 and said \"a malt which is impossible not to be blown away by\".

This limited edition bottling is decorated with a five-cord 'Mizuhiki', which symbolises the joining of hands and hearts of the giver and recipient. 

Benromach 1949 Classic 55 Year Old

An incredible offering from the storied Speyside distillery. This is an early post-war vintage, distilled all the way back in 1949. Since then the distillery has changed hands twice, and closed down in the intervening 55 years between then and bottling.

Closed in 1983, the distillery lay silent for 10 years before being re-opened by Gordon & MacPhail in 1998 after a year of restoration. Despite all of this upheaval, this whisky lay patiently maturing in refill bourbon barrel #706 until it was bottled in 2004.

This 55 year old is one of only 83 bottled in hand-blown glass bottles, and presented in an individually numbered burnished copper tube.

This is bottle 34.

Each set also includes a copy of the cask's \"Brewing Report.\"

Hibiki 30 Year Old / Kacho Fugetsu Limited Edition

The Kacho Fugetsu Hibiki 30 year old is at the pinnacle of the Hibiki range and a prefect example of their appreciation of the beauty of Japanese nature. The special limited release was exclusive to travel retail in 2015.

Hibiki 30 year old is a very popular and stunning blend produced by Suntory. Here is a just a snapshot of its accolades:

• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2004 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2006 
• Word Whisky Awards 2007 - World's Best Blended Whisky 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2007 
• Word Whisky Awards 2008 - World's Best Blended Whisky 
• International Spirits Challenge Trophy 2008