October 2018 Auction

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.

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.

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.

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.

Springbank 1966 Sherry Cask 24 Year Old #442 / Local Barley

Springbank produced several 'Local Barley' bottlings from the mid 1960s, all of which have reached legendary status.

Distilled in January 1966 and bottled June 1990 after being matured in an oak sherry cask number #1966 442

Bottle No. 165

The particular release does not have the well known 'Local Barley' title located anywhere on the label, though is recognised as being an early part of the series. 

Longrow 1974 Samaroli Sherry Wood

Longrow heavily peated spirit was first produced at Springbank during the early 1970s. 

This 1974 vintage is the second year of the expression's production, and was bottled by R.W. Duthie for Samaroli in 1987.

The 1970s are regarded by many to be a golden era for Longrow, with a number of outstanding bottlings of these vintages existing, this one being no exception. This is one of a number of releases bottled by Samaroli from this decade, and is considered to be evidence of his visionary outlook on the indusrty given the surging popularity of this particular expression since then.

Matured exclusively in sherry wood, this is bottle number 301 of only 408 produced.

Longrow 1973 Samaroli / Fragments of Scotland

Distilled in 1973, the first year that heavily peated Longrow spirit was distilled at Springbank. Bottled by Samaroli in the 1988 as part of the the Fragments of Scotland series.

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.

The Fragments of Scotland series was bottled in 1988, and each of them feature artworks depicting different elements of Scotland, all painted by Samaroli's friend, Agostino Perrnini.

Bottle number 429 of only 648 bottles.

Springbank 1969 Signatory Vintage 40 Year Old Cask Strength

This is a legendary 1960's vintage Springbank. It was distilled on 12th February 1969 and bottled independently by Signatory Vintage on 14th September 2009, as a 40 year old. Despite it's old age this whisky has an alcohol content of of 54.4% vol. Matured in single refill sherry butt #263 which has allowed some of the original distillery character to shine through with a note of subtle sweetness.

This was at one point the highest rated whisky on WhiskyBase.com, and held the position for some time.

One of 356 bottles.

Skeldon 1978 Full Proof 27 Year Old Demerara Rum

The Skeldon is a legendary bottle of rum, bottled by Velier's Luca Gargano is 2004.

The little known Skeldon plantation was located on the far east of Guyana, and this was distilled on their Coffey still in 1973. The plantation itself closed in 1960, with its barrels transferred to the now also closed Uitvlugt distillery. There is debate as to whether their Coffey still was also relocated to the Uitvlugt, or if the rum is given its name by the barrel marking SWR, which apparently stands for Skeldon William Ross, founder of the Skeldon Estate and former owner of the barrel. Either way, this occupies a fascinating corner in the history of Caribbean rum.

Following the closure of Uitvlugt in 2000, its stills and barrels were transferred to Diamond distillery. Among them were the 3 barrels that contributed to this rum. These were discovered by Gargano, and having spent an incredible 27 years maturing in tropical weather, were bottled straight away for fear of any further evaporation, or as we like to call it, Angels' Share.

This is one of just 688 bottles released in 2004.

L’esprit de Tiffon Cognac Wealth Solutions / Bottle #1

Released in 2014 by Wealth Solutions, this Cognac was produced in cooperation with the Tiffon Cognac house and is produced with stocks distilled entirely prior to the outbreak of phylloxera. These stocks were taken from the \"paradis\" of Sverre Braastad, where the oldest cognac dates back to 1805!

Bottle number 1 of only 150 decanters produced.

Springbank 1966 Samaroli 21 Year Old

A truly venerable expression from this Campbeltown classic. This was distilled in 1966 and is a vintage-mate to some of the most sought after Springbank on the market.

Bottled on behalf of Silvano Samaroli by R.W Duthie in 1987.

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 314 of 408.

Longrow Samaroli 'New Filling Malt' / Fragments of Scotland

A very young peated Springbank, referred to by Samaroli as a 'New Filling Malt / British Spirit'. When is reaches full maturity, the peated Sprinabk expression is known as Longrow, and was first distilled in 1973.

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.

The Fragments of Scotland series was bottled in 1988, and each of them feature artworks depicting different elements of Scotland, all painted by Samaroli's friend, Agostino Perrnini.

Bottle number 612 of only 648 produced.

Springbank 1964 Adelphi 32 Year Old 75cl / US Import

A 1964 vintage Springbank from independent bottlers Adelphi. This was bottled in 1996 at 32 years of age.

Adelphi has a rich history, operating as a distillery in the Gorbals district of Glasgow from 1825, producing spirit from the waters of Loch Katrine. The distillery ceased production in the early 20th century however and several change sin ownership culminating in a takeover by Distillers Company Ltd in 1902. The Adelphi name was revived in 1993 by Jamie Walker, great-grandson of former distillery owner Archibald. With a lineage of whisky expertise he operated Adelphi as private bottling company, which now in the hands of Keith Falconer and David Houston, continues the fine work he began of bottling top quality expressions from Scotland's finest distilleries. This Springbank is yet another fine example of this.

Bottled at cask strength and imported to the US market.

Lagavulin 1991 Single Cask / Bicentenary​ Edition

A single cask Lagavulin released in 2016 to celebrate their bicentenary year.

One of 522 bottled from a single hand-selected ex-sherry butt.

Distilled in 1991.

Longrow 1973 First Distillation - Last Cask

Longrow, the peated spirit produced at Springbank was first distilled in 1973. 

This is bottled from the final cask #1723 of that very first distillation year.

Bottle number 70.

Laphroaig 40 Year Old

Distilled in 1960 and matured in oak casks in Warehouse #1 for over 40 years, this is the oldest age statement that has been available from Laphroaig officially. Bottled on 29th May 2001.  

Extremely limited, this is bottle number 686.

With certificate of authenticity. 

Ledaig 1972 Dùsgadh 42 Year Old 

Ledaig, the peaty distillate produced at Tobermory distillery. When often talk about how important vintages can be to the whiskies produced and the reputation these whiskies have today, in Ledaig's case there is no year more important than the 1972.

Tobermory had been mothballed for almost four decades before the distillery was brought back to life in 1972, this incredible vintage bottled at 42 years of age comes from the rebirth of Tobermory/Ledaig, hence the name:  'Dusgadh'  which is Gaelic for awakening. 

The momento card included is made from copper taken from the old stills that produced the spirit within the bottle.

The card entitles the holder to receive a Ledaig 10 Year Old Deanta in 2024, a bottling taken from some of the final spirit produced by the old stills.

Bottle 419 of 500.

Springbank 30 Year Old

An superb older expression from this Campbeltown classic

Released in the mid 1990s, there has been little of comparative age to be released by the distillery since. 

Springbank 1966 Local Barley

Springbank produced several 'Local Barley' bottlings from the mid 1960s, all of which have reached legendary status.

Distilled in February 1966 and bottled in April 1998 after being matured in bourbon cask number #1966 495. 

Bottle number 98.

Springbank 1970 Adelphi 33 Year Old

A well matured Springbank bottled by Adelphi as a 33 year old.

Adelphi has a rich history, operating as a distillery in the Gorbals district of Glasgow from 1825, producing spirit from the waters of Loch Katrine. The distillery ceased production in the early 20th century however and several change sin ownership culminating in a takeover by Distillers Company Ltd in 1902. The Adelphi name was revived in 1993 by Jamie Walker, great-grandson of former distillery owner Archibald. With a lineage of whisky expertise he operated Adelphi as private bottling company, which now in the hands of Keith Falconer and David Houston, continues the fine work he began of bottling top quality expressions from Scotland's finest distilleries. This Springbank is yet another fine example of this.

Sherry cask #1622 was selected for bottling in 2003.

Springbank 1969 Signatory Vintage 30 Year Old

A Signatory Vintage bottling from Springbank distillery in Campbeltown.

Distilled in September 1969 and bottled in 2000 at 30 years old.

Bottle number 216 of 235 drawn from cask #1689.

Longmorn 1964 Gordon and MacPhail 46 Year Old / Book of Kells

A single cask bottling of Longmorn from Gordon & MacPhail. Distilled in March 1964 and bottled from a first fill sherry hogshead #1539.

Aged an impressive 46 years and bottled in2010.

The label features artwork adapted from the 8th century Book of Kells.

Springbank 22 Year Old Cadenhead's 1970s

A very rare bottling of Springbank, bottled at 22 years of age by Cadenheads.

Pre-metric measurements and the tax strip indicate a 1970's bottling, meaning that the whisky was distilled in the 1950's or earlier. A true piece of whisky history. 

Matured in refill sherry wood. 

Italian import. 

St Magdalene 1978 Single Cask 20 Year Old / 64 Waterloo Street Centenary

A rare official single cask offering from St Magdalene distillery. This was distilled in March 1978 and laid down in a refill European oak cask for 20 years.

It was was bottled in 1998 to celebrate 100 years since the building of 64 Waterloo Street in Glasgow, home of the Engineering Department of United Distillers and Vintners since 1942.

This is bottle 348 of 396.

Includes original letter from UDV.

Springbank Door Gods First Editions 2 x 70cl

These whiskies are released with a wealth of information, relating to their luxiourious nature and rarity. The first edition is two single casks selected by Charles Maclean, world reknowned whisky critic and author.  The Door God scrolls artwork was provided by New Year art collector 'Yin Qi' and replicated for this limited release of 246 editions.

Both whiskies were drawn from a single fresh Port hogshead, with cask numbers #150 and 445.  Cask #150 was distilled on 2nd December 1994 and bottled on 18th June 2013 at 18 years old with a strength of 52.2%.  Cask #445 was distilled on 1st December 1994 and bottled on 18th June 2013 at 17 years old at a strength of 50.9%

Limited to only 246 bottles, these are 191.

Please note there will be a shipping charge for 2 bottles.

Lagavulin 1985 Cask Strength 21 Year Old

A truly legendary Lagavulin, released in 2007 within Diageo's Super Premium selection.

Distilled in 1985 and bottled as a 21 year old at cask strength, this is incredibly highly acclaimed, a must for any Lagavulin collector or drinker - if you haven't tasted this, you should!  

Bottle 5984 of 6642.

Speyburn 12 Year Old Flora and Fauna / Wooden Box

The mythical 12 year old Speyburn Flora and Fauna release.  

Distillerys Company Ltd (DCL) created the Flora and Fauna series in the early 1990s.

When DCL sold the distillery to Inverhouse Distillers this bottle was discontinued, quickly making it the rarest of the Flora and Fauna bottlings.

Springbank 1973 Cadenhead's 18 Year Old Rum Butt

A tropical storm hits Campbeltown with this Springbank fully matured in a Rum Butt.

Distilled in June 1973 and bottled in September 1991 by Cadenhead's.

Laphroaig 1969 Sestante 19 Year Old

An amazing vintage Laphroaig from one of their golden eras, the late 1960s.

The Sestante import company was founded in the 1970s by Ernesto Mainardi, and he bottled his first single casks under the name in 1985. Alongside his contemporary, Silvano Samaroli, Mainardi pioneered giving his customers a choice of both standard 40-46% bottlings, and cask strength releases from the same casks. Along with his other brand, Silver Seal, Mainardi's bottlings are incredibly sought after.

Distilled in 1969 and bottled at 19 years old.

Laphroaig 30 Year Old 75cl

A spectacular, well-aged release from one of Islay's most collectable distilleries. 

Despite being bottled at 75cl, the label features the Royal Warrant so we know that it was bottled in 1994 or later. 

Laphroaig 30 Year Old 

The Laphroaig 30 year old was originally released in 2000.  

Strathisla 1957 Gordon and MacPhail 2007

Distilled over 60 years ago in 1957, this very well aged Strathisla was bottled by Gordon and MacPhail as part of their Distillery Labels series.

It is becoming increasingly difficult, almost impossible to find vintage whiskies these days.  Thankfully over the years Gordon and MacPhail have released bottles like this, a great old Speysider distilled over half a century ago.

Bottled in 2007.