October 2018 Auction

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.

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.

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.

Ardbeg 1973 Samaroli / Fragments of Scotland

Distilled in 1973 and bottled in 1988 by Silvano Samaroli as part of the rare 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. The painting on this particular label belonged to Silvano, and also appears on the Glen Garioch and Glenugie bottlings.

Although the distillery is not mentioned on the label, it is well known as an Ardbeg.

Bottle number 103 of only 648.

Yamazaki 25 Year Old Limited Edition

A limited edition of around 100 bottles celebrating Japanese hospitality. This whisky has been matured for 25 years in the finest Oloroso sherry casks.

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

Ardbeg 1975 Intertrade 13 Year Old 

A stunning vintage Ardbeg, distilled on 9th October 1975 and bottled at cask strength on 30th July 1989 for Intertrade Italia.

Intertrade was established in Italy in the early 1980s by Nadi Fiori, a contemporary of Silvano Samaroli and Moon Import's Pepi Mongiardino. His company is perhaps less well known than theirs, but bottled some of the most well-regarded and collectible whiskies on the market.

Bottle number 161 of 288. 

Yamazaki 25 Year Old

As we all know, Yamazaki has ascended into the position of one of the most desirable and sought after whiskies in the world.

This 25 year old is matured exclusively in the finest Oloroso sherry casks and presented in a very elegant, simple box.

Bottle number 10937.

Port Ellen 1978 Intertrade 16 Year Old

A very interesting 1978 vintage Port Ellen, bottled in 1994 at 18 years old and imported to the Italian market.

Intertrade was established in Italy in the early 1980s by Nadi Fiori, a contemporary of Silvano Samaroli and Moon Import's Pepi Mongiardino. His company is perhaps less well known than theirs, but bottled some of the most well-regarded and collectible whiskies on the market.

Less appreciated in its time, Port Ellen distillery closed in 1983 and has also developed a strong reputation since.

One of 258 bottles produced.

Ardbeg 1974 Single Cask 29 Year Old #2740

A single cask Ardbeg filled on 14th June 1974 and bottled at cask strength 29 years later, on the 11th August 2003

Cask #2740 yielded only 120 bottles. This is bottle number 17.

Port Ellen 21 Year Old Maltings 25th Anniversary

A stunning, and particularly rare, Port Ellen released in 1998 to mark the 25th Anniversary of Port Ellen Maltings.

This has been widely reviewed and acclaimed, reaching a cracking 94 points on WhiskyFun.com! A Port Ellen for any serious collector.

Bottle number 169. 

Yamazaki 18 Year Old Mizunara Oak 2017 Edition

An 18 year old malt from the oldest whisky distillery in Japan. In order to create the expression, Suntory’s chief blender Shinji Fukuyo tasted a hundreds of mizunara-matured whiskies and selected casks with varying ages.

Mizunara oak is incredibly rare.

Port Ellen 1979 22 Year Old 1st Release

The first of the incredibly popular Port Ellen annual releases. Distilled in 1979 and bottled 22 years later in 2001 at cask strength.

Port Ellen is the lost jewel in the Islay crown. Closure in 1983 has enabled this distillery to receive a near mythical amount of love and respect. As stocks get thinner on the ground, these bottles become rarer and rarer.

Limited to 6,000 bottles, this is number 0987.

Ardbeg 1975 Single Cask #1375

This whisky was distilled on 28^th March 1975 and matured in a sherry butt before being bottled on 8^th November 2006.  This 31 year old has become a rarity as single cask Ardbeg has become beyond rare.

This is bottle number 191 of 522 bottles.

Yamazaki 18 Year Old Mizunara Oak 2017 Edition

An 18 year old malt from the oldest whisky distillery in Japan. In order to create the expression, Suntory’s chief blender Shinji Fukuyo tasted hundreds of mizunara-matured whiskies and selected casks with varying ages.

Mizunara oak is incredibly rare, expensive and difficult to cooper into casks, hence why it is used so sparingly.

Yamazaki 1998 Single Cask #CU70066​

Single cask Yamazaki are very rare and hard to find these days.

This was distilled in 1998 and matured in sherry butt #CU70066 until bottling in 2012.

Bottle number 172.

Port Ellen 1979 22 Year Old 1st Release

The first of the incredibly popular Port Ellen annual releases. Distilled in 1979 and bottled 22 years later in 2001 at cask strength.

Port Ellen is the lost jewel in the Islay crown. Closure in 1983 has enabled this distillery to receive a near mythical amount of love and respect. As stocks get thinner on the ground, these bottles become rarer and rarer.

Limited to 6,000 bottles, this is number 2181.

Yoichi 1987 SMWS 26 Year Old 116.20

A SMWS bottling of Yoichi, distilled on 7th November 1987 and bottled after 26 years in 2014.

This bottling is titled \"Fascinating Complexity and Finesse\".

Matured in a virgin oak puncheon and limited to 452 bottles.

Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2016

Matured in Oloroso sherry casks, aged between 12 and 15 years old and even 25 years old, blended together with older single malt stock by chief blender Shinji Fukuyo.

This bottling is the follow up to the famous 2013 release which won 'Best Whisky in the World' according to Jim Murray and his Whisky Bible.

5000 bottles were produced which is less than third of the quantity of the previous release of Yamazaki Sherry Cask, of which there were approximately 16,000 bottles.

Ardbeg 1975 Douglas Laing 25 Year Old

A very rare independent bottling from Islay's famous Ardbeg distillery.

This was distilled in 1975 and bottled in October 2000 by Douglas Laing, part of their Old Malt Cask series.

This is one of 702 bottles.

Yoichi 1987 SMWS 26 Year Old 116.20

A SMWS bottling of Yoichi, distilled on 7th November 1987 and bottled after 26 years in 2014.

This bottling is titled \"Fascinating Complexity and Finesse\".

Matured in a virgin oak puncheon and limited to 452 bottles.

Ardbeg 1965 Gordon and MacPhail 15 Year Old / Co. Pinerolo Import

A very old vintage of Ardbeg bottled by Gordon & MacPhail as part of their Connoisseurs Choice series.

Distilled in 1965, matured for 15 years and imported to Italy by Co. Import, Pinerolo.

Ardbeg 1964 Gordon and MacPhail

A very old bottling of Ardbeg by Gordon and MacPhail, distilled in 1964 and bottled in 1996, a fantastic, rare and old vintage.

Yamazaki 2000 Single Casks / Whisky Shop 3rd Anniversary

A Yamazaki distilled in 2000 aged in a Spanish oak sherry butt and bottled in 2013 for the 3rd Anniversary of the Whisky Shop. 

Port Ellen 1974 Sestante 14 Year Old / 65.5%

A very interesting 1974 vintage Port Ellen, bottled in 1988 at 14 years old.

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.

Port Ellen 1978 37 Year Old 16th Release

The sixteenth edition of the incredibly popular Port Ellen annual releases. Distilled in 1978 and bottled 37 years later in 2016, bottled at cask strength. 

Port Ellen is the lost jewel in the Islay crown. Closure in 1983 has enabled this distillery to receive a near mythical amount of love and respect. As stocks get thinner on the ground, these bottles become rarer and rarer.

Limited to 2940 bottles, this is bottle 2010.

Yamazaki 12 Year Old Cask Strength Barrel Decanter 1 Litre

A fun barrel-shaped decanter containing a whole litre of 12 year old Yamazaki, bottled at 58%. 

Port Ellen 1982 Whisky Exchange Single Cask / Royal Wedding 2011

A Port Ellen distilled in 1982 and bottled on the 29th of April 2011, bottled by The Whisky Exchange to celebrate the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. 

Matured in single sherry cask #2290 and bottled at cask strength. 

One of 213 bottles. 

Ardbeg 1973 Sestante 15 Year Old

One of two very rare Ardbeg's bottled by the famous Italian bottler, Sestante. 

Only very rarely will you find Ardbeg from this period these days, it is well worth investigating these older bottlings, even more so when they are from bottlers such as Sestante.

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.

Bottled in 1988.

Ardbeg 1973 Sestante 15 Year Old

One of two very rare Ardbeg's bottled by the famous Italian bottler, Sestante. 

Only very rarely will you find Ardbeg from this period these days, it is well worth investigating these older bottlings, even more so when they are from bottlers such as Sestante.

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.

Bottled in 1988.

Port Ellen 1982 Whisky Exchange Single Cask / Royal Wedding 2011

A Port Ellen distilled in 1982 and bottled on the 29th of April 2011, bottled by The Whisky Exchange to celebrate the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. 

Matured in single sherry cask #2290 and bottled at cask strength. 

One of 213 bottles. 

Port Ellen 1979 22 Year Old 1st Release

The first of the incredibly popular Port Ellen annual releases. Distilled in 1979 and bottled 22 years later in 2001 at cask strength.

Port Ellen is the lost jewel in the Islay crown. Closure in 1983 has enabled this distillery to receive a near mythical amount of love and respect. As stocks get thinner on the ground, these bottles become rarer and rarer.

Limited to 6,000 bottles, this is number 1733.

Port Ellen 1978 34 Year Old 13th Release

The thirteenth edition of the incredibly popular Port Ellen annual releases. Distilled in 1978 and bottled 34 years later in 2014, bottled at cask strength.

Port Ellen is the lost jewel in the Islay crown. Closure in 1983 has enabled this distillery to receive a near mythical amount of love and respect. As stocks get thinner on the ground, these bottles become rarer and rarer.

 Limited to 2,958 bottles, this is bottle 2204.