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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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. 

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.

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%. 

Yamazaki Mizunara Cask 2013

Yamazaki has been thrust into the spot light after their Sherry Cask release of 2013 received the title of Best Whisky in the World title from Jim Murray.  

They have released several other limited annual editions including this Mizunara matured bottling.    

Mizunara (Japanese Oak) is famous for imparting it's own characteristics onto the whisky stored within them such as sandalwood and other notes.  

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.

Yamazaki 2003 SMWS 11 Year Old 119.14

\"Raspberry Imperial Stout\"

Distilled in April 2003 and then matured for 11 years in a 1st Fill Spanish \"Bota Corta\" Sherry Cask.

One of 538 bottles.

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.  

Yoichi 20 Year Old

An older version of the now discontinued 20 year old from Yoichi distillery.

Long Pond 9 Year Old Averys for Corti 'Vale Royal' Jamaican Wedderburn Rum 1970s  / US Import

This is a truly special bottle. The terms Wedderburn and Vale Royal are both fairly obscure, though both are used to refer to specific, high ester rums particular to Jamaica.

Wedderburn rum was a classification of heavy rum that would usually be used to give weight and flavour to blended rums - much like malt or peated whisky in blends - and is rarely seen unblended. Wedderburn rums are identified by an ester count of 200/300 gr/hlpa.

The popular Jamaica rum Smith and Cross, for example, is a blend of Wedderburn, mellowed out with milder Plummer style rum. 

Vale Royal on the other hand is generally used to connote rum produced in the 'style' of Vale Royal, the residence of the Prime Minister of Jamaica, which also housed a now defunct estate distillery which closed in 1959.

There is speculation that the original Vale Royal stills are now situated at Long Pond and that this is where modern Vale Royal rum is produced.

Irrespective, not only is this is a phenomenally rare style of high ester, Jamaica rum, it is also one of a handful of bottles produced for Corti Brothers of Sacramento in the late 1970s, which are highly sought after and have a near cult like status amongst collectors and connoisseurs.

Longmorn 1965 Gordon and MacPhail 46 Year Old / Book of Kells

Distilled in January 1965 this Longmorn has spent 46 years in 1st fill Sherry Butt #370 before bottling at cask strength in 2011.

This is an exclusive bottling for Limburg.

Lagavulin 25 Year Old Bicentenary Edition 75cl / US Import

Released in 2016 as part of Diageo's Super Premium malts. This sherry cask matured, 25 year old Lagavulin is a celebration of the distillery's 200th anniversary.

Number 416 of 8000 bottles. 

Lagavulin 25 Year Old Bicentenary Edition

Released in 2016 as part of Diageo's Super Premium malts. This sherry cask matured, 25 year old Lagavulin is a celebration of the distillery's 200th anniversary.

Number 2856 of 8000 bottles. 

Lagavulin 25 Year Old Bicentenary Edition

Released in 2016 as part of Diageo's Super Premium malts. This sherry cask matured, cask strength 25 year old Lagavulin is a celebration of the distillery's 200th anniversary.

Number 4635 of 8000 bottles.