The Perfect Collection Part One

O.O. Old Orkney Real Liqueur Whisky circa 1930s

Despite being one of the remotest Scottish outposts, the Orkney isles have a long distilling tradition dating back to the 18th century. Of its distilleries, only two now survive, Highland Park and Scapa, but one of its ghosts from the not too distant past still holds something of an allure, Stromness. The distillery was built in the town of the same name in 1817 by John Crookshanks, and was unusual for its time in that it bottled its whisky as a single malt, with the brand name Man o' Hoy. It was later acquired by John Sinclair before falling into disuse in the 1860s. Sinclair then sold it on to Roderick and Duncan MacPherson in 1878, who had been running it for him under his proprietorship. They renamed the distillery after its single malt brand, Man o'Hoy, restored it and returned it to operation. 

The MacPherson's then began to market a new single malt brand called Old Orkney, generally abbreviated to \"O.O.\" which proved to be a huge success. So much so that it caught the eye of Belfast-based distillery company, J&J McConnell, who purchased it in the early 20th century. Its fortunes were to turn however, and the distillery sadly closed down again around 1927. McConnell's Distillery Company, the J&J MCConnell subsidiary that held its license, continued to bottled the \"O.O\" single malt with the last remaining stocks, turning out the last bottles in the mid-1930s. By this point the company had also reverted the distillery name back to its historic Stromness title, which appeared for the last time on bottles like this one.

Oban 1969 Cask Strength 32 Year Old 75cl / US Import

Oban is a small distillery, situated in the heart of the high street in the town after which it is named. Although its output is deliberately low in order to retain its character, it was one of the earliest players on the single malt scene, introducing a regular 12 year old release back in 1979. That release was eventually replaced with a new 14 year old expression in 1988 when the distillery was selected by United Distillers to represent the Western Highlands in the Classic Malts range.

This is a well-aged and incredibly desirable Oban, distilled in 1969 and released as a 32 year old.

Bottled in 2002, this is number 5037 of 6000.

Oban 1969 Cask Strength 32 Year Old 75cl / US Import

Oban is a small distillery, situated in the heart of the high street in the town after which it is named. Although its output is deliberately low in order to retain its character, it was one of the earliest players on the single malt scene, introducing a regular 12 year old release back in 1979. That release was eventually replaced with a new 14 year old expression in 1988 when the distillery was selected by United Distillers to represent the Western Highlands in the Classic Malts range.

This is a well-aged and incredibly desirable Oban, distilled in 1969 and released as a 32 year old.

Bottled in 2002, this is number 5025 of 6000.

Inchgower 1967 Cadenhead's 25 Year Old / 150th Anniversary

The Authentic Collection was launched by Wm. Cadenhead in 1991, and included whiskies from several rare closed Scottish and Irish distilleries, bottled for the company's 150th anniversary. It would later go on to become a mainstay of their portfolio, as the cask strength alternative to the Original Collection, which replaced their famous \"dumpy\" bottlings in the early 1990s. The Authentic Collection is now the flagship Cadenhead brand, and one of the most recognisable independent labels on the market.

This 25 year old Inchgower is one of the original 150th anniversary releases.

Inchgower was built in 1871 by Alexander Wilson, using equipment rescued from the disused Tochineal distillery nearby. When his family went bankrupt, the distillery was bought by the town council, who sold it to Arthur Bell in 1937. As you would expect it has been a key constituent in the Bell's blend ever since. As with Blair Athol and Dufftown, Arthur Bell & Sons took an early interest in bottling its single malt, with official releases appearing from the 1970s. These disappeared when Guinness bought Bell's in 1985 however, and it was not until United Distillers launched the Flora & Fauna brand in 1991 that the former Bell's stable would receive distillery bottlings again. Nowadays important to the Johnnie Walker blend too, other official releases of Inchgower are rare, and it is with independent releases like this where it enjoys the prominence it deserves.

Old Elgin 1938 Gordon and MacPhail 46 Year Old 'Book of Kells'

Gordon & MacPhail is an Elgin-based family run business, established in 1895 and owned by the Urquhart family. They are perhaps best known for their independent bottlings of single malt, such as the instantly recognisable Connoisseurs Choice brand, and increasingly as distillers in their own right, having acquired Benromach distillery in 1993. The company also has a stake in the blending business though, and has produced a number of well-regarded products over the years. 

Old Elgin is a blended malt, named after the home of Gordon & macPahil, and the largest town in Speyside.

This was produced from a vatting of 1938 vintages, and bottled after 46 years.

Part of their iconic Book of Kells packaging, bearing label art based on the mediaeval, illuminated manuscript for which the series is named.

Old Irish Whisky Henry Thomson and Co circa 1900s

A very old bottle of Irish whisky from Northern Irish distillers and blenders, Henry Thomson & Co. The firm were established in 1816, and their distillery was located on Trevor Hill in Newry. Their products had a big presence in the late 19th and early 20th century, securing a Roya; Warrant from Queen Victoria, as well as supplying the Houses of Parliament. Henry Thomson Jr, who ran the firm from the 1880s to 1916, was also a unionist MP, which may also explain the brand's good graces with the British higher-ups.

The brand's ubiquity then died off in the 1930s, with no adverts for Henry Thomson whisky appearing in the British Newspaper archive after 1929. Like much of the Irish distilling industry, they were likely hit hard by US prohibition, and political unrest in their own country around the time. This is a fine relic of a bygone period of distilling prosperity in Ireland.

Oban 16 Year Old Manager's Dram Bicentenary 1994

The Manager’s Dram series of whiskies were bottled exclusively for employees of what is now known as Diageo.  These whiskies were selected by the respective distillery managers within Diageo malt distilling and bottled at natural cask strength.

Bottled to celebrate Oban’s 200th anniversary 1794–1994  this 16 year old was released exclusively from sherry casks by distillery manager John William and his employees listed on the rear of the bottle.

Bottled July 1994.

Oban is a small distillery, situated in the heart of the high street in the town after which it is named. Although its output is deliberately low in order to retain its character, it was one of the earliest players on the single malt scene, introducing a regular 12 year old release back in 1979. That release was eventually replaced with a new 14 year old expression in 1988 when the distillery was selected by United Distillers to represent the Western Highlands in the Classic Malts range.

Old Overholt 1948 Bottled in Bond 7 Year Old Rye

The Old Overholt brand is a legend in the world of American whisky, established all the way back 1810. This bottle was distilled in 1948 at the Overholt distillery in Broad Ford, PA.

During prohibition, a company called the American Medicinal Spirits Co, run by Otto Wathen, acquired a number of distilleries and brands with which to bottle whiskey using its medicinal license. Distilling new whiskey was banned, so the American Medicinal Spirts Co used their increasing financial muscle (backed up by the reincarntion of the infamous Whiskey Trust, now called National Distillers) to consolidate much of America's whiskey. This included the acquisition of the Old Overholt brand, which they bottled using whiskey from Broad Ford and from the nearby Large distillery.

After the repeal of Prohibition, National Distillers took over the AMS Co completely, and continued to bottle the Old Overholt brand for much of the 20th century. Initially the Overholt distillery was re-opened, but was eventually shut down again, three years after this was distilled. Distilling then moved to Large for the remainder of the 1950s before it too was closed down.

Old Overholt still exists today, produced alongside Old Grand-dad by Jim Beam, who acquired both of 'The Olds' from National Distillers in 1987.

This is a bottled in bond product, with a legal requirement to state both the site of distillation and bottling, and to be filled at 100 US proof, as set out by the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897.

Old Pulteney 1968 Sestante 20 Year Old

The Pulteney distillery in Wick was built in 1826, and for a long time was the northernmost distillery on the Scottish mainland. Acuired by John Dewar & Sons in 1924, the distillery was quickly forced to close down in 1930, as Prohibition in its hometown was enacted to attempt to curb drunkenness among its maritime society. When it re-opened in 1955, the majority of its output was reserved for blending, although Gordon & MacPhail were licensed to bottle a single malt by Allied Breweries (later Allied Domecq). Its single malt was known as \"Old Pulteney\" on their labels, and this tradition remained when Inver House, who acquired the distillery in 1995, released Pulteney's first distillery bottlings.

This is a Sestante bottling for Italy, selected from the warehouses of Gordon & MacPhail.

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.

Old Elgin 1947 Gordon and MacPhail

Gordon & MacPhail is an Elgin-based family run business, established in 1895 and owned by the Urquhart family. They are perhaps best known for their independent bottlings of single malt, such as the instantly recognisable Connoisseurs Choice brand, and increasingly as distillers in their own right, having acquired Benromach distillery in 1993. The company also has a stake in the blending business though, and has produced a number of well-regarded products over the years. 

Old Elgin is a blended malt, named after the home of Gordon & macPahil, and the largest town in Speyside.

This was produced from a vatting of 1947 vintages, and bottled in the 1980s.

Inverleven 1966 Cadenhead's 17 Year Old

Wm. Cadenhead are Scotland's oldest independent bottler, operating for over 175 years, but perhaps none of their bottlings are as sought after as these 'dumpy' style bottles. These were produced with brown glass and an iconic black label (white for the occasional grain whisky), with each distillery given its own letterpress font in homage to William Cadenhead's early career in the printing business.

This is a 1966 vintage Inverleven, bottled in February 1988.

Inverleven was a single malt distillery located within the Dumbarton grain complex. Dumbarton had been built by Canadian giants, Hiram Walker, in 1936 in order to provide whisky for its newly acquired Ballantine's brand. The distillery consisted of two copper pot stills and, later, a lomond still which was actually considered to be a seperate distillery, simply called Lomond. The latter was decommissioned in 1985, with Inverleven following suit in 1991 and the wider Dumbarton complex in 2002. The whole site has now been demolished. Inverleven's legacy lives on however, most prominently in its still set. The Lomond still now produces The Botanist gin at Bruichladdich, and the spirit and wash stills are now in situ at Waterford distillery in Ireland. Its legacy is less prominent in its output, with most of its whisky reserved for blends. Occasional distillery bottlings were produced, but the majority are rare independent releases like this. 

Old Pulteney 1968 Gordon and MacPhail Single Cask #3251

The Pulteney distillery in Wick was built in 1826, and for a long time was the northernmost distillery on the Scottish mainland. Acuired by John Dewar & Sons in 1924, the distillery was quickly forced to close down in 1930, as Prohibition in its hometown was enacted to attempt to curb drunkenness among its maritime society. When it re-opened in 1955, the majority of its output was reserved for blending, although Gordon & MacPhail were licensed to bottle a single malt by Allied Breweries (later Allied Domecq). Its single malt was known as \"Old Pulteney\" on their labels, and this tradition remained when Inver House, who acquired the distillery in 1995, released Pulteney's first distillery bottlings.

Although the standard licensed bottling of Old Pulteney from Gordon & MacPhail was an 8 year old, there have also been some spectacular vintage releases like this single cask, distilled in 1968 and bottled in 1999.

Inverleven 1969 Cadenhead's 27 Year Old 75cl / US Import

The Authentic Collection was launched by Wm. Cadenhead in 1991, and included whiskies from several rare closed Scottish and Irish distilleries, bottled for the company's 150th anniversary. It would later go on to become a mainstay of their portfolio, as the cask strength alternative to the Original Collection, which replaced their famous \"dumpy\" bottlings in the early 1990s. The Authentic Collection is now the flagship Cadenhead brand, and one of the most recognisable independent labels on the market.

Inverleven was a single malt distillery located within the Dumbarton grain complex. Dumbarton had been built by Canadian giants, Hiram Walker, in 1936 in order to provide whisky for its newly acquired Ballantine's brand. The distillery consisted of two copper pot stills and, later, a lomond still which was actually considered to be a seperate distillery, simply called Lomond. The latter was decommissioned in 1985, with Inverleven following suit in 1991 and the wider Dumbarton complex in 2002. The whole site has now been demolished. Inverleven's legacy lives on however, most prominently in its still set. The Lomond still now produces The Botanist gin at Bruichladdich, and the spirit and wash stills are now in situ at Waterford distillery in Ireland. Its legacy is less prominent in its output, with most of its whisky reserved for blends. Occasional distillery bottlings were produced, but the majority are rare independent releases like this. 

Oban 19 Year Old Manager’s Dram 1995 / 59.24%

The Manager’s Dram series of whiskies were bottled exclusively for employees of what is now known as Diageo. These whiskies were selected by the respective distillery managers within Diageo malt distilling and bottled at natural cask strength. The selections were taken very seriously by each distillery, a point of principle, and the result has become a series of rare, sought after and highly regarded single malts.

1995 saw the turn of Oban distillery manager, John Williams, who bottled this 19 year old from specially selected refill casks.

This is an rare version with a slightly different ABV from the bottle more commonly seen.

Oban is a small distillery, situated in the heart of the high street in the town after which it is named. Although its output is deliberately low in order to retain its character, it was one of the earliest players on the single malt scene, introducing a regular 12 year old release back in 1979. That release was eventually replaced with a new 14 year old expression in 1988 when the distillery was selected by United Distillers to represent the Western Highlands in the Classic Malts range.

Oban 19 Year Old Manager’s Dram 1995 / 59.24%

The Manager’s Dram series of whiskies were bottled exclusively for employees of what is now known as Diageo. These whiskies were selected by the respective distillery managers within Diageo malt distilling and bottled at natural cask strength. The selections were taken very seriously by each distillery, a point of principle, and the result has become a series of rare, sought after and highly regarded single malts.

1995 saw the turn of Oban distillery manager, John Williams, who bottled this 19 year old from specially selected refill casks.

This is an rare version with a slightly different ABV from the bottle more commonly seen.

Oban is a small distillery, situated in the heart of the high street in the town after which it is named. Although its output is deliberately low in order to retain its character, it was one of the earliest players on the single malt scene, introducing a regular 12 year old release back in 1979. That release was eventually replaced with a new 14 year old expression in 1988 when the distillery was selected by United Distillers to represent the Western Highlands in the Classic Malts range.

Inverleven 1969 Cadenhead's 26 Year Old

The Authentic Collection was launched by Wm. Cadenhead in 1991, and included whiskies from several rare closed Scottish and Irish distilleries, bottled for the company's 150th anniversary. It would later go on to become a mainstay of their portfolio, as the cask strength alternative to the Original Collection, which replaced their famous \"dumpy\" bottlings in the early 1990s. The Authentic Collection is now the flagship Cadenhead brand, and one of the most recognisable independent labels on the market.

Inverleven was a single malt distillery located within the Dumbarton grain complex. Dumbarton had been built by Canadian giants, Hiram Walker, in 1936 in order to provide whisky for its newly acquired Ballantine's brand. The distillery consisted of two copper pot stills and, later, a lomond still which was actually considered to be a seperate distillery, simply called Lomond. The latter was decommissioned in 1985, with Inverleven following suit in 1991 and the wider Dumbarton complex in 2002. The whole site has now been demolished. Inverleven's legacy lives on however, most prominently in its still set. The Lomond still now produces The Botanist gin at Bruichladdich, and the spirit and wash stills are now in situ at Waterford distillery in Ireland. Its legacy is less prominent in its output, with most of its whisky reserved for blends. Occasional distillery bottlings were produced, but the majority are rare independent releases like this. 

Inchgower 1977 Cadenhead's 19 Year Old Sherry Wood 75cl / US Import

The Authentic Collection was launched by Wm. Cadenhead in 1991, and included whiskies from several rare closed Scottish and Irish distilleries, bottled for the company's 150th anniversary. It would later go on to become a mainstay of their portfolio, as the cask strength alternative to the Original Collection, which replaced their famous \"dumpy\" bottlings in the early 1990s. The Authentic Collection is now the flagship Cadenhead brand, and one of the most recognisable independent labels on the market.

This is a 1977 vintage Inchgower, bottled from sherry wood in 1996.

Inchgower was built in 1871 by Alexander Wilson, using equipment rescued from the disused Tochineal distillery nearby. When his family went bankrupt, the distillery was bought by the town council, who sold it to Arthur Bell in 1937. As you would expect it has been a key constituent in the Bell's blend ever since. As with Blair Athol and Dufftown, Arthur Bell & Sons took an early interest in bottling its single malt, with official releases appearing from the 1970s. These disappeared when Guinness bought Bell's in 1985 however, and it was not until United Distillers launched the Flora & Fauna brand in 1991 that the former Bell's stable would receive distillery bottlings again. Nowadays important to the Johnnie Walker blend too, other official releases of Inchgower are rare, and it is with independent releases like this where it enjoys the prominence it deserves. 

Old Pulteney 1974 Whyte and Whyte 19 Year Old Cask Strength 75cl / Spirits Library

The Pulteney distillery in Wick was built in 1826, and for a long time was the northernmost distillery on the Scottish mainland. Acquired by John Dewar & Sons in 1924, the distillery was quickly forced to close down in 1930, as Prohibition in its hometown was enacted to attempt to curb drunkenness among its maritime society. When it re-opened in 1955, the majority of its output was reserved for blending, although Gordon & MacPhail were licensed to bottle a single malt by Allied Breweries (later Allied Domecq). Its single malt was known as \"Old Pulteney\" on their labels, and this tradition remained when Inver House, who acquired the distillery in 1995, released Pulteney's first distillery bottlings. 

This was bottled for Whyte and Whyte, a Chicago-based independent spirits distributor in the US. The company had a UK arm that sourced casks of single malt from a variety of specialist firms, including Signatory Vintage and Wm. Cadenhead. This bottle is part of a sought after series the company imported for the Spirits Library, a Scotch and Cognac retailer in the US. Whyte and Whyte ceased trading in 1998, and these bottles are an increasing rarity.

Old Elgin 31 Year Old Gordon and MacPhail 1980s

Gordon & MacPhail is an Elgin-based family run business, established in 1895 and owned by the Urquhart family. They are perhaps best known for their independent bottlings of single malt, such as the instantly recognisable Connoisseurs Choice brand, and increasingly as distillers in their own right, having acquired Benromach distillery in 1993. The company also has a stake in the blending business though, and has produced a number of well-regarded products over the years. 

Old Elgin is a blended malt, named after the home of Gordon & macPahil, and the largest town in Speyside.

This 31 year old was bottled in the 1980s.

Old Pulteney 1974 Gordon and MacPhail 15 Year Old 75cl / US Import

The Pulteney distillery in Wick was built in 1826, and for a long time was the northernmost distillery on the Scottish mainland. Acuired by John Dewar & Sons in 1924, the distillery was quickly forced to close down in 1930, as Prohibition in its hometown was enacted to attempt to curb drunkenness among its maritime society. When it re-opened in 1955, the majority of its output was reserved for blending, although Gordon & MacPhail were licensed to bottle a single malt by Allied Breweries (later Allied Domecq). Its single malt was known as \"Old Pulteney\" on their labels, and this tradition remained when Inver House, who acquired the distillery in 1995, released Pulteney's first distillery bottlings.

This is a late 1980s bottling by Gordon & MacPhail, on this occassion for their own Connoisseurs Choice brands, rather than under the official license.

The Connoisseurs Choice label is one of the most recognisable independent bottlings on the market. It was initially created for renowned Italian importer, Edoardo Giaccone in the early 1970s, but became a mainstay of the core Gordon & MacPhail portfolio in 1979.

Edradour 1968 Signatory Vintage 21 Year Old

Signatory Vintage were established in 1988 by Andrew Symington and are one of Scotland's most prolific independent bottlers. Their offices and bottling facility are located next to Edradour distillery.

For a long time Edradour was Scotland's smallest distillery. Owned by William Whitely for much of the 20th century, it contributed malt for their King's Ransom blend, which had developed a strong sales network in the US with dubious Mafia boss, Frank Costello, as its representative. The distillery was eventually sold to Campbell Distillers in 1982, who opened it up to visitors and bottled its first official single malt in 1986. Despite its small size, the distillery has always found itself interested parties, with independent bottlers-turned-distillers, Signatory Vintage, purchasing it in 2002 when it was deemed surplus to requirements by Campbell Distillers parent firm, Pernod-Ricard.  

This is a 1968 vintage, bottled from five casks in February 1990, predating the connection between the two by over a decade.

Old Comber 30 Year Old

The Old Comber distillery was located in Comber, County Down in Northern Ireland.  Like the majority of Ireland's distilleries, operations ceased at Comber in the 1950s, which makes this an amazing piece of Irish Whiskey heritage.

A batch of Comber whiskey was discovered in the 1980s and bottled in small releases over several years. This 30 year old bottle was bottled during the early 1990s and is one of the last bottlings ever released from this long lost distillery.

Imperial 1976 Glenhaven 18 Year Old 75cl / US Import

Built in the last years on the 19th century, Imperial is a distillery with a sadly chequered history, spending almost as much time in mothballs as it did distilling. Its longest period of production came between 1955 and 1985 under the ownership of DCL (now Diageo). Allied Distillers bought it in 1989, opening it again two years later, but only for another seven. It was under their tenure that the only distillery bottling of its single malt appeared, but thankfully a number of increasingly sought after independent releases like this have been produced over the years. Imperial was demolished in 2013 and the site now houses the new distillery, Dalmunach.  

This is a particularly rare bottling, produced by the Glenhaven Scotch Whisky Co. for the US market.

Glenhaven was a short-lived independent bottler, mostly exporting their releases to America. Their bottlings appeared between 1994 and 1997, when their founder Bill Thompson sadly passed away, halting operations at the firm.

Edradour 10 Year Old 1980s

For a long time Edradour was Scotland's smallest distillery. Owned by William Whitely for much of the 20th century, it contributed malt for their King's Ransom blend, which had developed a strong sales network in the US with dubious Mafia boss, Frank Costello, as its representative. The distillery was eventually sold to Campbell Distillers in 1982, who opened it up to visitors and bottled its first official single malt in 1986. Despite its small size, the distillery has always found itself interested parties, with independent bottlers-turned-distillers, Signatory Vintage, purchasing it in 2002 when it was deemed surplus to requirements by Campbell Distillers parent firm, Pernod-Ricard.  

This 10 year old was that first ever distillery bottling, introduced in the Campbell Distillers era in 1986.

Old Pulteney 1961 Gordon and MacPhail

The Pulteney distillery in Wick was built in 1826, and for a long time was the northernmost distillery on the Scottish mainland. Acuired by John Dewar & Sons in 1924, the distillery was quickly forced to close down in 1930, as Prohibition in its hometown was enacted to attempt to curb drunkenness among its maritime society. When it re-opened in 1955, the majority of its output was reserved for blending, although Gordon & MacPhail were licensed to bottle a single malt by Allied Breweries (later Allied Domecq). Its single malt was known as \"Old Pulteney\" on their labels, and this tradition remained when Inver House, who acquired the distillery in 1995, released Pulteney's first distillery bottlings.

Although the standard licensed bottling of Old Pulteney from Gordon & MacPhail was an 8 year old, there have also been some spectacular vintage releases like this one, distilled in 1961 and bottled in 1980s.

Inchmurrin 1966

An older bottling of this lightly peated whisky, produced in limited amounts from Loch Lomond distillery. This is one of a number of distinct spirits produced at the distillery, in this case on specially designed pot stills with rectifying heads to allow a higher cut point in the distillation process.

Although given more prominence under the current Loch Lomond distillery ownership, Inchmurrin from this period is much rarer. A 1966 vintage, this was bottled in 1999.

Old Rhosdhu 1967

First distilled in the 1960s, Rhosdhu was a style of single malt produced at Loch Lomond distillery. The brand was discontinued in the year 2000, but was later revived by the distillery as the name for an unusual single grain that they column distilled from 100% malted barley. 

Known as Old Rhosdhu when officially bottled, this is a 1967 vintage distillery bottling from 1996.

Imperial 1970 Gordon and MacPhail 

Built in the last years on the 19th century, Imperial is a distillery with a sadly chequered history, spending almost as much time in mothballs as it did distilling. Its longest period of production came between 1955 and 1985 under the ownership of DCL (now Diageo). Allied Distillers bought it in 1989, opening it again two years later, but only for another seven. It was under their tenure that the only distillery bottling of its single malt appeared, but thankfully a number of increasingly sought after independent releases like this have been produced over the years. Imperial was demolished in 2013 and the site now houses the new distillery, Dalmunach.  

This was distilled in 1970 and bottled by Gordon & MaPhail.

Gordon & MacPhail are the only independent company to have bottled whisky under license from the distillery with an exclusive label, for many these were the only official bottlings available for a long time. The modern Distillery Labels series is an homage to these bottles.
The Connoisseurs Choice label is one of the most recognisable independent bottlings on the market. It was initially created for renowned Italian importer, Edoardo Giaccone in the early 1970s, but became a mainstay of the core Gordon & MacPhail portfolio in 1979.

Inchmurrin 1966

An older bottling of this lightly peated whisky, produced in limited amounts from Loch Lomond distillery. This is one of a number of distinct spirits produced at the distillery, in this case on specially designed pot stills with rectifying heads to allow a higher cut point in the distillation process.

Although given more prominence under the current Loch Lomond distillery ownership, Inchmurrin from this period is much rarer. A 1966 vintage, this was bottled in 1999.

Imperial 1976 Milroy's 20 Year Old Cask Strength

Built in the last years on the 19th century, Imperial is a distillery with a sadly chequered history, spending almost as much time in mothballs as it did distilling. Its longest period of production came between 1955 and 1985 under the ownership of DCL (now Diageo). Allied Distillers bought it in 1989, opening it again two years later, but only for another seven. It was under their tenure that the only distillery bottling of its single malt appeared, but thankfully a number of increasingly sought after independent releases like this have been produced over the years. Imperial was demolished in 2013 and the site now houses the new distillery, Dalmunach.  

This 1976 vintage was bottled by Milroys of Soho in 1997.

Milroy's of Soho is a legendary bottle shop located on Greek Street in London. The store was foundered by John & Mary Milroy in 1964, but it was not until John's brother Wallace joined the company four years later that their focus on whisky was to catch up with their interest in wine. In that year alone, their single malt catalogue increased from just three to well over 30. Their dedication to this unfashionable style of whisky (at the time) continues to be rewarded today, with the Greek Street store still a cornerstone of London's whisky world.

Edradour 1976 Blackadder Raw Cask 75cl / US Import

For a long time Edradour was Scotland's smallest distillery. Owned by William Whitely for much of the 20th century, it contributed malt for their King's Ransom blend, which had developed a strong sales network in the US with dubious Mafia boss, Frank Costello, as its representative. The distillery was eventually sold to Campbell Distillers in 1982, who opened it up to visitors and bottled its first official single malt in 1986. Despite its small size, the distillery has always found itself interested parties, with independent bottlers-turned-distillers, Signatory Vintage, purchasing it in 2002 when it was deemed surplus to requirements by Campbell Distillers parent firm, Pernod-Ricard.  

This is an independent release, distilled in 1976 and bottled for the US market.

Blackadder International were founded in 1995 by whisky writers, Robin Tucek and John Lamond, authors of the 1987 publication, The Malt Whisky File: The Essential Guide for the Malt Whisky Connoisseur. The company has gained great affection from whisky enthusiasts for its Raw Cask series, which is deliberately drawn un-filtered from the cask so as to retain all cask sediment along with any natural oils and fats. The company is credited with a key role in the popularisation of cask strength whiskies since its inception.

Old Rhosdhu 1967

First distilled in the 1960s, Rhosdhu was a style of single malt produced at Loch Lomond distillery. The brand was discontinued in the year 2000, but was later revived by the distillery as the name for an unusual single grain that they column distilled from 100% malted barley. 

Known as Old Rhosdhu when officially bottled, this is a 1967 vintage distillery bottling from 1999.