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.

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.

Killyloch 1972 Signatory Vintage 22 Year Old

A very rare bottling of whisky from Killyloch.  The distillery existed within the long lost Moffat distilling complex, which was constructed by Inver House Distillers between 1964 and 1965. Inver House was a subsidiary of US drinks giant, Publiker, and the Moffat complex was designed to provide both malt and grain for their blending operations. The primary malt was Glen Flagler, an unpeated spirit, although a separate set of stills were used to produce peated and heavily peated single malts, called Killyloch and Islebrae, respectively. These stills were set aside in their own distillery within the complex, which took its named from the lesser-peated, Killyloch (around 3ppm, according to Malt Maniacs). The stills at Killyloch were switched off in the 1970s, with Glen Flagler and the Garnheath grain distillery following suit in 1985 and 1986, leaving the whole complex in silence.   

This 22 year old independent release from Signatory Vintage was distilled on the 21st March 1972 and bottled in June 1994 from single sherry cask # 206413.

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, which they have also owned since 2002.

Bottle number 183 of 230.

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.

Knappogue Castle 1951 Single Cask 36 Year Old #9 75cl / US Import

A single malt Irish whiskey produced at the long-lost B. Daly distillery, former home of  theTullamore Dew brand before its 1960s transfer to Powers' distillery at John's Lane. The distillery closed 3 years later and this whiskey stock was discovered in the basement of Knappogue Castle by its new owner, Mark Edwin Andrews.

Distilled in 1951 and bottled in 1987 under the castle's name.

A single pot still, this was bottled at 36 years old from cask #9.

Imported into the US by Castle Brands, NY.

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.

Fettercairn 1970 Signatory Vintage 25 Year Old 75cl / US Import

Fettercairn distillery was built in 1825 and aside froma brief period in mothballs in the 1930s, has been in operation ever since. It was re-opened from that closure in 1939 by Associated Scottish Distilleries, the Scotch arm of the post-Prohibition drinks giant in the US, National Distillers. When ASD ceased trading in 1954 the distillery passed through various hands before being bought by Whyte & Mackay in 1973. Despite being an important contributor to their blends, they also pushed Fettercairn as a single malt brand, as well as making casks available to independent companies for bottlings like this.

This is a Signatory Vintage bottling, distilled in 1970 and bottled in 1995.

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, which they have also owned since 2002.

Knappogue Castle 1951 Single Cask 36 Year Old #15 75cl / US Import

A single malt Irish whiskey produced at the long-lost B. Daly distillery, former home of Tullamore Dew before it's 1960's transfer to Powers at John's Lane. The distillery closed 3 years later and this whiskey stock was discovered in the basement of Knappogue Castle by its new owner, Mark Edwin Andrews.

Distilled in 1951 and bottled in 1987 under the castle's name.

A single pot still, this was bottled at 36 years old from cask #15.

Imported into the US by Castle Brands, NY, who now own the Knappogue Castle brand, bottling it using sourced whiskey from Cooley.

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.

Kinclaith 1966 Gordon and MacPhail 16 Year Old

Kinclaith is another of the short-lived malt distilleries that were built, mostly by American owners, within grain distilleries in the mid-20th century. On this occasion it was the Schenley company, who bought the parent firm of Strathclyde distillery, Seager Evans, in 1957. It built the Kinclaith malt distillery within the Strathclyde complex the same year, and they operated it until 1975 when Whitbread bought Strathclyde and ripped them back out again. Nearly all of the Kinclaith output was used for the Long John blends, and it was never officially bottled as a single malt. Some casks did make their way to the independent companies though, and an elusive batch of bottlings like this has been brought to market. 

This 1966 vintage is a Gordon & MacPhail bottling, aged 16 years.

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.

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.

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.

Kinclaith 1967 Gordon and MacPhail

Kinclaith is another of the short-lived malt distilleries that were built, mostly by American owners, within grain distilleries in the mid-20th century. On this occasion it was the Schenley company, who bought the parent firm of Strathclyde distillery, Seager Evans, in 1957. It built the Kinclaith malt distillery within the Strathclyde complex the same year, and they operated it until 1975 when Whitbread bought Strathclyde and ripped them back out again. Nearly all of the Kinclaith output was used for the Long John blends, and it was never officially bottled as a single malt. Some casks did make their way to the independent companies though, and an elusive batch of bottlings like this has been brought to market. 

This is a 1967 vintage from Gordon & MacPhail, bottled in 1993.

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.

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.

Fettercairn 1980 Whyte and Whyte 13 Year Old 75cl / Spirits Library

Fettercairn distillery was built in 1825 and aside from a brief period in mothballs in the 1930s, has been in operation ever since. It was re-opened from that closure in 1939 by Associated Scottish Distilleries, the Scotch arm of the post-Prohibition drinks giant in the US, National Distillers. When ASD ceased trading in 1954 the distillery passed through various hands before being bought by Whyte & Mackay in 1973. Despite being an important contributor to their blends, they also pushed Fettercairn as a single malt brand, as well as making casks available to independent companies for bottlings like this.

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.

Kinclaith 24 Year Old Cadenhead's 18.75cl

Kinclaith is another of the short-lived malt distilleries that were built, mostly by American owners, within grain distilleries in the mid-20th century. On this occasion it was the Schenley company, who bought the parent firm of Strathclyde distillery, Seager Evans, in 1957. It built the Kinclaith malt distillery within the Strathclyde complex the same year, and they operated it until 1975 when Whitbread bought Strathclyde and ripped them back out again. Nearly all of the Kinclaith output was used for the Long John blends, and it was never officially bottled as a single malt. Some casks did make their way to the independent companies though, and an elusive batch of bottlings like this has been brought to market. 

This is an unusual single cask bottling from Wm. Cadenhead, bottled as a 24 year old in the late 1980s or possibly very early 1990s.

Knockando 1965 Extra Old Reserve / US Import

Knockando is a late 19th century distillery, purchased by W & A Gilbery in 1904, alongside Strathmill and Glen Spey during its expansion into the whisky business. When Gilbey's became part of IDV in the 1960s, Knockando became the home of the Justerini & Brooks blends, and remains so to this day under the ownership of Diageo. Despite its importance to such a big-selling blended Scotch, Knockando has always been regarded as a fine single malt in its own right, and has a history of official distillery bottlings dating back to the 1970s, with very little ever spared for the independent bottlers. 

This premium distillery bottling was distilled in 1965 and bottled in 1990.

Imported to the US market by The Paddington Corp, NJ.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Knockdhu 1978 Adelphi 18 Year Old 75cl / US Import

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 changes in 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. The company is now also distilling their own whisky at Ardnamurchan distillery in Glenbeg.

This is a 1978 vintage Knockdhu, bottled for their US customers as an 18 year old.

Knockdhu could be considered by many to be the genesis of what is now the whisky giant, Diageo. Then known as DCL, a consortium of Lowland grain distillers, they built Knockdhu distillery in their first foray into malt whisky distilling in 1893. They operated the distillery until 1983 when, like much of their portfolio, they closed it down due to an oversupply resulting from the Scotch market downturn of the period. The distillery was bought and re-opened by Inver House in 1988, who quickly turned out the first official single malt bottlings. The product was swiftly rebranded as AnCnoc in 1993 however, purportedly to avoid confusion with the similarly named Knockando. Independent releases like this are still labelled with the distillery name however. 

Knockando 1965 Extra Old Reserve

Knockando is a late 19th century distillery, purchased by W & A Gilbery in 1904, alongside Strathmill and Glen Spey during its expansion into the whisky business. When Gilbey's became part of IDV in the 1960s, Knockando became the home of the Justerini & Brooks blends, and remains so to this day under the ownership of Diageo. Despite its importance to such a big-selling blended Scotch, Knockando has always been regarded as a fine single malt in its own right, and has a history of official distillery bottlings dating back to the 1970s, with very little ever spared for the independent bottlers. 

This premium distillery bottling was distilled in 1965 and bottled in 1990.

Finlaggan 1979 Islay Single Malt Decanter

The Vintage Malt Whisky Company is a family-owned firm in Glasgow, founded in 1992 by Brian Crook. In addition to their Cooper's Choice series, they also bottle number of their own single malt brands, such as this Finlaggan (an Islay) and Tantallan (a Highland), using whisky sourced from unspecified distilleries. 

Knockando 1964 Extra Old Reserve 75cl / US Import

Knockando is a late 19th century distillery, purchased by W & A Gilbery in 1904, alongside Strathmill and Glen Spey during its expansion into the whisky business. When Gilbey's became part of IDV in the 1960s, Knockando became the home of the Justerini & Brooks blends, and remains so to this day under the ownership of Diageo. Despite its importance to such a big-selling blended Scotch, Knockando has always been regarded as a fine single malt in its own right, and has a history of official distillery bottlings dating back to the 1970s, with very little ever spared for the independent bottlers. 

This is an 1964 vintage of the Extra Old Reserve release, bottled in 1989.

The label appears to erroneously state this as a 21 year old.