The Perfect Collection Part One

Dumbarton 1961 Signatory Vintage 29 Year Old

Dumbarton is a closed grain distillery, known for using American-style stainless steel columns rather than the traditional Coffey stills. Exclusively using maize (instead of wheat or barley) meant that the spirit possessed quite a heavy character. Rarely bottled as a single grain, the overwhelming majority was used in the Ballantine’s blend. The distillery itself shut in 2002, and is now demolished.  

Distilled on 19th January 1961 and matured in casks #10277-10280.

Bottled by Signatory Vintage in February 1990, this is one of 1300 bottles. 

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.

Dumbarton 1963 Signatory Vintage 26 Year Old

Dumbarton is a closed grain distillery, known for using American-style stainless steel columns rather than the traditional Coffey stills. Only using maize (instead of wheat or barley) meant that the spirit possessed quite a heavy character. Rarely bottled as a single grain, the overwhelming majority was used in the Ballantine’s blend. The distillery itself shut in 2002, and is now demolished.  

This 26 year old was distilled in 1963 and bottled from three casks by Signatory Vintage.

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.

Dufftown 1975 Rare Malt 21 Year Old / 54.8%

The Rare Malt Selection was a historic selection of single malt whiskies from operational and lost distilleries that were released by Diageo between 1995 and 2005. As with the Flora & Fauna series, they were often from lesser-seen single malt distilleries.

This Dufftown single malt was distilled in 1975 and bottled as a 21 year old.

Dufftown was built in 1896, becoming part of the Arthur Bell & Sons portfolio in 1933. As with Blair Athol, Dufftown was regularly bottled as a single malt, despite its importance to the Bell's blends. When the company was bought by Guinness in 1985, these bottlings stopped, but a Dufftown distillery bottling returned in 1991 as part of United Distillers’ Flora & Fauna series, later becoming part of The Singleton stable. Prior to the construction of Roseisle, Dufftown was Diageo's largest distillery. 

Dalmore 1976 Cadenhead's 20 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.

This is a 1976 vintage Dalmore, bottled in June 1997.

Dalmore is undoubtedly the prize single malt in the Whyte & Mackay portfolio. This was not always the case though. The blenders purchased it from the Mackenzie family in 1960, having been long-standing customers. Due to the long-running importance of it to their blends, their distillery bottlings of its single malt were limited to a 12 year old expression. Nowadays however, it is positioned as a luxury brand, rubbing shoulder with the likes of Macallan, and is globally recognised. Independent releases like this are hard to come by.

Dumbarton 1961 Signatory Vintage 29 Year Old

Dumbarton is a closed grain distillery, known for using American-style stainless steel columns rather than the traditional Coffey stills. Exclusively using maize (instead of wheat or barley) meant that the spirit possessed quite a heavy character. Rarely bottled as a single grain, the overwhelming majority was used in the Ballantine’s blend. The distillery itself shut in 2002, and is now demolished.  

Distilled on 19th January 1961 and matured in casks #10277-10280.

Bottled by Signatory Vintage in February 1990, this is one of 1300 bottles. 

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.

Dalmore 21 Year Old 75cl / US Import

Dalmore is undoubtedly the prize single malt in the Whyte & Mackay portfolio. This was not always the case though. The blenders purchased it from the Mackenzie family in 1960, having been long-standing customers. Due to the long-running importance of it to their blends, their distillery bottlings of its single malt were limited to a 12 year old expression. Nowadays however, it is positioned as a luxury brand, rubbing shoulder with the likes of Macallan, and is globally recognised. 

For many years the 12 year old was the sole constituent of the Dalmore core range. That changed in 2002 when this 21 year old was added alongside the Cigar Malt.

Victoria 12 Year Old Straight Malt circa 1940s

An Austrlian straight malt whisky produced by Stephen King PTY in Melbourne. Stephen King also had a hand in early Bundaberg rum bottlings, but disappeared in 1968 and being absorebed into John Cawsey & Co.

This was imported to the US around the 1940s.

Dumbarton 1963 Signatory Vintage 26 Year Old

Dumbarton is a closed grain distillery, known for using American-style stainless steel columns rather than the traditional Coffey stills. Only using maize (instead of wheat or barley) meant that the spirit possessed quite a heavy character. Rarely bottled as a single grain, the overwhelming majority was used in the Ballantine’s blend. The distillery itself shut in 2002, and is now demolished.  

This 26 year old was distilled in 1963 and bottled from three casks by Signatory Vintage.

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.

Dumbarton 1961 Signatory Vintage 29 Year Old

Dumbarton is a closed grain distillery, known for using American-style stainless steel columns rather than the traditional Coffey stills. Exclusively using maize (instead of wheat or barley) meant that the spirit possessed quite a heavy character. Rarely bottled as a single grain, the overwhelming majority was used in the Ballantine’s blend. The distillery itself shut in 2002, and is now demolished.  

Distilled on 19th January 1961 and matured in casks #10277-10280.

Bottled by Signatory Vintage in February 1990, this is one of 1300 bottles. 

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.

Dailuaine 1973 Rare Malt 22 Year Old 75cl / 60.92% - US Import

The Rare Malt Selection was a historic selection of single malt whiskies from operational and lost distilleries that were released by Diageo between 1995 and 2005. As with the Flora & Fauna series, they were often from lesser-seen single malt distilleries.

Dailuaine was at a time in the 19th century, Speyside's largest distillery, and it was home to Scotland's first pagoda roofed kiln. That distillery perished in a fire however, in 1917. The newly rebuilt distillery was acquired by DCL (now Diageo) who used its \"meaty\" spirit as a filler for their many blends. As with most of the single malt operations in the Diageo portfolio, the Flora & Fauna release was Dailuaine's first ever distillery bottling. 

These Rare Malt Selection releases followed, this 1973 vintage is one of the three.

Dallas Dhu 1972 Gordon and MacPhail

In its time a key component of the Roderick Dhu blended Scotch, Dallas Dhu is a rarely seen single malt. As with much of the DCL (now Diageo) portfolio, the distillery was deemed surplus to requirements during the market downturn of the 1980s, and closed in 1983. It is now run as a distillery museum by Historic Environment Scotland. Very few official bottlings exist, and it is incredibly sought after when rare independent bottlings appear. 

This 1972 vintage is a Gordon & MacPhail bottling from the 1980s.

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.

Dumbarton 1961 Signatory Vintage 29 Year Old

Dumbarton is a closed grain distillery, known for using American-style stainless steel columns rather than the traditional Coffey stills. Exclusively using maize (instead of wheat or barley) meant that the spirit possessed quite a heavy character. Rarely bottled as a single grain, the overwhelming majority was used in the Ballantine’s blend. The distillery itself shut in 2002, and is now demolished.  

Distilled on 19th January 1961 and matured in casks #10277-10280.

Bottled by Signatory Vintage in February 1990, this is one of 1300 bottles. 

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.

Dumbarton 1962 Cadenhead's 32 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.

This is a 1962 vintage single grain, bottled in February 1994.

Dumbarton is a closed grain distillery, known for using American-style stainless steel columns rather than the traditional Coffey stills. Only using maize (instead of wheat or barley) meant that the spirit possessed quite a heavy character. Rarely bottled as a single grain, the overwhelming majority was used in the Ballantine’s blend. The distillery itself shut in 2002, and is now demolished.  

Deanston 1977 Cadenhead's 14 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 14 year old Deanston is one of the original 150th anniversary releases.

Deanston distillery opened in 1965, and its first single malt was called in Old Bannockburn, first bottled in 1971. Invergordon Distillers procured the distillery two years later, and introduced the first Deanston-named single malt in 1974. Sadly, a lack of interest in it saw the distillery mothballed in 1982, and it was not until 1990 when it was procured by Burn Stewart that it was revived and began to flourish. Now part of the Distell group, Deanston has become a global single malt brand.

Dumbarton 1961 Signatory Vintage 29 Year Old

Dumbarton is a closed grain distillery, known for using American-style stainless steel columns rather than the traditional Coffey stills. Exclusively using maize (instead of wheat or barley) meant that the spirit possessed quite a heavy character. Rarely bottled as a single grain, the overwhelming majority was used in the Ballantine’s blend. The distillery itself shut in 2002, and is now demolished.  

Distilled on 19th January 1961 and matured in casks #10277-10280.

Bottled by Signatory Vintage in February 1990, this is one of 1300 bottles. 

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.

Dumbarton 1961 Whyte and Whyte 29 Year Old 75cl / Spirits Library

Dumbarton is a closed grain distillery, known for using American-style stainless steel columns rather than the traditional Coffey stills. Only using maize (instead of wheat or barley) meant that the spirit possessed quite a heavy character. Rarely bottled as a single grain, the overwhelming majority was used in the Ballantine’s blend. The distillery itself shut in 2002, and is now demolished.   

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.

Dumbarton 1961 Signatory Vintage 29 Year Old

Dumbarton is a closed grain distillery, known for using American-style stainless steel columns rather than the traditional Coffey stills. Exclusively using maize (instead of wheat or barley) meant that the spirit possessed quite a heavy character. Rarely bottled as a single grain, the overwhelming majority was used in the Ballantine’s blend. The distillery itself shut in 2002, and is now demolished.  

Distilled on 19th January 1961 and matured in casks #10277-10280.

Bottled by Signatory Vintage in February 1990, this is one of 1300 bottles. 

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.

Deanston 1977 Cadenhead's 17 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.

This 1977 vintage Deanston was bottled in February 1995 for the US market.

Deanston distillery opened in 1965, and its first single malt was called in Old Bannockburn, first bottled in 1971. Invergordon Distillers procured the distillery two years later, and introduced the first Deanston-named single malt in 1974. Sadly, a lack of interest in it saw the distillery mothballed in 1982, and it was not until 1990 when it was procured by Burn Stewart that it was revived and began to flourish. Now part of the Distell group, Deanston has become a global single malt brand. 

Dallas Dhu 1978 Signatory Vintage 17 Year Old 75cl / US Import

In its time a key component of the Roderick Dhu blended Scotch, Dallas Dhu is a rarely seen single malt. As with much of the DCL (now Diageo) portfolio, the distillery was deemed surplus to requirements during the market downturn of the 1980s, and closed in 1983. It is now run as a distillery museum by Historic Environment Scotland. Very few official bottlings exist, and it is incredibly sought after when rare independent bottlings appear.

This 1978 vintage was bottled from two casks by Signatory Vintage in November 1996.

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.

Dallas Dhu 1982 Signatory Vintage 18 Year Old 75cl / US Import

In its time a key component of the Roderick Dhu blended Scotch, Dallas Dhu is a rarely seen single malt. As with much of the DCL (now Diageo) portfolio, the distillery was deemed surplus to requirements during the market downturn of the 1980s, and closed in 1983. It is now run as a distillery museum by Historic Environment Scotland. Very few official bottlings exist, and it is incredibly sought after when rare independent bottlings appear.

This 1982 vintage was bottled by Signatory Vintage in November 2000 from a single cask.

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.

Dallas Dhu 1978 Cooper's Choice 17 Year Old 75cl / US Import

In its time a key component of the Roderick Dhu blended Scotch, Dallas Dhu is a rarely seen single malt. As with much of the DCL (now Diageo) portfolio, the distillery was deemed surplus to requirements during the market downturn of the 1980s, and closed in 1983. It is now run as a distillery museum by Historic Environment Scotland. Very few official bottlings exist, and it is incredibly sought after when rare independent bottlings appear.

A 1978 vintage bottling, this is part of the premium Cooper's Choice series from The Vintage Malt Whisky Co.

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 Finlaggan (an Islay) and Tantallan (a Highland), using whisky sourced from unspecified distilleries.

Dufftown 20 Year Old Centenary Bottling

Dufftown was built in 1896, becoming part of the Arthur Bell & Sons portfolio in 1933. As with Blair Athol, Dufftown was regularly bottled as a single malt, despite its importance to the Bell's blends. When the company was bought by Guinness in 1985, these bottlings stopped, but a Dufftown distillery bottling returned in 1991 as part of United Distillers’ Flora & Fauna series, later becoming part of The Singleton stable. Prior to the construction of Roseisle, Dufftown was Diageo's largest distillery. 

This is a rare distillery bottling from 1996, produced to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the distillery. Aged 20 years and bottled at cask strength.

Dailuaine 16 Year Old Flora and Fauna 

Following on from the successful introduction of the Classic Malts range in 1988 (at the time only six expressions), United Distillers sought to build on this by releasing a further 22 single malts in 1991. These became affectionately known as the Flora & Fauna series, a term coined by whisky writer, Michael Jackson, in reference to their labels. The range showcased the lesser-seen distilleries from the company’s extensive portfolio at the time, with the intent of using collective branding to help them raise each other’s profiles. Despite four further additions in 2001, only a handful of these are still permanent distillery bottlings, making it a highly collectible series.

Dailuaine was at a time, in the 19th century, Speyside's largest distillery, and it was home to Scotland's first pagoda roofed kiln. That distillery perished in a fire however, in 1917. The newly rebuilt distillery was acquired by DCL (now Diageo) who used its \"meaty\" spirit as a filler for one of their many blends. As with many Diageo of the single malt operations in the Diageo portfolio, the Flora & Fauna release was Dailuaine's first ever distillery bottling. Despite being a fan favourite, this is still the only permanent official bottling available from the distillery.

Dailuaine 17 Year Old Manager's Dram 2000

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.

The year 2000 was the turn of Dailuaine, who provided this 17 year old, matured in sherry oak casks and bottled on 20th November.

Dailuaine was at a time in the 19th century, Speyside's largest distillery, and it was home to Scotland's first pagoda roofed kiln. That distillery perished in a fire however, in 1917. The newly rebuilt distillery was acquired by DCL (now Diageo) who used its \"meaty\" spirit as a filler for their many blends. As with most of the single malt operations in the Diageo portfolio, the Flora & Fauna release was Dailuaine's first ever distillery bottling. 

Dalmore 1990 Blackadder Raw Cask 75cl / US Import

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.

This is a Raw Cask bottling of Dalmore, distilled in 1990 and bottled from a sherry butt in December 2000.

Dalmore is undoubtedly the prize single malt in the Whyte & Mackay portfolio. This was not always the case though. The blenders purchased it from the Mackenzie family in 1960, having been long-standing customers. Due to the long-running importance of it to their blends, their distillery bottlings of its single malt were limited to a 12 year old expression. Nowadays however, it is positioned as a luxury brand, rubbing shoulder with the likes of Macallan, and is globally recognised. Independent releases like this are hard to come by.

Dailuaine 1971 Gordon and MacPhail

Dailuaine was at a time in the 19th century, Speyside's largest distillery, and it was home to Scotland's first pagoda roofed kiln. That distillery perished in a fire however, in 1917. The newly rebuilt distillery was acquired by DCL (now Diageo) who used its \"meaty\" spirit as a filler for their many blends. As with most of the single malt operations in the Diageo portfolio, the Flora & Fauna release was Dailuaine's first ever distillery bottling. Its single malt had been available in the form of independent releases like this in the preceding years though.

This 1971 vintage was bottled by Gordon & MacPhail in 1992.

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.

Dumbarton 1963 Signatory Vintage 26 Year Old

Dumbarton is a closed grain distillery, known for using American-style stainless steel columns rather than the traditional Coffey stills. Only using maize (instead of wheat or barley) meant that the spirit possessed quite a heavy character. Rarely bottled as a single grain, the overwhelming majority was used in the Ballantine’s blend. The distillery itself shut in 2002, and is now demolished.  

This 26 year old was distilled in 1963 and bottled from three casks by Signatory Vintage.

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.

Dalwhinnie 1980 Distillers Edition / Inaugural Release

Dalwhinnie was one of the six original Classic Malts when they were selected by DCL (now Diageo) back in 1988, and it was tipped to become the favourite among consumers on account of its flawless floral flavours and elegant character. Although eventually pipped at the post by the smoky dark horse that was the Lagavulin 16 year old, it remains a well-loved single malt. The distillery is both the highest and coldest in Scotland, contributing to its unique flavour through the rapid condensing that occurs in its worm tubs.  

The Distillers Edition range are cask finished variations on the Classic Malts. This is the earliest release of this double matured series from Dalwhinnie, and was finished in Oloroso cask wood.

Dufftown 1979 Whyte and Whyte 15 Year Old 75cl / Spirits Library

Dufftown was built in 1896, becoming part of the Arthur Bell & Sons portfolio in 1933. As with Blair Athol, Dufftown was regularly bottled as a single malt, despite its importance to the Bell's blends. When the company was bought by Guinness in 1985, these bottlings stopped, but a Dufftown distillery bottling returned in 1991 as part of United Distillers’ Flora & Fauna series, later becoming part of The Singleton stable. Prior to the construction of Roseisle, Dufftown was Diageo's largest distillery. 

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.

Dalwhinnie 8 Year Old James Buchanan 1980s

Dalwhinnie was one of the six original Classic Malts when they were selected by United Distillers (now Diageo) back in 1988, and it was tipped to become the favourite among consumers on account of its flawless floral flavours and elegant character. Although eventually pipped at the post by the smoky dark horse that was the Lagavulin 16 year old, it remains a well-loved single malt. The distillery is both the highest and coldest in Scotland, contributing to its unique flavour through the rapid condensing that occurs in its worm tubs.

Dalwhinnie was the first American-owned distillery in Scotland, when it was bought by Cook & Bernheimer in 1905. It was procured from them by Macdonald Greenlees, who merged with DCL in 1926. DCL granted the license for the distillery to James Buchanan, one of the blenders in their portfolio, and they bottled the first official single malt releases in the 1980s. This is one of them. The responsibility was returned to the distillery itself later that decade.

Dalmore Cigar Malt 75cl / Import

Dalmore is undoubtedly the prize single malt in the Whyte & Mackay portfolio. This was not always the case though. The blenders purchased it from the Mackenzie family in 1960, having been long-standing customers. Due to the long-running importance of it to their blends, their distillery bottlings of its single malt were limited to a 12 year old expression. Nowadays however, it is positioned as a luxury brand, rubbing shoulder with the likes of Macallan, and is globally recognised. 

This is a bottle of the the Dalmore Cigar Malt, introduced in 2002 by Whyte & Mackay master blended, Richard Paterson, as the ideal single malt companion to an after-dinner smoke. The product was discontinued in 2009, although it would eventually return in the form of the Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve.

Dew of Ben Alder Gordon and MacPhail 1970s

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.

This is a late 1970s bottling of their Dew of Ben Alder blend.