The Perfect Collection Part One

Dufftown 1980 Whyte and Whyte 12 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.

Dufftown 17 Year Old James MacArthur 500 Years of Scotch

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 commemorative release from 1994, produced by James MacArthur & Co to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Scotch whisky.

James MacArthur & Co were founded in 1982 and are a no-frills independent label, focussed bringing lesser-seen and often closed distilleries to the market. Their simple approach and fine selection of cask strength and single cask whiskies has earned them an army of fans amongst connoisseurs across the world.

Dufftown 1982 Glenhaven 11 Year Old 75cl / US Import

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 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.

Dalmore 1986 D&M 15 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. Independent releases like this are hard to come by.  

This is an independent single cask, bottled for the Connoisseurs' Club at D&M Wine & Spirits in California.

Deacons Dram 21 Year Old 1980s 

The Shore Porters' Society is one of the oldest companies in the world. Operating in the Docks of Aberdeen, the society annually elects a new deacon, who's responsibilities consist of administering the property and warehouses belonging to it. This 21 year old blended Scotch was bottled in the 1980s in honour of those bestowed with the prestigious post.

Deanston 8 Year Old 1980s​

An old 1980s bottle of Deanston 8 Year Old from the pre-Burn Stewart ownership of the distillery. Hard to come by!

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. 

Dufftown 15 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.

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.

This Flora & Fauna bottling was United Distillers' revival of the Dufftown single malt, and the distillery now has a permanent range as part of the company's The Singleton stable.

Dalmore 12 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.  

The Dalmore 12 year old was the sole constituent of the distillery's core range until 2002 when when the Cigar Malt and 21 year old were added.

Dalmore 12 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. 

The Dalmore 12 year old was the sole constituent of the distillery's core range until 2002 when when the Cigar Malt and 21 year old were added.

Deanston 17 Year Old 75cl / US Import

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. 

This is a 1990s version of the 17 year old, bottled in the Burn Stewart era and featuring a proportion of Amontillado sherry matured malt.

Deanston 5 Year Old 1970s

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.

This is an early version of the single malt, bottled in the mid-to-late 1970s. The distillery would eventually be shut down for the majority of the next decade.

This is a bottling for the Italian market, in the form of a youthful 5 year old age-statement that was the market preference. The Italian love of younger single malt was the discovery of Armando Giovinetti, the agent for Glen Grant in the 1960s. He, correctly, hypothesised that the lighter flavours of a 5 year old malt would be better suited to the grappa-loving palate of his countrymen, and the contined success of the Glen Grant 5 year old there today is testament to his foresight.

Deanston 8 Year Old 1980s​

An old 1980s bottle of Deanston 8 Year Old from the pre-Burn Stewart ownership of the distillery. Hard to come by!

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.

The distillery was actually closed for most of the decade in which this was bottled, falling silent in 1982 until Burn Stewart resumed production in 1991.

Dewar's Ancestor 1970s

An old 1970s bottling of Ancestor, the premium blend from John Dewar & Sons. 

John Dewar & Sons were granted their first Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria in 1893, and it has been renewed by every monarch since then. The company opened the Aberfeldy distillery in 1898, and it remains the core constituent of its blends. The famous white label Scotch was debuted the following year. The company merged with James Buchanan & Co to form Dewar-Buchanan in 1915, before becoming part of DCL ten years later. It remained part of that empire until the formation of its modern iteration, Diageo, in 1997. The merger of United Distillers and Grand Metropolitan had brought too much of the industry under a sole parent organisation, and to satisfy anti-monopoly rulings, the Dewar's brands and distilleries were sold to Bacardi in 1998, who have breathed a new lease of life into many of them since.

Dewar's Ancestor 1970s

An old 1970s bottling of Ancestor, the premium blend from John Dewar & Sons. 

John Dewar & Sons were granted their first Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria in 1893, and it has been renewed by every monarch since then. The company opened the Aberfeldy distillery in 1898, and it remains the core constituent of its blends. The famous white label Scotch was debuted the following year. The company merged with James Buchanan & Co to form Dewar-Buchanan in 1915, before becoming part of DCL ten years later. It remained part of that empire until the formation of its modern iteration, Diageo, in 1997. The merger of United Distillers and Grand Metropolitan had brought too much of the industry under a sole parent organisation, and to satisfy anti-monopoly rulings, the Dewar's brands and distilleries were sold to Bacardi in 1998, who have breathed a new lease of life into many of them since.

Dufftown 8 Year Old 1970s

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 an 8 year old from the Arthur Bell & Sons era.

Dalvegan 10 Year Old Highland Malt 1970s

A 10 year old blended Highland malt produced for the Italian market by James Martin & Co, Leith.

James Martin & Co has been producing Scotch whisky since the late 19th century and historically produced using malt from Glenmorangie. The blends were produced predominantly for export, and they dominated the US market in the early post-Prohibition landscape. Much of the whisky stock aboard the SS Politician (of Whisky Galore fame) when it ran aground in 1941 was James Martin's. Their popular \"James Martin's\" brand was discontinued by LVMH when they bought over Glenmorangie in 2004, and this Dunvegan label long before that.

Dallas Dhu 1978 Signatory Vintage 18 Year Old Miniature / Silent Stills

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.

Distilled on 21st December 1978, this was bottled within Signatory Vintage's Silent Stills range, which at the time showcased Scotland's finest discontinued single malts (some, such as Glenglassaugh, have since returned).

Cask #2629 produced just 240 full size and miniature 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.

Dallas Dhu 1978 Signatory Vintage 18 Year Old Miniature / Silent Stills

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.

Distilled on 21st December 1978, this was bottled within Signatory Vintage's Silent Stills range, which at the time showcased Scotland's finest discontinued single malts (some, such as Glenglassaugh, have since returned).

Cask #2629 produced just 240 full size and miniature 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.

Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old 75cl / US Import

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 15 Year Old 75cl / US Import

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 15 Year Old 75cl / US Import

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 15 Year Old 75cl / US Import

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.

Dallas Dhu 1978 Signatory Vintage 18 Year Old Miniature / Silent Stills

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.

Distilled on 21st December 1978, this was bottled within Signatory Vintage's Silent Stills range, which at the time showcased Scotland's finest discontinued single malts (some, such as Glenglassaugh, have since returned).

Cask #2629 produced just 240 full size and miniature 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.

Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old 75cl / US Import

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.

Delnabo 12 Year Old Highland Single Malt

This 12 year old single malt was specially bottled for The Delnabo Estate. Listed on the back as a \"Single Craigellachie Malt,\" with tasting notes of \"a lightly peated malt with a full-bodied, sweet, smoky finish,\" this is more likely to have been sourced from either the neighbouring Tomintoul or Glenrothes.

Druichan Bay 10 Year Old Islay Single Malt

A mystery Islay single malt that is named after the river Druich in the North of the island. Bottled by Invergordon Distillers, this is most likely a Bruichladdich single malt, produced while the distillery was part of the Whyte & Mackay portfolio.

Dew of Ben Nevis Glenfinnan 250

Ben Nevis distillery was built by \"Long\" John MacDonald in 1825, and was so popular by the end of the 19th century that at one point the estate employed over 200 people. After a series of closure and re-openings at the beginning of the 20th, it was eventually bought by former Canadian bootlegger, Joseph Hobbs. He installed a coffey still there in 1955, making Ben Nevis Scotland's first dual-operation distillery, and began to blend its malt and grain before filling it to cask. Sporadic closures again followed Hobb's death, with stability finally ensured in 1989 when it was bought by long-term customers, Nikka Whisky of Japan.

This blended Scotch features a depiction of Bonnie Prince Charlie instigator of the unsuccessful Jacobite uprising of 1745, which began in Glenfinnan 250 years prior to the release of this bottle.

When Ben Nevis closed in 1978, this was the last time its coffey still was used and the distillery reverted solely to malt whisky production when it re-opened in 1981. Blends produced there now source grain whisky from elsewhere.

Dufftown 1997 Douglas McGibbon 11 Year Old 75cl / US Import

Douglas McGibbon & Co were established in 1947 becoming a subsidiary of independent bottler, Douglas Laing, in 1950. They are perhaps best known for their McGibbon's blend and its golf-themed decanters, but for many years produced this Provenance brand for single malts as well. When Douglas Laing was carved up between brothers Stewart and Fred in 2013, the McGibbon's and Provenance brands were retained by Fred as part of Douglas Laing firm, with other notable labels such as the Old Malt Cask going the other way, to Stewart's newly founded Hunter Laing. Nowadays the Provenance brand is part of the main Douglas Laing portfolio, with Douglas McGibbon the named bottler on Clan Denny releases.

This is a 1997 vintage from Dufftown distillery, bottled in 2001.

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. 

Dalvey 10 Year Old Highland Single Malt

A 10 year old single malt from an undisclosed distillery, bottled for the Grants of Dalvey. Previous iterations of this have been produced by Glenfarclas, although this bottle bears the emblem of the Queen's Award for Export Achievement 1992, which was presented to Inver House Distillers...

Dallas Dhu 1974 Signatory Vintage 17 Year Old Miniature 

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.

This is a 1974 vintage Dallas Dhu, bottled in 1992.

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. 

Director's Special Black Deluxe Whisky 75cl / US Import

A blended whisky produced by Shaw Wallace in India. This is batch 398, bottled in December 2002.

Director's Special was the company's biggest whisky brand, alongside Royal Challenge. The firm are perhaps best known as the distributor for the Sega Mega Drive video game system in the 1990s however.

Dunglass 5 Year Old Miniature

Littlemill was one of Scotland's oldest distilleries in its time, with distilling rumoured to have taken place there as far back as the late 18th century. It has a turbulent history of ownership changes and mothballings, as well as briefly experimenting with producing a lightly and heavily peated single malt as well, called Dunglass and Dumbuck, respectively. Barton Brands, the owners at the time, called a halt to these in 1971 however. The distillery closed again for a time in the 1980s, with its still falling silent for the final time in 1994. The distillery buildings were then lost in a fire in 1996, bringing an end to the its tumultuous story. ​​​​​​​

This is a 5 year old bottling of the briefly produced Dunglass.