The Perfect Collection Part Two

Glenfiddich 1936 Peter J Russell

Glenfiddich was an early advocate of the single malt Scotch category, and their faith is rewarded today by being one of the best-selling Scotch brands in the world. The distillery was built by William Grant in 1886, distilling its first spirit on Christmas day the following year. Today it is still part of the family-owned, William Grant & Sons. They became the first distillery to market their single malt brand in 1963, and were the first to open their facility to visitors. Glenfiddich was an important trailblazer in the whisky industry, who's contribution cannot be forgotten. The scale of their operation today is a testament to this. 

This is a spectacular example of one of the distillery's early single malts, bottled here especially for Peter J. Russell & Co in Edinburgh. This bottle appeared as the company was making a bigger play in the whisky market, acquiring Ian Macleod & Co around the same time. Along with their other subsidiary, William Maxwell & Co, they bottled a swathe of well-regarded independent releases in the 20th century, before the Peter J Russel company was rebranded as Ian Macleod Distillers in 2003, as they fulfilled their long-time ambition of owning a distillery by buying Glengoyne from Edrington.

This bottle likely comprises part of a wider promotional push in the year 1969 to cement the Glenfiddich single malt brand, which also saw it become the first available in duty free airport retail, and a visitor centre opened at the distillery. With brand protection in full swing, the distillery did not provide these to the Edinburgh firm in the trademark triangular glass introduced earlier in the decade, but the presentation is reminiscent of the the former style, with heavy metal capped stopper and foil capsule.

Pre-war vintages in single malt are exceptionally rare, particularly from distilleries like Glenfiddich. This is a real opportunity to own a true piece of whisky history.

Glenfiddich 1957 Cadenhead's 21 Year Old Sherry Wood

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.

Very little Glenfiddich is spared to the independent bottlers, so this is a real rarity, especially with a vintage like this. Distilled in 1957, this was bottled from sherry wood in April 1979.

Glenfiddich was an early advocate of the single malt Scotch category, and their faith is rewarded today by being one of the best-selling Scotch brands in the world. The distillery was built by William Grant in 1886, distilling its first spirit on Christmas day the following year. Today it is still part of the family-owned, William Grant & Sons. They became the first distillery to actively market their single malt brand in 1963, and were the first to open their facility to visitors. Glenfiddich was an important trailblazer in the whisky industry, who's contribution cannot be forgotten. The scale of their operation today is a testament to this. 

Glenfiddich Special Pure Malt circa 1930s-40s

Glenfiddich was an early advocate of the single malt Scotch category, and their faith is rewarded today by being one of the best-selling Scotch brands in the world. The distillery was built by William Grant in 1886, distilling its first spirit on Christmas day the following year. Today it is still part of the family-owned, William Grant & Sons. They became the first distillery to actively market their single malt brand in 1963, and were the first to open their facility to visitors. Glenfiddich was an important trailblazer in the whisky industry, who's contribution cannot be forgotten. The scale of their operation today is a testament to this. 

A spectacular old example of Glenfiddich single malt whisky. This dates from a period when whisky was rarely bottled in this way, with the market favouring and dominated by blended Scotch. Efforts to market Glenfiddich as a single malt were intensified in the 1950s and 1960s, but they had been bottling it as such since the turn of the 20th century. The Glenfiddich label has change several time over the years, with the style presented here used in the period between around 1910 up until the 1950s. 

This example dates from around the 1930s or 1940s, and is sealed with a cork stopper and William Grant & Sons coat of arms embossed in the capsule. 

Highland Park 1955 Intertrade 30 Year Old

Intertrade was established in Italy in the early 1980s by Nadi Fiori, the owner of the Taverna degli Artisti bar in Rimini. The company was a collaboration with beer distributors, the Turatello Brothers, and the Intertrade name appears on Fiori's bottlings up to around 1989. Fiori selected his whiskies from the Gordon & MacPhail catalogue, but as a collector himself, and a contemporary of his fellow connoisseur countrymen, Silvano Samaroli and Ernesto Mainardi, he knew the importance striking label designs and requested many of his bottlings at cask strength. Whether under the Intertrade, Turatello or High Spirits banner, Fiori's bottlings are some of the most sought after on the market.

This is a spectacular 1955 vintage Highland Park, bottled for the company at cask strength.

Highland Park was built by David Robertson all the way back in 1798. The distillery's relationship with blenders, Robertson & Baxter, saw it acquired by Highland Distillers in 1937, who were subsequently bought by Edrington in 1999, who run it today. The modern Highland Park single malt brand was first officially bottled in the 1970s, with the release of an 8 year old age statement, but distillery bottlings first appeared around the 1950s. The look of the brand has changed many times over the years, but its cult following and popularity has never diminished. It remains one of the most recognisable single malts in the world to this day.

Highland Park 1941 Magnus Label 25 Year Old

Highland Park was built by David Robertson all the way back in 1798. The distillery's relationship with blenders, Robertson & Baxter, saw it acquired by Highland Distillers in 1937, who were subsequently bought by Edrington in 1999, who run it today. The modern Highland Park single malt brand was first officially bottled in the 1970s, with the release of an 8 year old age statement, but distillery bottlings first appeared around the 1950s. The look of the brand has changed many times over the years, but its cult following and popularity has never diminished. It remains one of the most recognisable single malts in the world to this day.

This is one of several 1941 vintage bottlings of Highland Park, released by the distillery to various markets during the the 1960s. The \"Magnus Label\" is iconic, and was used by the distillery, as well as on occasion by Gordon & MacPhail until it was retired in the 1970s. The aesthetic was revived though for the sought after Inga Saga trilogy in 2009.

Glen Moray 1959 Duthies 30 Year Old

R.W. Duthie & Co of Aberdeen are a subsidiary company of Wm. Cadenhead, and handle the majority of the physical bottling operations for the company. In addition to this, they also provided casks to a number of international distributors, including the sought after portfolios of the Corti Brothers in the US, and early Samaroli releases.

This 1959 vintage Glen Moray was bottled in July 1989.

Originally built as a brewery, Glen Moray was converted into a whisky distillery during the market boom of the late 19th century. The subsequent slump saw it mothballed, before being bought by MacDonald & Muir in 1923, who later became the Glenmorangie Company in 1996. In the latter days of their ownership it was sadly treated as their budget single malt, but it has always been a high quality whisky, and its reputation it is now beginning to recover under the ownership of La Martiniquaise, who took over in 2008. Thankfully the distillery's excellent single malt has always been treated with the reverence it deserves by independent labels like this.

Highland Park 1958 40 Year Old 

Highland Park was built by David Robertson all the way back in 1798. The distillery's relationship with blenders, Robertson & Baxter, saw it acquired by Highland Distillers in 1937, who were subsequently bought by Edrington in 1999, who run it today. The modern Highland Park single malt brand was first officially bottled in the 1970s, with the release of an 8 year old age statement, but distillery bottlings first appeared around the 1950s. The look of the brand has changed many times over the years, but its cult following and popularity has never diminished. It remains one of the most recognisable single malts in the world to this day.

A legendary bottling of Highland Park, this 40 year old was bottled in 1998 and was the final premium release by the distillery under its ownership by Highland Distilleries, who were acquired by Edrington and William Grant & Sons the following year.

Distilled on Orkney in 1958, this was bottled at a cask strength of 44% ABV.

Clynelish 1965 Signatory Vintage 28 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, which they have also owned since 2002.

This is a 1965 vintage Clynelish, bottled from a sherry cask in 1993.

Clynelish distillery as it is recognised today, was built in 1967 to replace the smaller distillery next-door, which was the original site of that name. The first distillery was closed, but later re-opened, changing its name to Brora (but that’s another story). Clynelish is part of the Diageo stable, having been taken over by DCL in 1912. Despite being an important part of the Johnnie Walker blends, it has long been bottled as a single malt.

This will contain pre-closure single malt from the original Clynelish. This distillery was closed in 1968, re-opening as Brora the following year to produce heavily peated whisky for the DCL blends after a drought on Islay left them short of stock. Clynelish single malts from the first distillery are particularly revered.

Glenfiddich 1956 Intertrade 29 Year Old Sherry Wood

A stunning and rare independent bottling of Glenfiddich single malt, bottled for Intertrade by Gordon & MacPhail.

Glenfiddich was an early advocate of the single malt Scotch category, and their faith is rewarded today by being one of the best-selling Scotch brands in the world. The distillery was built by William Grant in 1886, distilling its first spirit on Christmas day the following year. Today it is still part of the family-owned, William Grant & Sons. They became the first distillery to actively market their single malt brand in 1963, and were the first to open their facility to visitors. Glenfiddich was an important trailblazer in the whisky industry, who's contribution cannot be forgotten. The scale of their operation today is a testament to this.

This whisky was distilled on March 17th 1956 and laid to rest for over 29 years in sherry wood.

Intertrade was established in Italy in the early 1980s by Nadi Fiori, the owner of the Taverna degli Artisti bar in Rimini. The company was a collaboration with beer distributors, the Turatello Brothers, and the Intertrade name appears on Fiori's bottlings up to around 1989. Fiori selected his whiskies from the Gordon & MacPhail catalogue, but as a collector himself, and a contemporary of his fellow connoisseur countrymen, Silvano Samaroli and Ernesto Mainardi, he knew the importance striking label designs and requested many of his bottlings at cask strength. Whether under the Intertrade, Turatello or High Spirits banner, Fiori's bottlings are some of the most sought after on the market.

One of 384 bottles.

Glenrothes 1947 28 Year Old

Earmarked from an early stage an ideal component in blended Scotch whiskies, Glenrothes has long been a key part of big brands such as Cutty Sark and Famous Grouse. Its relationship with the former, lead to a three decade-long association with London wine-merchants, Berry Brothers & Rudd, who first approached Highland Distillers about licensing the Glenrothes single malt brand in 1983, eventually trading the Cutty Sark blend with Edrington for full ownership of it in 2010. The distillery itself remained with Edrington through, and the two were reunited when the now hugely successful brand was returned in 2017.

Highland Distillers were the proprietors of Glenrothes that produced this extremely rare bottling of its single malt. They had run the distillery since 1887, distilling this all the way back 1947. An early post-war vintage, single malt from this time is incredibly rare, particularly from producers with such a focus on the provision for blends. Thankfully, this whisky remained untouched, and was bottled in 1975 as the single malt market was beginning to take off. Highland Distillers also released several vintage Highland Park using this bottle shape, before making it the hallmark of the Bunnahabhain brand in 1979.

Caol Ila 15 Year Old Manager's Dram 1990

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.

Caol Ila distillery was built in 1846 by Hector Henderson, who was bought out from the venture a little over 10 year later by Bulloch Lade. The blending firm merged with DCL (now Diageo) in 1927, who still run the distillery today. In 1972 the original site was demolished and replaced by a new one. When distilling resumed in 1974, Caol Ila was the largest producer of single malt on the Isle of Islay. Despite this, due to its importance in popular blends such as Johnnie Walker, its single malt brand disappeared under United Distillers, and it was not until 2002 that it would return, when the 12 year old was revived by Diageo. 

Prior limited releases like this are increasingly sought after, and this sherry casked Manager's Dram is the most so of this series.

Glenfarclas 40 Year Old Scottish Classic 75cl / US Import

Glenfarclas is considered by many to be one of the finest distilleries in Speyside. Its direct-fired stills produce a heavy single malt that is almost exclusively matured in Jerez sherry casks. The distillery focuses on single malt over blends, and a cool microclimate around the distillery that means that their casks are particularly stingy to the \"angels,\" resulting in an incredible depth of stock. Glenfarclas also feel they share some credit for the modern day love of cask strength whisky, introducing their acclaimed 105 proof expressions back in 1968.  

The limited edition Scottish Classic was touted as a “celebration of the third millennium.\" The range of 600 individually numbered bottles commemorates three great Scottish literary heroes. Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and Robert “Rabbie” Burns are all honoured by artwork produced by three different artists. Each bottle has an illustration of a scene from one of the authors’ magna opera, and there are 30 different variations.

This is bottle 517 and is labelled with the illustration \"Ivanhoe in chais in the Moor's prison\" from Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe, illustrated by Stephen Shankland.

Glenfarclas 40 Year Old Scottish Classic 75cl / US Import

Glenfarclas is considered by many to be one of the finest distilleries in Speyside. Its direct-fired stills produce a heavy single malt that is almost exclusively matured in Jerez sherry casks. The distillery focuses on single malt over blends, and a cool microclimate around the distillery that means that their casks are particularly stingy to the \"angels,\" resulting in an incredible depth of stock. Glenfarclas also feel they share some credit for the modern day love of cask strength whisky, introducing their acclaimed 105 proof expressions back in 1968.  

The limited edition Scottish Classic was touted as a “celebration of the third millennium.\" The range of 600 individually numbered bottles commemorates three great Scottish literary heroes. Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and Robert “Rabbie” Burns are all honoured by artwork produced by three different artists. Each bottle has an illustration of a scene from one of the authors’ magna opera, and there are 30 different variations.

This is bottle 522 and is labelled with an illustration of \"Long John Silver and his cohorts\" from Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, illustrated by Charles Hynes.

Glenfarclas 40 Year Old Scottish Classic 75cl / US Import

Glenfarclas is considered by many to be one of the finest distilleries in Speyside. Its direct-fired stills produce a heavy single malt that is almost exclusively matured in Jerez sherry casks. The distillery focuses on single malt over blends, and a cool microclimate around the distillery that means that their casks are particularly stingy to the \"angels,\" resulting in an incredible depth of stock. Glenfarclas also feel they share some credit for the modern day love of cask strength whisky, introducing their acclaimed 105 proof expressions back in 1968.  

The limited edition Scottish Classic was touted as a “celebration of the third millennium.\" The range of 600 individually numbered bottles commemorates three great Scottish literary heroes. Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and Robert “Rabbie” Burns are all honoured by artwork produced by three different artists. Each bottle has an illustration of a scene from one of the authors’ magna opera, and there are 30 different variations.

This is bottle 568 and is labelled with an illustration of \"The maid's tale of her suitors\" in Robert Burns' The Jolly Beggars, illustrated by Bruce Thomson.

Glenfarclas 40 Year Old Scottish Classic 75cl / US Import

Glenfarclas is considered by many to be one of the finest distilleries in Speyside. Its direct-fired stills produce a heavy single malt that is almost exclusively matured in Jerez sherry casks. The distillery focuses on single malt over blends, and a cool microclimate around the distillery that means that their casks are particularly stingy to the \"angels,\" resulting in an incredible depth of stock. Glenfarclas also feel they share some credit for the modern day love of cask strength whisky, introducing their acclaimed 105 proof expressions back in 1968.  

The limited edition Scottish Classic was touted as a “celebration of the third millennium.\" The range of 600 individually numbered bottles commemorates three great Scottish literary heroes. Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and Robert “Rabbie” Burns are all honoured by artwork produced by three different artists. Each bottle has an illustration of a scene from one of the authors’ magna opera, and there are 30 different variations.

This is bottle 521 and is labelled with an illustration of \"Blind Pew approaching the Admiral Benbow\" from Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, illustrated by Charles Hynes.

Glenfarclas 40 Year Old Scottish Classic 75cl / US Import

Glenfarclas is considered by many to be one of the finest distilleries in Speyside. Its direct-fired stills produce a heavy single malt that is almost exclusively matured in Jerez sherry casks. The distillery focuses on single malt over blends, and a cool microclimate around the distillery that means that their casks are particularly stingy to the \"angels,\" resulting in an incredible depth of stock. Glenfarclas also feel they share some credit for the modern day love of cask strength whisky, introducing their acclaimed 105 proof expressions back in 1968.  

The limited edition Scottish Classic was touted as a “celebration of the third millennium.\" The range of 600 individually numbered bottles commemorates three great Scottish literary heroes. Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and Robert “Rabbie” Burns are all honoured by artwork produced by three different artists. Each bottle has an illustration of a scene from one of the authors’ magna opera, and there are 30 different variations.

This is bottle 526 and is labelled with an illustration of David Balfour from Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped, illustrated by Charles Hynes.

Glenfarclas 40 Year Old Scottish Classic 75cl / US Import

Glenfarclas is considered by many to be one of the finest distilleries in Speyside. Its direct-fired stills produce a heavy single malt that is almost exclusively matured in Jerez sherry casks. The distillery focuses on single malt over blends, and a cool microclimate around the distillery that means that their casks are particularly stingy to the \"angels,\" resulting in an incredible depth of stock. Glenfarclas also feel they share some credit for the modern day love of cask strength whisky, introducing their acclaimed 105 proof expressions back in 1968.  

The limited edition Scottish Classic was touted as a “celebration of the third millennium.\" The range of 600 individually numbered bottles commemorates three great Scottish literary heroes. Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and Robert “Rabbie” Burns are all honoured by artwork produced by three different artists. Each bottle has an illustration of a scene from one of the authors’ magna opera, and there are 30 different variations.

This is bottle 116 and is labelled with an illustration of \"The beggars in Poosie Nacie's tavern\" in Robert Burns' The Jolly Beggars, illustrated by Bruce Thomson.

Glenfarclas 40 Year Old Scottish Classic 75cl / US Import

Glenfarclas is considered by many to be one of the finest distilleries in Speyside. Its direct-fired stills produce a heavy single malt that is almost exclusively matured in Jerez sherry casks. The distillery focuses on single malt over blends, and a cool microclimate around the distillery that means that their casks are particularly stingy to the \"angels,\" resulting in an incredible depth of stock. Glenfarclas also feel they share some credit for the modern day love of cask strength whisky, introducing their acclaimed 105 proof expressions back in 1968.  

The limited edition Scottish Classic was touted as a “celebration of the third millennium.\" The range of 600 individually numbered bottles commemorates three great Scottish literary heroes. Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and Robert “Rabbie” Burns are all honoured by artwork produced by three different artists. Each bottle has an illustration of a scene from one of the authors’ magna opera, and there are 30 different variations.

This is bottle 570 and is labelled with an illustration of \"The Highland Wedding\" in Robert Burns' The Jolly Beggars, illustrated by Bruce Thomson. 

Glenfarclas 40 Year Old Scottish Classic 75cl / US Import

Glenfarclas is considered by many to be one of the finest distilleries in Speyside. Its direct-fired stills produce a heavy single malt that is almost exclusively matured in Jerez sherry casks. The distillery focuses on single malt over blends, and a cool microclimate around the distillery that means that their casks are particularly stingy to the \"angels,\" resulting in an incredible depth of stock. Glenfarclas also feel they share some credit for the modern day love of cask strength whisky, introducing their acclaimed 105 proof expressions back in 1968.  

The limited edition Scottish Classic was touted as a “celebration of the third millennium.\" The range of 600 individually numbered bottles commemorates three great Scottish literary heroes. Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and Robert “Rabbie” Burns are all honoured by artwork produced by three different artists. Each bottle has an illustration of a scene from one of the authors’ magna opera, and there are 30 different variations.

This is bottle 519 and is labelled with the illustration \"the journey of the unnamed Knight\" from Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe, illustrated by Stephen Shankland.

Glenfarclas 40 Year Old Scottish Classic 75cl / US Import

Glenfarclas is considered by many to be one of the finest distilleries in Speyside. Its direct-fired stills produce a heavy single malt that is almost exclusively matured in Jerez sherry casks. The distillery focuses on single malt over blends, and a cool microclimate around the distillery that means that their casks are particularly stingy to the \"angels,\" resulting in an incredible depth of stock. Glenfarclas also feel they share some credit for the modern day love of cask strength whisky, introducing their acclaimed 105 proof expressions back in 1968.  

The limited edition Scottish Classic was touted as a “celebration of the third millennium.\" The range of 600 individually numbered bottles commemorates three great Scottish literary heroes. Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and Robert “Rabbie” Burns are all honoured by artwork produced by three different artists. Each bottle has an illustration of a scene from one of the authors’ magna opera, and there are 30 different variations.

This is bottle 512 and is labelled with the illustration \"Rob Roy in hiding in the Highlands\" from Sir Walter Scott's Rob Roy, illustrated by Stephen Shankland.

Glenfarclas 40 Year Old Scottish Classic 75cl / US Import

Glenfarclas is considered by many to be one of the finest distilleries in Speyside. Its direct-fired stills produce a heavy single malt that is almost exclusively matured in Jerez sherry casks. The distillery focuses on single malt over blends, and a cool microclimate around the distillery that means that their casks are particularly stingy to the \"angels,\" resulting in an incredible depth of stock. Glenfarclas also feel they share some credit for the modern day love of cask strength whisky, introducing their acclaimed 105 proof expressions back in 1968.  

The limited edition Scottish Classic was touted as a “celebration of the third millennium.\" The range of 600 individually numbered bottles commemorates three great Scottish literary heroes. Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and Robert “Rabbie” Burns are all honoured by artwork produced by three different artists. Each bottle has an illustration of a scene from one of the authors’ magna opera, and there are 30 different variations.

This is bottle 512 and is labelled with the illustration \"Rob Roy leaping to safety\" from Sir Walter Scott's Rob Roy, illustrated by Stephen Shankland.

Glenfarclas 40 Year Old Scottish Classic 75cl / US Import

Glenfarclas is considered by many to be one of the finest distilleries in Speyside. Its direct-fired stills produce a heavy single malt that is almost exclusively matured in Jerez sherry casks. The distillery focuses on single malt over blends, and a cool microclimate around the distillery that means that their casks are particularly stingy to the \"angels,\" resulting in an incredible depth of stock. Glenfarclas also feel they share some credit for the modern day love of cask strength whisky, introducing their acclaimed 105 proof expressions back in 1968.  

The limited edition Scottish Classic was touted as a “celebration of the third millennium.\" The range of 600 individually numbered bottles commemorates three great Scottish literary heroes. Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and Robert “Rabbie” Burns are all honoured by artwork produced by three different artists. Each bottle has an illustration of a scene from one of the authors’ magna opera, and there are 30 different variations.

This is bottle 518 and is labelled with the illustration \"Ivanhoe returns home\" from Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe, illustrated by Stephen Shankland.

Glenfarclas 40 Year Old Scottish Classic 75cl / US Import

Glenfarclas is considered by many to be one of the finest distilleries in Speyside. Its direct-fired stills produce a heavy single malt that is almost exclusively matured in Jerez sherry casks. The distillery focuses on single malt over blends, and a cool microclimate around the distillery that means that their casks are particularly stingy to the \"angels,\" resulting in an incredible depth of stock. Glenfarclas also feel they share some credit for the modern day love of cask strength whisky, introducing their acclaimed 105 proof expressions back in 1968.  

The limited edition Scottish Classic was touted as a “celebration of the third millennium.\" The range of 600 individually numbered bottles commemorates three great Scottish literary heroes. Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and Robert “Rabbie” Burns are all honoured by artwork produced by three different artists. Each bottle has an illustration of a scene from one of the authors’ magna opera, and there are 30 different variations.

This is bottle 520 and is labelled with the illustration \"Victory for Ivanhoe\" from Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe, illustrated by Stephen Shankland.

Haig and Haig Five Star x 12 1949 / Sealed Wooden Crate

John Haig & Co was established in 1824 with the foundation of the Cameronbridge distillery. Already part of a great distilling dynasty, John's uncles had all been distillery owners, and his aunt had been married to John Jameson in Dublin. John Haig & Co were one of the five founding members of DCL in 1877, although were run independently from it until 1919. Best known for its Gold Label and Dimple blends, which were sold all over the world, the firm were also granted the licences to the Glenkinchie, Mannochmore and Glenlossie malt distilleries by DCL, but never bottled their single malts. The company's prominence declined in the latter half of the 20th century, but Diageo have revived the Haig name it in recent times as the single grain brand for the Cameronbridge distillery.

This is a sealed wooden crate of their Five Star blend, destined for the US market. It contains twelve bottles, all produced in 1949.

This lot has a 12 bottle shipping fee.

Glenfarclas 40 Year Old Scottish Classic 75cl / US Import

Glenfarclas is considered by many to be one of the finest distilleries in Speyside. Its direct-fired stills produce a heavy single malt that is almost exclusively matured in Jerez sherry casks. The distillery focuses on single malt over blends, and a cool microclimate around the distillery that means that their casks are particularly stingy to the \"angels,\" resulting in an incredible depth of stock. Glenfarclas also feel they share some credit for the modern day love of cask strength whisky, introducing their acclaimed 105 proof expressions back in 1968.  

The limited edition Scottish Classic was touted as a “celebration of the third millennium.\" The range of 600 individually numbered bottles commemorates three great Scottish literary heroes. Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and Robert “Rabbie” Burns are all honoured by artwork produced by three different artists. Each bottle has an illustration of a scene from one of the authors’ magna opera, and there are 30 different variations.

This is bottle 503 and is labelled with an illustration of \"In the churchyard\" from Robert Burns' Tam o'Shanter, illustrated by Bruce Thomson. 

Glenfarclas 40 Year Old Scottish Classic 75cl / US Import

Glenfarclas is considered by many to be one of the finest distilleries in Speyside. Its direct-fired stills produce a heavy single malt that is almost exclusively matured in Jerez sherry casks. The distillery focuses on single malt over blends, and a cool microclimate around the distillery that means that their casks are particularly stingy to the \"angels,\" resulting in an incredible depth of stock. Glenfarclas also feel they share some credit for the modern day love of cask strength whisky, introducing their acclaimed 105 proof expressions back in 1968.  

The limited edition Scottish Classic was touted as a “celebration of the third millennium.\" The range of 600 individually numbered bottles commemorates three great Scottish literary heroes. Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and Robert “Rabbie” Burns are all honoured by artwork produced by three different artists. Each bottle has an illustration of a scene from one of the authors’ magna opera, and there are 30 different variations.

This is bottle 505 and is labelled with an illustration of \"Saved by the bridge\" from Robert Burns' Tam o'Shanter, illustrated by Bruce Thomson. 

Glen Ord 1962 Cadenhead's 31 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 from Glen Ord, bottled in February 1994.

Glen Ord is a well-respected distillery, sought after as a single malt and by blenders alike. The distillery operates its own in-house maltings, which supply all of Diageo's northern distilleries, as well as Talisker and occasionally heavily-peated malt for the Islay sites. Glen Ord was first officially bottled as a single malt in the 1980s, but has had a bounty of different names over the years; Glen Ord, Glenordie, Ordie, Ord, and Muir of Ord. It is currently part of the Singleton stable. 

Glenfarclas 40 Year Old Scottish Classic 75cl / US Import

Glenfarclas is considered by many to be one of the finest distilleries in Speyside. Its direct-fired stills produce a heavy single malt that is almost exclusively matured in Jerez sherry casks. The distillery focuses on single malt over blends, and a cool microclimate around the distillery that means that their casks are particularly stingy to the \"angels,\" resulting in an incredible depth of stock. Glenfarclas also feel they share some credit for the modern day love of cask strength whisky, introducing their acclaimed 105 proof expressions back in 1968.  

The limited edition Scottish Classic was touted as a “celebration of the third millennium.\" The range of 600 individually numbered bottles commemorates three great Scottish literary heroes. Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and Robert “Rabbie” Burns are all honoured by artwork produced by three different artists. Each bottle has an illustration of a scene from one of the authors’ magna opera, and there are 30 different variations.

This is bottle 569 and is labelled with an illustration of \"JOhn Highlandsman in the dungeon\" in Robert Burns' The Jolly Beggars, illustrated by Bruce Thomson.

Highland Park 1957 Cadenhead's 23 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 Highland Park was distilled in May 1957 and bottled in November 1980.

Highland Park was built by David Robertson all the way back in 1798. The distillery's relationship with blenders, Robertson & Baxter, saw it acquired by Highland Distillers in 1937, who were subsequently bought by Edrington in 1999, who run it today. The modern Highland Park single malt brand was first officially bottled in the 1970s, with the release of an 8 year old age statement, but distillery bottlings first appeared around the 1950s. The look of the brand has changed many times over the years, but its cult following and popularity has never diminished. It remains one of the most recognisable single malts in the world to this day.

Clynelish 12 Year Old Ainslie and Heilbron Cask Strength 1973 / Edward and Edward

Clynelish distillery as it is recognised today, was built in 1967 to replace the smaller distillery next-door, which was the original site of that name. The first distillery was closed, but later re-opened, changing its name to Brora (but that’s another story). Clynelish is part of the Diageo stable, having been taken over by DCL in 1912. Despite being an important part of the Johnnie Walker blends, it has long been bottled as a single malt.

As was often the case with the distilleries in the DCL portfolio, Clynelish was licensed to one of the blening company's within its portfolio. In this case it was Ainslie & Heilbron, a constituent of whom, James Ainslie & Co, had owned the distillery until 1912. When DCL were succeeded by United Distillers, one of the new company's first orders of business was to regain control of the distribution of its single malts, taking the licenses back from the blending houses. Clynelish single malt was not bottled again until 1991 when it became part of the Flora & Fauna range, and it would not be until 2002 that it was bottled with its own unique brand again.

This will contain pre-closure single malt from the original Clynelish. This distillery was closed in 1968, re-opening as Brora the following year to produce heavily peated whisky for the DCL blends after a drought on Islay left them short of stock. Clynelish single malts from the first distillery are particularly revered.

This was bottled on behalf of the legendary Italian bar owner, Edoardo Giaccone.

Giaccone was something of a trailblazer, and was importing specially bottled official single malts for his bar from the late 1960s, this is one of his earliest. He opened the famous venue in 1958, and it has been called a few different things over the years, including Garten, Edward & Edward (during the period this was imported), and La Taverna del Comandante.

Edoardo set the stage for later legendary bottlers such as Silvano Samaroli, Nadi Fiori and Ernesto Mainardi. Moon Import founder, Pepi Mongiardino said, \"he was the first person I visited\" when he became the distributor for Bruichladdich in 1981. Giaccone did not have any of his own labels or series, but was the first person in Italy to have official bottlings produced exclusively for him. Through his bar, Italy was treated to exclusive releases from Clynelish, Bowmore, Dalmore, Highland Park and even Jack Daniel's.

This 12 year old was bottle at a cask strength of 56.9%, at his request. Clynelish bottled three batches of this for Giaccone in 1969, 1971 and 1973. This particular release is the first outing for the new orange and brown label style, that would become the official Clynelish livery in 1977.

Glenfarclas 1958 Signatory Vintage 40 Year Old Decanter / 10th Anniversary

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 Glenfarclas was bottled in 1998 to commemorate the company's 10th anniversary. Strict brand protection rules at Glenfarclas distillery have prevented them from being named here however.

Glenfarclas is considered by many to be one of the finest distilleries in Speyside. Its direct-fired stills produce a heavy single malt that is almost exclusively matured in Jerez sherry casks. The distillery focuses on single malt over blends, and a cool microclimate around the distillery that means that their casks are particularly stingy to the \"angels,\" resulting in an incredible depth of stock. Glenfarclas also feel they share some credit for the modern day love of cask strength whisky, introducing their acclaimed 105 proof expressions back in 1968. 

Glenlivet 1940 Gordon and MacPhail 50 Year Old Decanter / Book of Kells

A single vintage bottling of Glenlivet by Gordon and MacPhail, part of their iconic Book of Kells Series.

Bearing label art based on the mediaeval, illuminated manuscript for which the series is named, the liquid was drawn from several oak casks, all distilled way back in 1940.

Bottled in 1990 at 50 year sold, in a hand-made crystal decanter.

Well-known as the oldest licensed distillery in Scotland, for many years ‘Glenlivet’ was a byword for quality, with many single malts using the Glenlivet suffix in an attempt to reap the benefits of associating themselves with the Banffshire distillery. Indeed, owners Pernod-Ricard now put a heavy focus on the brand being ‘The Glenlivet’, encouraging their consumers not to accept any imitations. Glenlivet is in a long-running battle with Glenfiddich for the title of best-selling single malt, with both now selling over a million cases a year. George Smith secured a license to legally distil at Glenlivet in 1824, and it remained family-run until 1978 when Seagram bought a controlling stake in what had by then become The Glenlivet Distilleries Ltd, and counting assets such as Glen Grant, Benriach and Longmorn among its portfolio. When Seagram collapsed in 2001, Pernod-Ricard acquired its sizeable Chivas Brothers Scotch whisky division, with Glenlivet the crown jewel in an empire rivalled only by Diageo.

Gordon & MacPhail were granted a license to officially bottle Glenlivet single malt in the 1970s and 1980s. This long-standing relationship with the distillery has since furnished the Elgin-based independent firm with a steady supply of high-quality casks, and subsequently, high-quality releases.