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. 

Ardbeg 1967 Signatory Vintage 30 Year Old 75cl / Sherry Butt #1141 - US Import

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 Ardbeg was distilled in 1967 and matured in a single sherry butt #1141 for 30 years before bottling in 1997.

You would not think it to see it now, but Ardbeg had a difficult time of it for much of the 20th century. The distillery was bought in a joint venture between Hiram Walker and DCL in 1959, both intending to supply their blends. The subsequent years were very successful, but DCL backed out in 1979 (closing many of their other distilleries a few years later), and Hiram Walker then struggled in the 1980s era oversupply when interest in blended Scotch was waning. They closed it down for the majority of the decade. It re-opened briefly in the 1990s before being revived for good by Glenmorangie plc in 1997. The lack of demand in the period prior to this, thankfully, saw a lot of casks sold to independent bottlers, many of which have gone on to become legendary releases.

The rising demand for its product in the 1970s meant that Ardbeg was forced to stop using its own malted barley, instead buying it in from the neighbouring Port Ellen maltings. The result was a change in the style and profile of the distillery's whisky, and pre-1974 vintages such as this are incredibly sought after by connoisseurs and collectors alike.

Ardbeg 1967 Signatory Vintage 30 Year Old 75cl / Sherry Butt #1142 - US Import

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 Ardbeg was distilled in 1967 and matured in a single sherry butt #1142 for 30 years before bottling in 1997.

You would not think it to see it now, but Ardbeg had a difficult time of it for much of the 20th century. The distillery was bought in a joint venture between Hiram Walker and DCL in 1959, both intending to supply their blends. The subsequent years were very successful, but DCL backed out in 1979 (closing many of their other distilleries a few years later), and Hiram Walker then struggled in the 1980s era oversupply when interest in blended Scotch was waning. They closed it down for the majority of the decade. It re-opened briefly in the 1990s before being revived for good by Glenmorangie plc in 1997. The lack of demand in the period prior to this, thankfully, saw a lot of casks sold to independent bottlers, many of which have gone on to become legendary releases.

The rising demand for its product in the 1970s meant that Ardbeg was forced to stop using its own malted barley, instead buying it in from the neighbouring Port Ellen maltings. The result was a change in the style and profile of the distillery's whisky, and pre-1974 vintages such as this are incredibly sought after by connoisseurs and collectors alike.

Ardbeg 1967 Signatory Vintage 30 Year Old / Dark Oloroso Butt #578

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.

A legendary Ardbeg, this was distilled on the 15th February 1967 and matured in a single dark Oloroso sherry butt #578, this was bottled on 17th February 1997.

You would not think it to see it now, but Ardbeg had a difficult time of it for much of the 20th century. The distillery was bought in a joint venture between Hiram Walker and DCL in 1959, both intending to supply their blends. The subsequent years were very successful, but DCL backed out in 1979 (closing many of their other distilleries a few years later), and Hiram Walker then struggled in the 1980s era oversupply when interest is blended Scotch was waning. They closed it down for the majority of the decade. It re-opened briefly in the 1990s before being revived for good by Glenmorangie plc in 1997. The lack of demand in the period prior to this, thankfully, saw a lot of casks sold to independent bottlers, many of which have gone on to become legendary releases.

The rising demand for its product in the 1970s meant that Ardbeg was forced to stop using its own malted barley, instead buying it in from the neighbouring Port Ellen maltings. The result was a change in the style and profile of the distillery's whisky, and pre-1974 vintages such as this are incredibly sought after by connoisseurs and collectors alike.

Bottle number 93 of 540.

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.

Ardbeg 1967 Signatory Vintage 28 Year Old / Pale Oloroso Butt #575

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 1967 Ardbeg, a legendary vintage. Bottled from a pale Oolroso butt in November 1995.

You would not think it to see it now, but Ardbeg had a difficult time of it for much of the 20th century. The distillery was bought in a joint venture between Hiram Walker and DCL in 1959, both intending to supply their blends. The subsequent years were very successful, but DCL backed out in 1979 (closing many of their other distilleries a few years later), and Hiram Walker then struggled in the 1980s era oversupply when interest in blended Scotch was waning. They closed it down for the majority of the decade. It re-opened briefly in the 1990s before being revived for good by Glenmorangie plc in 1997. The lack of demand in the period prior to this, thankfully, saw a lot of casks sold to independent bottlers, many of which have gone on to become legendary releases.  

The rising demand for its product in the 1970s meant that Ardbeg was forced to stop using its own malted barley, instead buying it in from the neighbouring Port Ellen maltings. The result was a change in the style and profile of the distillery's whisky, and pre-1974 vintages such as this are incredibly sought after by connoisseurs and collectors alike.

Ardbeg 1965 Cadenhead's 28 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 1965 vintage Ardbeg, bottled for the US market in June 1993.

You would not think it to see it now, but Ardbeg had a difficult time of it for much of the 20th century. The distillery was bought in a joint venture between Hiram Walker and DCL in 1959, both intending to supply their blends. The subsequent years were very successful, but DCL backed out in 1979 (closing many of their other distilleries a few years later), and Hiram Walker then struggled in the 1980s era oversupply when interest is blended Scotch was waning. They closed it down for the majority of the decade. It re-opened briefly in the 1990s before being revived for good by Glenmorangie plc in 1997. The lack of demand in the period prior to this, thankfully, saw a lot of casks sold to independent bottlers, many of which have gone on to become legendary releases.

The rising demand for its product in the 1970s meant that Ardbeg was forced to stop using its own malted barley, instead buying it in from the neighbouring Port Ellen maltings. The result was a change in the style and profile of the distillery's whisky, and pre-1974 vintages such as this are incredibly sought after by connoisseurs and collectors alike.

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.

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.

Ardbeg 1967 Signatory Vintage 29 Year Old / Pale Oloroso Butt #576

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 1967 Ardbeg, a legendary vintage. Bottled from a pale Oolroso butt in February 1996.

You would not think it to see it now, but Ardbeg had a difficult time of it for much of the 20th century. The distillery was bought in a joint venture between Hiram Walker and DCL in 1959, both intending to supply their blends. The subsequent years were very successful, but DCL backed out in 1979 (closing many of their other distilleries a few years later), and Hiram Walker then struggled in the 1980s era oversupply when interest is blended Scotch was waning. They closed it down for the majority of the decade. It re-opened briefly in the 1990s before being revived for good by Glenmorangie plc in 1997. The lack of demand in the period prior to this, thankfully, saw a lot of casks sold to independent bottlers, many of which have gone on to become legendary releases.  

The rising demand for its product in the 1970s meant that Ardbeg was forced to stop using its own malted barley, instead buying it in from the neighbouring Port Ellen maltings. The result was a change in the style and profile of the distillery's whisky, and pre-1974 vintages such as this are incredibly sought after by connoisseurs and collectors alike.

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.

Ardbeg 1974 Provenance 2nd Release 75cl / US Import

ou would not think it to see it now, but Ardbeg had a difficult time of it for much of the 20th century. The distillery was bought in a joint venture between Hiram Walker and DCL in 1959, both intending to supply their blends. The subsequent years were very successful, but DCL backed out in 1979 (closing many of their other distilleries a few years later), and Hiram Walker then struggled in the 1980s era oversupply when interest in blended Scotch was waning. They closed it down for the majority of the decade. It re-opened briefly in the 1990s before being revived for good by Glenmorangie plc in 1997.  

This is one of the legendary Ardbeg Provenance bottlings, distilled in 1974 and matured for 23 years until being released in 1998. These whiskies are highly acclaimed and equally desirable.

This is the second release of four, and was bottled on 19th May 1998, exclusively for the US market.

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.

Ardbeg 1967 Douglas Laing 32 Year Old Sherry Cask

Douglas Laing & Co was established in 1948 by Fred Douglas Laing, affectionately known as “FDL.” The company started out as a blending business, but over time their focus shifted towards independently bottlings single malts. Fred died in 1982, leaving the business to his two sons, Stewart and Fred Jr, who eventually carved it up in 2013, with Stewart leaving to establish Hunter Laing. Fred Jr and his daughter Cara now run Douglas Laing, which continues to bottle single malt and has also revived its blending business. Additionally, the company has recently moved into distilling as well, announcing plans to construct the new Clutha distillery in Glasgow, and taking over Strathearn in Perthshire in 2019.

The Old Malt Cask series is one of the most established independent labels on the market. It was launched by Douglas Laing in 1998 and bottled by them until 2013 when the brand became part of the Hunter Laing portfolio instead.

This 32 year old Ardbeg was drawn from a sherry cask in November 1999. It was bottled at a cask strength of 47.5% ABV, as the whisky had dropped below the brand's preferred 50%.

You would not think it to see it now, but Ardbeg had a difficult time of it for much of the 20th century. The distillery was bought in a joint venture between Hiram Walker and DCL in 1959, both intending to supply their blends. The subsequent years were very successful, but DCL backed out in 1979 (closing many of their other distilleries a few years later), and Hiram Walker then struggled in the 1980s era oversupply when interest is blended Scotch was waning. They closed it down for the majority of the decade. It re-opened briefly in the 1990s before being revived for good by Glenmorangie plc in 1997. The lack of demand in the period prior to this, thankfully, saw a lot of casks sold to independent bottlers, many of which have gone on to become legendary releases.

The rising demand for its product in the 1970s meant that Ardbeg was forced to stop using its own malted barley, instead buying it in from the neighbouring Port Ellen maltings. The result was a change in the style and profile of the distillery's whisky, and pre-1974 vintages such as this are incredibly sought after by connoisseurs and collectors alike.

Ardbeg 1974 Sestante for Il Carato 19 Year Old / Van Gogh Collection

A very rare Ardbeg bottled by Italian bottlers, Sestante, for the Ristorante il Carato, an enoteca in the town of Brescia. This is part of the ornately labelled Van Gogh Collection, bottled between 1992 and 1993 and includes a Dallas Dhu and two Port Ellen.

The Sestante import company was founded in the 1970s by Ernesto Mainardi, and he bottled his first single casks under the name in 1985. Alongside his contemporary, Silvano Samaroli, Mainardi pioneered giving his customers a choice of both standard 40-46% bottlings, and cask strength releases from the same casks. Along with his other brand, Silver Seal, Mainardi's bottlings are incredibly sought after.

This was distilled in 1974 and matured in sherry wood.

You would not think it to see it now, but Ardbeg had a difficult time of it for much of the 20th century. The distillery was bought in a joint venture between Hiram Walker and DCL in 1959, both intending to supply their blends. The subsequent years were very successful, but DCL backed out in 1979 (closing many of their other distilleries a few years later), and Hiram Walker then struggled in the 1980s era oversupply when interest is blended Scotch was waning. They closed it down for the majority of the decade. It re-opened briefly in the 1990s before being revived for good by Glenmorangie plc in 1997. The lack of demand in the period prior to this, thankfully, saw a lot of casks sold to independent bottlers, many of which have gone on to become legendary releases.

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.