The Perfect Collection Part Two

Kinclaith 1967 Gordon and MacPhail

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

This 1967 vintage was bottled by Gordon & MacPhail in the 1980s.

The Connoisseurs Choice label is one of the most recognisable independent bottlings on the market. It was initially created for renowned Italian importer, Edoardo Giaccone in the early 1970s, but became a mainstay of the core Gordon & MacPhail portfolio in 1979.

Dalmore 1971 Glenhaven 23 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 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 21 Year Old 75cl pre-2007 / US Import

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

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

This version of the 21 year old was produced until 2007 when the core range was rebranded after United Spirits took over the reigns of Whyte & Mackay.

Dalmore 1976 Cadenhead's 19 Year Old 75cl / US Import

The Authentic Collection was launched by Wm. Cadenhead in 1991, and included whiskies from several rare closed Scottish and Irish distilleries, bottled for the company's 150th anniversary. It would later go on to become a mainstay of their portfolio, as the cask strength alternative to the Original Collection, which replaced their famous \"dumpy\" bottlings in the early 1990s. The Authentic Collection is now the flagship Cadenhead brand, and one of the most recognisable independent labels on the market.

This is a 1976 vintage Dalmore, bottled for the US market in March 1996.

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

Dumbarton 1961 Signatory Vintage 29 Year Old

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

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

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

Signatory Vintage were established in 1988 by Andrew Symington and are one of Scotland's most prolific independent bottlers. Their offices and bottling facility are located next to Edradour distillery, which they have also owned since 2002.

Dumbarton 1961 Signatory Vintage 29 Year Old

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

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

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

Signatory Vintage were established in 1988 by Andrew Symington and are one of Scotland's most prolific independent bottlers. Their offices and bottling facility are located next to Edradour distillery, which they have also owned since 2002.

Dumbarton 1961 Signatory Vintage 29 Year Old

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

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

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

Signatory Vintage were established in 1988 by Andrew Symington and are one of Scotland's most prolific independent bottlers. Their offices and bottling facility are located next to Edradour distillery, which they have also owned since 2002.

Dallas Dhu 1977 Cadenheads 18 Year Old 75cl / US Import

The Authentic Collection was launched by Wm. Cadenhead in 1991, and included whiskies from several rare closed Scottish and Irish distilleries, bottled for the company's 150th anniversary. It would later go on to become a mainstay of their portfolio, as the cask strength alternative to the Original Collection, which replaced their famous \"dumpy\" bottlings in the early 1990s. The Authentic Collection is now the flagship Cadenhead brand, and one of the most recognisable independent labels on the market.

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

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.

Dumbarton 1961 Signatory Vintage 29 Year Old

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

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

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

Signatory Vintage were established in 1988 by Andrew Symington and are one of Scotland's most prolific independent bottlers. Their offices and bottling facility are located next to Edradour distillery, which they have also owned since 2002.

Dumbarton 1963 Signatory Vintage 26 Year Old

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

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

Signatory Vintage were established in 1988 by Andrew Symington and are one of Scotland's most prolific independent bottlers. Their offices and bottling facility are located next to Edradour distillery, which they have also owned since 2002.

Dumbarton 1961 Signatory Vintage 29 Year Old

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

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

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

Signatory Vintage were established in 1988 by Andrew Symington and are one of Scotland's most prolific independent bottlers. Their offices and bottling facility are located next to Edradour distillery, which they have also owned since 2002.

Dumbarton 1961 Signatory Vintage 29 Year Old

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

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

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

Signatory Vintage were established in 1988 by Andrew Symington and are one of Scotland's most prolific independent bottlers. Their offices and bottling facility are located next to Edradour distillery, which they have also owned since 2002.

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

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

This 1978 vintage was bottled by Signatory Vintage in December 1995.

Signatory Vintage were established in 1988 by Andrew Symington and are one of Scotland's most prolific independent bottlers. Their offices and bottling facility are located next to Edradour distillery, which they have also owned since 2002.

Dumbarton 1963 Signatory Vintage 26 Year Old

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

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

Signatory Vintage were established in 1988 by Andrew Symington and are one of Scotland's most prolific independent bottlers. Their offices and bottling facility are located next to Edradour distillery, which they have also owned since 2002.

Dumbarton 1963 Signatory Vintage 26 Year Old

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

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

Signatory Vintage were established in 1988 by Andrew Symington and are one of Scotland's most prolific independent bottlers. Their offices and bottling facility are located next to Edradour distillery, which they have also owned since 2002.

Dallas Dhu 1978 Signatory Vintage 18 Year Old 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 bottles, of which this is number 47.

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 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 bottles, of which this is number 43.

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.

Knockdhu 21 Year Old Cask Strength

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

This 1999 distillery bottling is a a cask strength 21 year old. This is particulalrly rare in that it bears the traditional distillery name on the label.

Dumbarton 1963 Signatory Vintage 26 Year Old

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

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

Signatory Vintage were established in 1988 by Andrew Symington and are one of Scotland's most prolific independent bottlers. Their offices and bottling facility are located next to Edradour distillery, which they have also owned since 2002.

Knappogue Castle 15 Year Old Very Limited Edition 75cl / US Import

A very limited edition of this single malt Irish whiskey produced at Cooley distillery. Produced by vatting together single malt from three different vintages: 1990, 1991 and 1992. Each bottle was hand signed and numbered by Mark Andrews This is bottle number 467 of 600. 

Cooley distillery was opened in 1987 after it was converted from a pototo alcohol plant by John Teeling. It now operates two pot and three column stills, generally double distilling as opposed the more familiar triple distillation that most Irish producers favour. It was bought by Beam Inc. in 2011, with its former owners now operating the Teeling distillery in Dublin. Cooley's core range includes the Kilbeggan blends and a peated and unpeated single malt, called Connemara and Tyrconnell, respectively. In addition to this, they have a massive contract distilling operation, providing whisky to a number of independent labels like this.

Imported by Castle Brands, NY.

Dufftown 1980 Signatory Vintage 16 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 (becoming Diageo two years later), these bottlings stopped, but a Dufftown distillery bottling returned in the 1990s as part of the Flora & Fauna series, later becoming part of The Singleton stable. Prior to the construction of Roseisle, Dufftown was Diageo's largest distillery. 

Distilled in April 1980, this was bottled in December 1996 from sherry butt #3786. 

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 1977 Cadenhead's 19 Year Old 75cl / US Import

The Authentic Collection was launched by Wm. Cadenhead in 1991, and included whiskies from several rare closed Scottish and Irish distilleries, bottled for the company's 150th anniversary. It would later go on to become a mainstay of their portfolio, as the cask strength alternative to the Original Collection, which replaced their famous \"dumpy\" bottlings in the early 1990s. The Authentic Collection is now the flagship Cadenhead brand, and one of the most recognisable independent labels on the market.

This 1977 vintage was bottled for the US market in December 1996.

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.

Dalmore Cigar Malt 75cl / Import

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

Introduced in 2002 alongside the 21 year old in the distillery's first expansion of its core range, this is a bottle of the the Dalmore Cigar Malt. It was devised by Whyte & Mackay master blended, Richard Paterson, as the ideal single malt companion to an after-dinner smoke. Presented here prior to the product being discontinued in 2009, although it would eventually return in the form of the Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve.

Knockando 1973 Single Cask 21 Year Old #569 75cl / US Import

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

This is a rare single cask release, bottled for the US market. Cask #569 was distilled in 1973 and bottled in 1996.

Dallas Dhu 1969 Gordon and MacPhail 15 Year Old

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

This is a 1969 vintage from Gordon & macPhail, aged for 15 years in cask.

The Connoisseurs Choice label is one of the most recognisable independent bottlings on the market. It was initially created for renowned Italian importer, Edoardo Giaccone in the early 1970s, but became a mainstay of the core Gordon & MacPhail portfolio in 1979.

Knockando 1965 Extra Old Reserve / US Import

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

This premium distillery bottling was distilled in 1965 and bottled in 1990. The label also has a 21 year age statement however, which is likely erroneous.

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

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

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

This is an independent release from Signatory Vintage, distilled in 1982 and bottled in November 2000.

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.

Knockando 1964 Extra Old Reserve

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

This is an 1964 vintage of the old Extra Old Reserve release, bottled in 1988.

Dalwhinnie 1981 Distillers Edition

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

Launched in 1997, the Distillers Edition range are cask finished variations on the Classic Malts. This is the second release of this double matured series from Dalwhinnie, and was finished in Oloroso cask wood.

Knockando 1976 18 Year Old 75cl / US Import

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

Unusually for a core-range single malt, those from Knockando have traditionally always featured the vintage on the label. For a brief period this was instead referred to in Americanised terms as the distillation \"season.\" 

Deanston 1977 Cadenhead's 19 Year Old 75cl / US Import

The Authentic Collection was launched by Wm. Cadenhead in 1991, and included whiskies from several rare closed Scottish and Irish distilleries, bottled for the company's 150th anniversary. It would later go on to become a mainstay of their portfolio, as the cask strength alternative to the Original Collection, which replaced their famous \"dumpy\" bottlings in the early 1990s. The Authentic Collection is now the flagship Cadenhead brand, and one of the most recognisable independent labels on the market.

This 1977 vintage Deanston was bottled in March 1997 for the US market.

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

Knockando 1980 Cadenhead's 12 Year Old 75cl / 150th Anniversary

The Authentic Collection was launched by Wm. Cadenhead in 1991, and included whiskies from several rare closed Scottish and Irish distilleries, bottled for the company's 150th anniversary. It would later go on to become a mainstay of their portfolio, as the cask strength alternative to the Original Collection, which replaced their famous \"dumpy\" bottlings in the early 1990s. The Authentic Collection is now the flagship Cadenhead brand, and one of the most recognisable independent labels on the market.

This 12 year old Knockando is one of the original 150th anniversary releases.

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