The Perfect Collection Part Two

Glenesk 1982 Gordon and MacPhail

Known as Glenesk from 1980-85, and prior to that as Hillside since 1964, this distillery produced both malt and grain at different stages in its history. It is not often seen officially bottled, but has contributed to several Rare Malts Selection releases. Distilling ceased there entirely in 1985, and the site operates exclusively as a maltings now

This 1982 vintage was bottled by Gordon & MacPhail in 1994.

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.

Glenrothes 1982 Douglas Laing 19 Year Old 75cl / US Import

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.

A 1982 vintage Glenrothes, this is one of 240 bottles.

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. Releases from independent labels like this have also always been highly regarded.

Glenfarclas 1980 Cadenhead's 14 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 1980 vintage Glenfarclas. The distillery has strict brand protection in place so it is rare to see these independent bottlings labelled as such.

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.

Glen Garioch 21 Year Old Decanter 75cl / US Import

Glen Garioch is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland. For most of the 20th century it was self-sufficient, malting its own barley using peat from Pitsligo, giving it a unique smoky character. In fact, in 1968 it was short-listed by then-owners DCL, to convert to heavily peated production in order to make up for a shortfall on Islay caused by a drought. In an odd twist of fate, the decision was instead made to re-open Brora for the job, and close Glen Garioch down. Morrison Bowmore then spring to its rescue, restarting production in 1973. The maltings and distillery were closed down again by Beam Suntory in 1995, and only the latter resumed operations two years later, with contemporary Glen Garioch becoming an un-peated single malt. These pre-1995 vintages are worth investigating while you can. 

A much loved expression, this 21 year old was discontinued in 2010 during the relaunch of the core range. These were always produced using the old style, pre-closure Glen Garioch single malt.

Glenmorangie 10 Year Old Grand Slam Dram 1990

Despite being owned by blenders, MacDonald & Muir, for most of the 20th century, Glenmorangie had an early focus on bottling its single malt. Some records show that its single malt was being sold as early as the late 19th century. This became the distillery's main output in 1959, and with the unique flavours derived from Scotland's smallest stills, coupled with their pioneering use of wood finishing, Glenmorangie is now one of the world's biggest selling malts. As a result, the distillery portfolio over the years has been extensive, and little has been spared for independent bottlers. 

This special edition of the 10 year old Glenmorangie was released to celebrate the legendary Grand Slam success of 1990 by Scotland's national rugby team (the last time Scotland won the 5 Nations Grand Slam).

Dated the 17th March 1990 as Scotland claimed victory over England to claim the title, the front picture is an image of the victors.

Glenlossie 1970 Sestante 16 Year Old Decanter

Glenlossie became part of DCL (now Diageo) in 1919, who made it part of their Haig stable in the 1930s. The distillery has always been hugely important to the Diageo blends, and excepting the staff-only Manager's Dram, the Flora & Fauna is the only distillery bottling, and one of the few from the series still in production. Independent bottlings are more common, but are still decidedly rare.

This is a 1970 vintage, bottled for Sestante in Italy.

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.

Mainardi was a former employee of Co. Import, Pinerolo, and was inspired to bottle these crystal decanters based on similar bottlings of Macallan that they had produced. The Sestante decanters were Edinburgh crystal, and Mainardi estimates he produced around 3500 of these over the years.

Glencadam 1974 Gordon and MacPhail 16 Year Old 75cl / US Import

Despite being nearly 200 years old, Glencadam is still a lesser-known single malt. For the majority of the 20th century it was owned by blenders, first Gilmour Thompson, and then Hiram Walker who bought it in 1954. Over the next half century a series of amalgamations brought the distillery into the hands of Allied Distillers. Despite being the home of the Stewarts Cream of the Barley blend, it was shut down in 2000. Allied Distillers experimented with a brief distillery bottling of Glencadam single malt in the 1980s, but it was not until Angus Dundee re-opened it in 2003 that it was pushed as a single malt brand. Prior this, independent releases like this were the only real chance to try this well-regarded spirit. 

This 1974 vintage is a Gordon & MacPhail bottling for the US market.

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.

Glendronach 15 Year Old Sherry Casks 75cl 1990s / US Import

Glendronach was built in 1826 by James Allardice, and rebuilt following a fire in 1852 by an individual named Walter Scott (although not the one you might be thinking of). It eventually passed into the hands of perhaps Scotland's greatest distilling dynasty, the Grant's of Glenfiddich. Charles, the youngest son of William Grant procured the then-silent distillery from the government in 1920, and it remained in the family until they sold it to Wm. Teacher 40 years later. The Grant's and Teacher's were early champions of the single malt category, and distillery bottlings of Glendronach were produced for most of the 20th century until it was mothballed by Allied Distillers in 1996. The distillery was revived in 2002, and has since become one of the strongest single malt brands in the world. 

Similar to the 100% Sherry Casks 12 year old that it replaced in 1991, this 15 year old led the sales volume for Glendronach in the 1990s before its closure. When Billy Walker re-opened the distillery he paid homage to this, developing a new sherry casked 15 year old called Revival, which was an equally revered expression.

Knockando 1986 Centenary Edition

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 1986 vintage was selected by then distillery manager, Innes Shaw, in 1998 to celerbrate the centenary of the opening of the distillery.

Glenmorangie Cellar 13 1 Litre

Despite being owned by blenders, MacDonald & Muir, for most of the 20th century, Glenmorangie had an early focus on bottling its single malt. Some records show that its single malt was being sold as early as the late 19th century. This became the distillery's main output in 1959, and with the unique flavours derived from Scotland's smallest stills, coupled with their pioneering use of wood finishing, Glenmorangie is now one of the world's biggest selling malts. As a result, the distillery portfolio over the years has been extensive, and little has been spared for independent bottlers.

Glenmorangie Cellar 13 was a difficult to find travel retail exclusive that has eventually discontinued in 2007 when the distillery's core range was relaunched.

It was matured for 10 years in first fill casks from Cellar 13 at the distillery, the closest warehouse to the the shores of the Dornoch Firth.

Knockdhu 1974 Scott's Selection

The Scott's Selection range was launched in the 1990s and was originally bottled from casks hand-selected by former Speyside distillery Master Distiller, Robert Scott. They are always filled un-chillfiltered and at a natural 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. Independent releases like this are still labelled with the distillery name however. 

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

Glendullan became part of DCL (now Diageo) in 1925, and continues to be an important producer for their blends to this day. Production there was increased in 1972 following the opening of \"Glendullan 2\" next-door. Both sites ran simultaneously until 1985 when the original plant was closed, and Glendullan 2 became simply Glendullan. The key outcome of this was that more spirit could be reserved for bottling as a single malt, with a 12 year old distillery bottling appearing in the 1970s. Casks were also freed up for independent bottlers, resulting in a number of high quality releases like this. ​​​​​​​

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

The Vintage Malt Whisky Company is a family-owned firm in Glasgow, founded in 1992 by Brian Crook. In addition to their Cooper's Choice series, they also bottle number of their own single malt brands, such as Finlaggan (an Islay) and Tantallan (a Highland), using whisky sourced from unspecified distilleries.

Glenlivet 18 Year Old 75cl 1990s / US Import

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.

This is an older version of the 18 year old offering form the distillery. The 18 is the favourite dram of everyone's favourite family-loving mobster, Tony Soprano. The expression was rebranded as the 18 year old Batch Reserve in 2019, following a redesign of the distillery's core range.

Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Cask Strength 75cl / US Import

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 15 year old cask strength distillery bottling was replaced by the Distillery Edition in 2012.

Glenfarclas 8 Year Old 1980s

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.

This is an early 1980s bottling of the 8 year old, impoted to Italy by Frattina.

Glenallachie 1985 Signatory Vintage 11 Year Old

Glenallachie distillery was built by Mackinlays in 1967 to meet the demands of its blends following an upturn in sales in the US. In its short history it has passed through the hands of Invergordon Distillers and Pernod Ricard. During this period the focus was always on the provision of blends, with over 20 years between the first Mackinlay’s distillery bottlings of its single malt and the next official release from Chivas Brothers in 2005. Now in the hands of Billy Walker and being pushed as a single malt brand since 2017, prior to this, the only real opportunity to try Glenallachie was through sought after independent bottlings like this. 

Distilled on 11th October 1985 and bottled November 1996 by Signatory Vintage from casks #4072-4074.

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.

Glenfarclas 'Glen Bannock' 1988 12 Year Old 75cl / US Import

A single malt produced by the owners of Glenfarclas distillery, J. & G. Grant. Bottled for the US market.

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 K 8 Year Old Pure Malt 1970s / Orlandi Import

An interesting old pure malt blend from the early 1970s. Produced by Hatch Mansfield for the Italian market, using a base of Speyside single malts from the Glenlivet region.

Glenglassaugh 1983 Gordon and MacPhail

Situated just north of the Speyside region border, Glenglassaugh is an interesting single malt. So interesting in fact, that it proved difficult for blenders to marry with other whiskies, and it closed down in 1986, deemed surplus to requirements in the era of oversupply in the whisky industry. With the evolution of the single malt market in the years that followed, the distillery made a surprise comeback in 2008 when it was revived by a group of private investors. It then found its feet as part of the Benriach Distillery Company, and is now part of the Brown-Forman stable. Releases from both sides of its 22 year hiatus are very well regarded. 

This is a 1983 vintage from Gordon & MacPhail, bottled in 1994.

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.

Glendullan 1984 Signatory Vintage 15 Year Old 75cl / US Import

Glendullan became part of DCL (now Diageo) in 1925, and continues to be an important producer for their blends to this day. Production there was increased in 1972 following the opening of \"Glendullan 2\" next-door. Both sites ran simultaneously until 1985 when the original plant was closed, and Glendullan 2 became simply Glendullan. The key outcome of this was that more spirit could be reserved for bottling as a single malt, with a 12 year old distillery bottling appearing in the 1970s. Casks were also freed up for independent bottlers, resulting in a number of high quality releases like this.

This Signatory Vintage bottling was distilled in 1984 and bottled from a single sherry cask in 1999.

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.

Glenugie 1966 Signatory Vintage 31 Year Old Silent Stills Miniature

A rare Signatory Vintage bottling of Glenugie. Part of Signatory Vintage's Silent Stills series which highlighted Scotland's lost distilleries at the time (some, such as Glenglassaugh have since returned).

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.

Distilled on 31st of December 1966 and bottled on the 5th of June 1998 at 31 years old.

A well-regarded distillery in its time, Glenugie was primarily tasked with providing single malt for the Long John blends. Oversupply in the 1980s saw it close, along with many others, in 1983. The distillery has long since been dismantled, with its stock and brand name under ownership of Chivas Brothers. Despite this, there have been very few official bottlings, and those from independents like this are highly prized. 

Cask #5082 produced 206 pairs of full size and miniature bottles.

Glenesk 5 Year Old Wm Sanderson 1980s / Buton Import

Known as Glenesk from 1980-85, and prior to that as Hillside since 1964, this distillery produced both malt and grain at different stages in its history. It is not often seen officially bottled, but has contributed to several Rare Malts Selection releases. Distilling ceased there entirely in 1985, and the site operates exclusively as a maltings now.

This is a rare bottling of its single malt, produced by Wm. Sanderson, one of the blenders in the DCL portfolio. They acquired the license in 1980 in order to provide malt for their VAT 69 blend, and continued to bottle the distillery's single malt until the license was terminated a few years after the distillery's closure.

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

Glendullan 1981 Scott's Selection 75cl / US Import

Glendullan became part of DCL (now Diageo) in 1925, and continues to be an important producer for their blends to this day. Production there was increased in 1972 following the opening of \"Glendullan 2\" next-door. Both sites ran simultaneously until 1985 when the original plant was closed, and Glendullan 2 became simply Glendullan. The key outcome of this was that more spirit could be reserved for bottling as a single malt, with a 12 year old distillery bottling appearing in the 1970s. Casks were also freed up for independent bottlers, resulting in a number of high quality releases like this. 

This was distilled in 1981 and bottled for the US market in 1997.

The Scott's Selection range was launched in the 1990s and was originally bottled from casks hand-selected by former Speyside distillery Master Distiller, Robert Scott. They are always filled un-chillfiltered and at a natural cask strength.

Glenfiddich Robert the Bruce Decanter 75cl

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 is a historically themed stoneware decanter depicting Scottish king, Robert the Bruce. 

Glen Sloy 25 Year Old Scotch Malt Whisky 1970s

This is an unusual whisky, bottled from an unlabelled cask found maturing in the Tullibardine warehouses in the 1970s. Its origin was believed tohave been the distillery itself, but they were unable to bottle it without proof. The cask was therefore sold to F. Butcher & Co in Glasgow, who bottled it under the name Glen Sloy.

The whisky was sampled by the famous Gillies Club of Australia on a tour of Scotland in 1979. They awarded it a score of 7.2, with member David Daiches declaring it a \"an extremely fine malt.\"

Knockando 1976 

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. 

This was distilled in 1979 and bottled in 1989.

Knockando 1979

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. 

This was distilled in 1979 bottled in 1994.

Glen Garioch 10 Year Old 1980s / Soffiantino Import

Glen Garioch is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland. For most of the 20th century it was self-sufficient, malting its own barley using peat from Pitsligo, giving it a unique smoky character. In fact, in 1968 it was short-listed by then-owners DCL, to convert to heavily peated production in order to make up for a shortfall on Islay caused by a drought. In an odd twist of fate, the decision was instead made to re-open Brora for the job, and close Glen Garioch down. Morrison Bowmore then spring to its rescue, restarting production in 1973. The maltings and distillery were closed down again by Beam Suntory in 1995, and only the latter resumed operations two years later, with contemporary Glen Garioch becoming an un-peated single malt. These pre-1995 vintages are worth investigating while you can. 

This is a 1980s distillery bottling of the core-range 10 year old expression, produced using the old-style single malt.

Glen Grant 1986 Douglas Laing 14 Year Old 75cl / US Import

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 is a 1986 vintage Glen Grant, bottled in May 2001.

Glen Grant is one of Speyside's most recognised distilleries. It was built in 1839 by James and John Grant, and was a huge facility for its time. Its size increased exponentially over time, in the hands of John's son, John \"The Major\" Grant (who also built the short-lived Caperdonich next-door), and twice in the 1970s following the merger with The Glenlivet Distillers and its subsequent takeover by Seagram. Glen Grant was bottled as a single malt as early as the late-19th century, and developed a global export market. None perhaps as important as in Italy, where their agent in the 1960s, Armando Giovinetti, turned it into the nation's favourite whisky, after discovering the palate preferences of his countrymen for very young single malts. So loved is Glen Grant in Italy, that the distillery is now owned by Gruppo Campari, who bought it from Pernod Ricard in 2006.  

Glen Moray Centenary Port Wood Finish

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. 

This was bottled to commemorate the centenary of the distillery in 1997. The whisky is a combination of four casks from 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979 all matured in ex-bourbon casks.  A further maturation period followed from 1987 in Port wood from Duoro Valley, Portugal.

Glen Moray was one of the first distilleries to experiment with wine cask finishes. These port examples being very popular. They also tried Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay casks, which are more of an acquired taste.

Glenrothes 12 Year Old Berry Brothers and Rudd 1980s

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.

Glenrothes single malt was bottled in the general Highland Distillers branding by Gordon & MacPhail until 1987 when Berry Brothers & Rudd acquired the license instead, launching this 12 year old expression. It was bottled until 1993 when the core range was relaunched with the popular vintage series.

Knockando 1979 Extra Old

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 1979 vintage bottling of the Extra Old release, bottled in 2000.