The Perfect Collection Part Two

Bruichladdich 1970 31 Year Old 75cl / US Import

The 1970 vintage is a legendary Bruichladdich, scoring 95 points on WhiskyFun.

Only 4,200 bottles were released in 2002 after being matured entirely in ex-bourbon casks.

Like its Islay neighbour Bunnahabhain, Bruichladdich has traditionally been an un-peated single malt, mostly owing to its requirements by the blenders who owned it. The last of these was Whyte and Mackay, who eventually shut it down in 1995, deeming it surplus to requirements. They sold the distillery to Murray McDavid in 2001, who launched the peated Port Charlotte and heavily-peated Octomore single malts in 2006 and 2008. A recommissioned Lomond still also now produces the popular Botanist gin there.

This is one of the earliest releases from the Murray McDavid era.

Glenturret 1967 Cask Strength

Glenturret claims to be one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland, although it was dismantled for over 25 years before James Fairlie built a new facility within the walls of the former site in 1959, using old equipment procured from Perthshire neighbours, Tullibardine. Despite using traditional whisky-making methods, the distillery was also a pioneer, opening Scotland’s second ever visitor centre in 1981. It was then transformed into the home of The Famous Grouse by Edrington in 2002, before changing hands again in 2018 when it was bought by the owner of Lalique crystal. With former Macallan whisky maker, Bob Dalgarno at the helm, the new ownership relaunched the Glenturret single malt brand in 2020 with a predictably luxurious new bottle design.

Distilled in 1967, it's now very rare to see a Glenturret at this age, bottled at cask strength in 1998.

Glenglassaugh 1967 Signatory Vintage 31 Year Old Silent Stills

Situated just north of thre 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.

Distilled on 5th June 1967, this was bottled within Signatory Vintage's Silent Stills range, which showcased Scotland's finest discontinued single malts. Glenglassaugh, at the time was one of these.

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.

One of 217 bottles drawn from cask #2893.

Balblair 1965 R.W. Duthie for Corti Brothers 20 Year Old / US Import

Balblair distillery in situated in the northern Highland region, currently under the ownership of Inver House Distillers and previously part of the Hiram Walker empire before it became Allied Distillers. Allied sold it to Inver House in 1996, who introduced the much-loved vintage-dated core range in 2007. Distillery bottlings were also produced in the 1980s but in the intervening years, independent releases like this were the most commonly available way to sample this lesser-known Highland single malt.

Bottled in 1986, this is part of a much sought after series of independent bottlings produced by Aberdeen's R.W. Duthie for the Corti Brothers of Sacramento, California. R.W. Duthie was a subsidiary of Wm. Cadenhead, and also bottled esteemed independent distributors like Samaroli at the time. The Corti Brothers were a family grocer business founded in 1947 by Frank and Gino. Frank's son Darrell was the one to introduce a specialist spirits knowledge to the business, and they began getting their own Scotch whisky bottled for them in 1978.

Glen Elgin 16 Year Old Manager's Dram 1993

The Manager’s Dram series of whiskies were bottled exclusively for employees of what is now known as Diageo. These whiskies were selected by the respective distillery managers within Diageo malt distilling and bottled at natural cask strength. The selections were taken very seriously by each distillery, a point of principle, and the result has become a series of rare, sought after and highly regarded single malts.

This is a 16 year old Glen Elgin, sherry cask matured and chosen by distillery manager Harry Fox. It was bottled on 31st October 1993.

Glen Elgin was built in at the very end of the 19th century, with distilling commencing in 1900. Its success was sporadic in the early days, but it eventually joined DCL in 1930 as part of their White Horse Distillers arm. Unusually, the distillery had no electricity until 1950, and was entirely powered by paraffin until then. Although a key component in their blends, the fruity character of Glen Elgin was deemed worthy of being bottled as a single malt too, appearing as a 12 year old under White Horse branding from as early as the 1970s. Today the 12 year old remains the only permanent release, with limited edition distillery bottlings like this increasingly sought after.

Glen Grant 42 Year Old Gordon and MacPhail 1970s

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 Grant licensed its brand to a number of bottlers in the mid to late 20th century, the most prominent of which was Gordon & MacPhail. This good standing with the distillery furnished the Elgin-based independent firm with a steady supply of high quality casks, and subsequently, high quality releases. The preference of the Italian parent firm at the distillery today for its younger output, often means that Gordon & MacPhail are given access to some impressively aged casks. 

This is a late 1970s bottling with a staggering 42 year old age-statement. Although not expressed this will have a spectacular pre-war vintage dating to circa the mid-1930s.

Glen Elgin 16 Year Old Manager's Dram 1993

The Manager’s Dram series of whiskies were bottled exclusively for employees of what is now known as Diageo. These whiskies were selected by the respective distillery managers within Diageo malt distilling and bottled at natural cask strength. The selections were taken very seriously by each distillery, a point of principle, and the result has become a series of rare, sought after and highly regarded single malts.

This is a 16 year old Glen Elgin, sherry cask matured and chosen by distillery manager Harry Fox. It was bottled on 31st October 1993.

Glen Elgin was built in at the very end of the 19th century, with distilling commencing in 1900. Its success was sporadic in the early days, but it eventually joined DCL in 1930 as part of their White Horse Distillers arm. Unusually, the distillery had no electricity until 1950, and was entirely powered by paraffin until then. Although a key component in their blends, the fruity character of Glen Elgin was deemed worthy of being bottled as a single malt too, appearing as a 12 year old under White Horse branding from as early as the 1970s. Today the 12 year old remains the only permanent release, with limited edition distillery bottlings like this increasingly sought after.

Ben Nevis 1966 Blackadder Raw Cask 75cl / US Import

Ben Nevis distillery was built by \"Long\" John MacDonald in 1825, and was so popular by the end of the 19th century that at one point the estate employed over 200 people. After a series of closure and re-openings at the beginning of the 20th, it was eventually bought by former Canadian bootlegger, Joseph Hobbs. He installed a coffey still there in 1955, making Ben Nevis Scotland's first dual-operation distillery, and began to blend its malt and grain before filling it to cask. Sporadic closures again followed Hobb's death, with stability finally ensured in 1989 when it was bought by long-term customers, Nikka Whisky of Japan. Its turbulent history means there were few distillery bottlings until the launch of the 10 year old single malt in 1996, but casks had long been making their way to independent labels, and many of them are very highly praised. 

This is a 1966 vintage Ben Nevis single malt, bottled for the US market.

Blackadder International were founded in 1995 by whisky writers, Robin Tucek and John Lamond, authors of the 1987 publication, The Malt Whisky File: The Essential Guide for the Malt Whisky Connoisseur. The company has gained great affection from whisky enthusiasts for its Raw Cask series, which is deliberately drawn un-filtered from the cask so as to retain all cask sediment along with any natural oils and fats. The company is credited with a key role in the popularisation of cask strength whiskies since its inception.

Glen Grant 1972 Blackadder Raw Cask 75cl / US Import

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. 

This 1972 vintage is an independent release from Blackadder, bottled in September 2001 for the US market.

Blackadder International were founded in 1995 by whisky writers, Robin Tucek and John Lamond, authors of the 1987 publication, The Malt Whisky File: The Essential Guide for the Malt Whisky Connoisseur. The company has gained great affection from whisky enthusiasts for its Raw Cask series, which is deliberately drawn un-filtered from the cask so as to retain all cask sediment along with any natural oils and fats. The company is credited with a key role in the popularisation of cask strength whiskies since its inception.

Bruichladdich 36 Year Old Legacy Series #1 75cl / US Import

Like its island neighbour Bunnahabhain distillery, Bruichladdich has traditionally been an un-peated single malt, mostly owing to its requirements by the blenders who owned it. The last of these was Whyte and Mackay, who eventually shut it down in 1995, deeming it surplus to requirements. They sold the distillery to Murray McDavid in 2001, who launched the peated Port Charlotte and heavily-peated Octomore single malts in 2006 and 2008. A recommissioned Lomond still also now produces the popular Botanist gin there.

Bruichladdich produced the Legacy series from 2002 until 2007, this is the first release which was distilled in 1966 then bottled in 2002 to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

Glenesk-Hillside 1969 Rare Malts 25 Year Old 75cl / 61.9% - US Import

The Rare Malts Selection was a historic selection of single malt whiskies from operational and lost distilleries that were released by Diageo between 1995 and 2005. As with the Flora & Fauna series, they were often from lesser-seen single malt distilleries.

This is a Hillside single malt, distilled in 1969 and bottled as a 25 year old

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 Malt releases. Distilling ceased there entirely in 1985, and the site operates exclusively as a maltings now. 

Glenlivet 1972 Vintage 75cl / 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.

A precursor to the Cellar Collection range, this 1972 vintage release was bottled in 1998 at cask strength. 

Sample code: 2LVF802

Bruichladdich 1966 Douglas Laing 35 Year Old Cask Strength

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 1966 vintage Bruichladdich, this was bottled in 2001 at cask strength, presumably because the barrel in question had dipped below their preferred 50% ABV.

Like its island neighbour Bunnahabhain distillery, Bruichladdich has traditionally been an un-peated single malt, mostly owing to its requirements by the blenders who owned it. The last of these was Whyte and Mackay, who eventually shut it down in 1995, deeming it surplus to requirements. They sold the distillery to Murray McDavid in 2001, who launched the peated Port Charlotte and heavily-peated Octomore single malts in 2006 and 2008. A recommissioned Lomond still also now produces the popular Botanist gin there.

Glen Garioch 1970 Single Cask 27 Year Old #12

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 single cask, bottled in the first year of resumed operations at the distillery under Beam Suntory. Hogshead #12 was distilled in 1970 and bottled as a 27 year old.

Glenlivet 1949 Gordon and MacPhail 40 Year Old

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

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

When Gordon & MacPhail were producing official bottlings under license in the 1970s, each distillery was labelled using a specific branding determined by their parent companies, such as DCL, Hiram Walker or Highland Distillers. Those from The Glenlivet Distilleries Ltd stable however, also including Longmorn and Glen Grant, were the exception. These distilleries already had established branding that was licensed out to a number of companies in the mid-to-later 20th century in order to bottle their single malt, although Gordon & MacPhail are perhaps the most prolific of these. Although the official Glenlivet branding has long since departed this aesthetic, the George & J.G. Smith's label is a classic, and Gordon & MacPhail continue to use it today as part of what has been known since 2018 as its Distillery Labels series.

This is a 1949 vintage, bottled after 40 years in cask.

Brora 1982 Douglas Laing 19 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 is a 1982 vintage Brora, drawn from a sherry cask in May 2002.

Brora distillery, formerly known as Clynelish was initially closed after a new distillery was built next-door in 1967, and assumed the Clynelish name. The original distillery re-opened after a year's hiatus, and bottlings of the whisky it produced between then and its second closure in 1983 are now increasingly sought after. Official bottlings of Brora did not appear until the 1990s, long after its closure, but independent bottlings like this were produced from the late 1980s.

Ben Wyvis 1968 Signatory Vintage 31 Year Old Decanter

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 1968 vintage Ben Wyvis, bottled in 2000.

Ben Wyvis is one of the shortest-lived distilleries of the modern age, constructed within the Invergordon grain complex in 1965. Invergordon was built just four years earlier, and both were tasked with providing fillings for the Whyte & Mackay blend which was soaring in popularity at the time. Ben Wyvis was a malt distillery, producing an unpeated new make. The expanding distillery portfolio of Invergordon Distillers later that decade, including the building of Tamnavulin and acquisition of Bruichladdich, left Ben Wyvis surplus to requirements. It was demolished after just 11 years of production, and very few single malt bottlings have ever been produced.  

Glen Grant 42 Year Old Gordon and MacPhail 1970s

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 Grant licensed its brand to a number of bottlers in the mid to late 20th century, the most prominent of which was Gordon & MacPhail. This good standing with the distillery furnished the Elgin-based independent firm with a steady supply of high quality casks, and subsequently, high quality releases. The preference of the Italian parent firm at the distillery today for its younger output, often means that Gordon & MacPhail are given access to some impressively aged casks. 

This is a 42 year old, bottled in the late 1970s.

Ben Wyvis 1968 Signatory Vintage 31 Year Old Decanter / Cask #658

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 1968 vintage Ben Wyvis, bottled in 2000.

Ben Wyvis is one of the shortest-lived distilleries of the modern age, constructed within the Invergordon grain complex in 1965. Invergordon was built just four years earlier, and both were tasked with providing fillings for the Whyte & Mackay blend which was soaring in popularity at the time. Ben Wyvis was a malt distillery, producing an unpeated new make. The expanding distillery portfolio of Invergordon Distillers later that decade, including the building of Tamnavulin and acquisition of Bruichladdich, left Ben Wyvis surplus to requirements. It was demolished after just 11 years of production, and very few single malt bottlings have ever been produced.  

Glenrothes 1957 Gordon and MacPhail 35 Year Old 75cl / US Import

A wonderful old 1957 vintage Glenrothes from legendary independent bottlers, Gordon & MacPhail.

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.

Highland Distillers licensed the Glenrothes single malt brand to Gordon & MacPhail to produce official releases in the 1970s and 1980s, not having the capacity to do so itself at the time. This good standing with the distillery furnished the Elgin-based independent firm with a steady supply of high-quality casks, and subsequently, high-quality releases.

This is one of the licensed bottlings. The early Gordon & MacPhail bottlings of Highland Distillers single malts, which also included Highland Park and Tamdhu, were recognisable by their uniform use of these labels with arched text and encircled age statements, originally used by the company itself in the 1960s. In the later 1980s the label styles used by Gordon & MacPhail shifted to focus on a specific branding for each distillery rather than their parent company, however the Highland Distillers licenses were either returned to their distilleries by this point, or in the case of Glenrothes, to Berry Brothers & Rudd. Unusually, Gordon & MacPhail did continue to use this Glenrothes label into the early 1990s however.

Glenglassaugh 1967 Signatory Vintage 31 Year Old Silent Stills

Situated just north of thre 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.

Distilled on 5th June 1967, this was bottled within Signatory Vintage's Silent Stills range, which showcased Scotland's finest discontinued single malts. Glenglassaugh, at the time was one of these.

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.

One of 217 bottles drawn from cask #2893.

Benrinnes 1963 Cadenhead's 36 Year Old / Millennium Bottling

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 special Millennium Bottling, distilled at Benrinnes and bottled from the Chairman's Stock in January 2000.

Until 2007, Benrinnes had a unique triple distillation process that resulted in a single malt highly prized by blenders for its distinct \"meaty\" quality. So much so in fact, that none was spared for an official distillery bottling until Diageo opted to continue production of the 15 year old Flora & Fauna as a permanent release. Thankfully, the distillery has always featured in the catalogues of independent bottlers, giving ample opportunity to experience this sought after single malt. 

Bunnahabhain 1979 Signatory Vintage 17 Year Old 75cl / US Import

An austere piece of Victorian architecture on the north-east coast of Islay, Bunnahabhain is a relative outsider on the island, traditionally known for producing an un-peated single malt. The majority of this was used for blending, as was its initial intended purpose. The distillery was shut for 2 years in 1982 following the market downturn of the period, and despite being revived at low production, it was eventually officially bottled as a single malt later that decade, with the self-deprecating tag-line, \"the un-pronounceable malt.\" 

This is an independent release from Signatory Vintage. It was distilled in 1979 and matured in a single sherry butt.

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.

Bruichladdich 1965 Riserva Veronelli 22 Year Old / Rinaldi Import

Like its island neighbour Bunnahabhain distillery, Bruichladdich has traditionally been an un-peated single malt, mostly owing to its requirements by the blenders who owned it. The last of these was Whyte and Mackay, who eventually shut it down in 1995, deeming it surplus to requirements. They sold the distillery to Murray McDavid in 2001, who launched the peated Port Charlotte and heavily-peated Octomore single malts in 2006 and 2008. A recommissioned Lomond still also now produces the popular Botanist gin there. 

This is a rare distillery bottling of Bruichladdich from the Whyte & Mackay era, bottled from the special reserves of Luigi Veronelli, who also had some highly collectible rum bottled for him in the 1980s.

Distilled in 1965 and bottled at 22 years old.

Imported for Veronelli by Fratelli Rinaldi, who acquired the Bruichladdich distribution license from Moon Import in the mid-1980s.

Bowmore 1984 Vintage

Islay’s oldest working distillery, Bowmore was established in 1779 and is now regarded as one of the most popular malts not only on Islay, but in the whole of Scotland. The distillery was acquired by Stanley P. Morrison in 1963, ushering in an era of iconic single malts, including the legendary Black Bowmore, credited by many as the genesis of whisky collecting, bottled in 1993. The distillery was bought under the control Suntory the year after (they had been stakeholders since 1989), and it remains one of the most collectible brands in Scotch whisky today. Bowmore is one of the few remaining Scottish distilleries to use its own floor maltings, providing them with 40% of their requirements.

This is a popular vintage Bowmore, distilled in 1984 and bottled at cask strength at 16 years old.

One of 2208 bottles.

Glenury Royal 1970 Rare Malts 29 Year Old / 57.0%

The Rare Malts Selection was a historic selection of single malt whiskies from operational and lost distilleries that were released by Diageo between 1995 and 2005. As with the Flora & Fauna series, they were often from lesser-seen single malt distilleries.

Glenury Royal is so-called due to its earliest proprietor, Captain James Barclay, being a close friend of King William IV. The distillery is one of many picked up by DCL (now Diageo) during an era of optimism in the mid-20th century, before being closed down in the early 1980s after a market downturn created an oversupply. Indeed, Glenury closed in 1985 and subsequently demolished. As such, official bottlings are rare. Rarer still are those bottled under the Downie and Garron brand names.  

This is one of only two releases in the Rare Malt Selection series, and of only a handful more distillery bottlings in the Diageo era.

Brora 1982 Cadenhead's 13 Year Old 75cl / US Import

The Authentic Collection was launched by Cadenhead's 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's brand, and one of the most recognisable independent labels on the market.

This Brora was distilled in May 1982 and bottled for the US market in June 1995.

Brora distillery, formerly known as Clynelish was initially closed after a new distillery was built next-door in 1967, and assumed the Clynelish name. The original distillery re-opened after a year's hiatus, and bottlings of the whisky it produced between then and its second closure in 1983 are now increasingly sought after. Official bottlings of Brora did not appear until the 1990s, long after its closure, but independent bottlings like this were produced from the late 1980s.

Glen Ord 1969 Maltings 25th Anniversary

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.  

This is a rare bottling of Glen Ord, distilled 1969 and bottled in 1993 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its vastly important maltings.

Glenesk-Hillside 1971 Rare Malts 25 Year Old / 62.0%

The Rare Malts Selection was a historic selection of single malt whiskies from operational and lost distilleries that were released by Diageo between 1995 and 2005. As with the Flora & Fauna series, they were often from lesser-seen single malt distilleries.

This is a Hillside single malt, distilled in 1971 and bottled as a 25 year old

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 Malt releases. Distilling ceased there entirely in 1985, and the site operates exclusively as a maltings now. 

Glenlochy 1970 Signatory Vintage 29 Year Old Silent Stills 75cl / US Import

A rising demand for imported Scotch 1930s America saw Glenlochy acquired and re-opened after many years of closure, by National Distillers in 1937. National Distillers were one of the \"big 4\" American distilling companies to emerge after the repeal of Prohibition, but they were hit hard by the secodn world war, eventually selling off their assets in the Scottish whisky industry. Glenlochy was purchased by DCL (now Diageo) in 1954, who ran it for two briefs stints to provide malt for their blends, but closed it for good, like many others, in 1983. Glenlochy is extremely rarely seen as a single malt, and no official bottlings were produced in its lifetime. The Rare Malt Selections are the only distillery bottlings produced by Diageo, and examples from the independent labels are increasingly sought after. 

Distilled on 30th October 1970, 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).

Bottled on 15th August 2000, cask #3359 yielded just 248 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.

Brora 1981 Douglas Laing 18 Year Old

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 1981 vintage Brora, bottled in 1999.

Brora distillery, formerly known as Clynelish was initially closed after a new distillery was built next-door in 1967, and assumed the Clynelish name. The original distillery re-opened after a year's hiatus, and bottlings of the whisky it produced between then and its second closure in 1983 are now increasingly sought after. Official bottlings of Brora did not appear until the 1990s, long after its closure, but independent bottlings like this were produced from the late 1980s.

Glen Grant 1970 Hallmark of St James 75cl / US Import

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. 

This was bottled for Vintage Hallmark Collection, the US distribution arm of the Vintage Hallmark of St James wine shop in London. This independent whisky label is named after the eponymous store. Distilled in February 1970 and bottled in April 2000.

Bottled at cask strength and featuring tasting notes from the legendary Wallace Milroy.