The Perfect Collection Part Two

Yoichi 1984 Single Cask 15 Year Old #103440 75cl 

A very rare bottling from Nikka's flagship distillery in Hokkaido, Japan. Nikka was founded in 1934 by Masataka Taketsuru, a former Suntory employee who had studied at the University of Glasgow, and later trained as a blender at the now lost Hazelburn distillery in Campbeltown.  Taketsuru opened the Yoichi distillery in the same year as establishing the company, modelling its pot stills on the long-necked design of the Longmorn stills in Speyside.  

This is a 1984 vintage single cask, bottled in April 2000.

Yamazaki Suntory White Whisky 1950s

Suntory are one of the founding fathers of Japanese whisky, established by Shinjirō Torii in 1899 as a wine store in Osaka. The venture was hugely successful, and the company was renamed Kotobukiya in 1921, which built its first distillery three years later, Yamazaki. The distillery produced both malt and grain whiskies which the company blended together, releasing its first Suntory White Label in 1929, the resulting popularity of which saw the firm renamed after it 1963. Expansion in the next decade saw the company move its grain production to a new Chita distillery in 1972, and open a second malt distillery, Hakushu, the following year. Suntory today has a large stake in both the bourbon and Scotch whisky industry, but remains at the forefront of its native whisky market too.

This is a 1950s example of the classic Suntory White.

These bottles would have been produced using malt and grain distilled at Yamazaki distillery. Suntory's grain whisky production was moved to Chita distillery during their expansion in the 1980s.

Yamazaki Suntory White Whisky 1960s

Suntory are one of the founding fathers of Japanese whisky, established by Shinjirō Torii in 1899 as a wine store in Osaka. The venture was hugely successful, and the company was renamed Kotobukiya in 1921, which built its first distillery three years later, Yamazaki. The distillery produced both malt and grain whiskies which the company blended together, releasing its first Suntory White Label in 1929, the resulting popularity of which saw the firm renamed after it 1963. Expansion in the next decade saw the company move its grain production to a new Chita distillery in 1972, and open a second malt distillery, Hakushu, the following year. Suntory today has a large stake in both the bourbon and Scotch whisky industry, but remains at the forefront of its native whisky market too.

This is a 1960s example of the classic Suntory White.

These bottles would have been produced using malt and grain distilled at Yamazaki distillery. Suntory's grain whisky production was moved to Chita distillery during their expansion in the 1980s.

Yamazaki 18 Year Old 75cl / US Import

Suntory’s flagship distillery, Yamazaki was founded by Shinjiro Torii in 1923. The town of Yamazaki was chosen to be the site of Japan’s first commercial distillery due to its very ‘Scottish’ climate, and with it being an area where three rivers converge. In its early days, Yamazaki produced both malt and grain for Suntory's blends, but the opening of the Chita distillery in 1972 allowed the company to focus on its single malt brand. It is now one of the world's most desirable. The first spirit ran from the stills in 1924, on 11th November at 11:11am.

The 18 year old was introduced to the core range in 1992. It is a vatting of 80% sherry butt matured whiskies, with the remainder from Japanese Mizunara and American oak.

Fettercairn 1962 Cadenhead's 22 Year Old

Wm. Cadenhead are Scotland's oldest independent bottler, operating for over 175 years, but perhaps none of their bottlings are as sought after as these 'dumpy' style bottles. These were produced with brown glass and an iconic black label (white for the occasional grain whisky), with each distillery given its own letterpress font in homage to William Cadenhead's early career in the printing business.​​​​​​​

This Fettercairn was distilled in December 1962 and bottled January 1986.

Fettercairn distillery was built in 1825 and aside froma brief period in mothballs in the 1930s, has been in operation ever since. It was re-opened from that closure in 1939 by Associated Scottish Distilleries, the Scotch arm of the post-Prohibition drinks giant in the US, National Distillers. When ASD ceased trading in 1954 the distillery passed through various hands before being bought by Whyte & Mackay in 1973. Despite being an important contributor to their blends, they also pushed Fettercairn as a single malt brand, as well as making casks available to independent companies for bottlings like this. 

Yoichi 1990 Single Cask 10 Year Old #223614 

A very rare bottling from Nikka's flagship distillery in Hokkaido, Japan. Nikka was founded in 1934 by Masataka Taketsuru, a former Suntory employee who had studied at the University of Glasgow, and later trained as a blender at the now lost Hazelburn distillery in Campbeltown.  Taketsuru opened the Yoichi distillery in the same year as establishing the company, modelling its pot stills on the long-necked design of the Longmorn stills in Speyside. 

This single cask was distilled in 1990 and bottled in July 2001 from single cask #223614.

Yoichi 1990 Single Cask 10 Year Old #223614 

A very rare bottling from Nikka's flagship distillery in Hokkaido, Japan. Nikka was founded in 1934 by Masataka Taketsuru, a former Suntory employee who had studied at the University of Glasgow, and later trained as a blender at the now lost Hazelburn distillery in Campbeltown.  Taketsuru opened the Yoichi distillery in the same year as establishing the company, modelling its pot stills on the long-necked design of the Longmorn stills in Speyside. 

This single cask was distilled in 1990 and bottled in July 2001 from single cask #223614.

Yamazaki Suntory Royal 60th Anniversary 1960s

Suntory are one of the founding fathers of Japanese whisky, established by Shinjirō Torii in 1899 as a wine store in Osaka. The venture was hugely successful, and the company was renamed Kotobukiya in 1921, which built its first distillery three years later, Yamazaki. The distillery produced both malt and grain whiskies which the company blended together, releasing its first Suntory White Label in 1929, the resulting popularity of which saw the firm renamed after it 1963. Expansion in the next decade saw the company move its grain production to a new Chita distillery in 1972, and open a second malt distillery, Hakushu, the following year. Suntory today has a large stake in both the bourbon and Scotch whisky industry, but remains at the forefront of its native whisky market too.

This is the original release of Suntory Royal, bottled to commemorate the company's 60th anniversary in 1959.

These bottles would have been produced using malt and grain distilled at Yamazaki distillery. Suntory's grain whisky production was moved to Chita distillery during their expansion in the 1980s.

Fettercairn 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 Fettercairn is one of the original 150th anniversary releases.

Fettercairn distillery was built in 1825 and aside froma brief period in mothballs in the 1930s, has been in operation ever since. It was re-opened from that closure in 1939 by Associated Scottish Distilleries, the Scotch arm of the post-Prohibition drinks giant in the US, National Distillers. When ASD ceased trading in 1954 the distillery passed through various hands before being bought by Whyte & Mackay in 1973. Despite being an important contributor to their blends, they also pushed Fettercairn as a single malt brand, as well as making casks available to independent companies for bottlings like this. 

Fettercairn 1970 Signatory Vintage 25 Year Old 75cl / US Import

Fettercairn distillery was built in 1825 and aside froma brief period in mothballs in the 1930s, has been in operation ever since. It was re-opened from that closure in 1939 by Associated Scottish Distilleries, the Scotch arm of the post-Prohibition drinks giant in the US, National Distillers. When ASD ceased trading in 1954 the distillery passed through various hands before being bought by Whyte & Mackay in 1973. Despite being an important contributor to their blends, they also pushed Fettercairn as a single malt brand, as well as making casks available to independent companies for bottlings like this. 

This is a Signatory Vintage bottling from Signatory Vintage, distilled in 1970 and bottled 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.

Finlaggan 1979 Islay Single Malt Decanter

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 this Finlaggan (an Islay) and Tantallan (a Highland), using whisky sourced from unspecified distilleries. 

Yamazaki Suntory Excellence 1970s

Suntory are one of the founding fathers of Japanese whisky, established by Shinjirō Torii in 1899 as a wine store in Osaka. The venture was hugely successful, and the company was renamed Kotobukiya in 1921, which built its first distillery three years later, Yamazaki. The distillery produced both malt and grain whiskies which the company blended together, releasing its first Suntory White Label in 1929, the resulting popularity of which saw the firm renamed after it 1963. Expansion in the next decade saw the company move its grain production to a new Chita distillery in 1972, and open a second malt distillery, Hakushu, the following year. Suntory today has a large stake in both the bourbon and Scotch whisky industry, but remains at the forefront of its native whisky market too.

These bottles would have been produced using malt and grain distilled at Yamazaki distillery. Suntory's grain whisky production was moved to Chita distillery during their expansion in the 1980s.

The bottle bears an unusual Scottish clan-style heraldic label.

Yamazaki Old Suntory Whisky 1960s

Suntory are one of the founding fathers of Japanese whisky, established by Shinjirō Torii in 1899 as a wine store in Osaka. The venture was hugely successful, and the company was renamed Kotobukiya in 1921, which built its first distillery three years later, Yamazaki. The distillery produced both malt and grain whiskies which the company blended together, releasing its first Suntory White Label in 1929, the resulting popularity of which saw the firm renamed after it 1963. Expansion in the next decade saw the company move its grain production to a new Chita distillery in 1972, and open a second malt distillery, Hakushu, the following year. Suntory today has a large stake in both the bourbon and Scotch whisky industry, but remains at the forefront of its native whisky market too.

This is a 1960s bottling of the Old Suntory blend.

These bottles would have been produced using malt and grain distilled at Yamazaki distillery. Suntory's grain whisky production was moved to Chita distillery during their expansion in the 1980s.

Yamazaki 12 Year Old 75cl / US Import

First introduced in 1984, the Yamazaki 12 year old was Japan's first seriously marketed single malt. With the introduction of the Distiller's Reserve in 2014, the 12 year old expression was elevated in the core range, and is becoming increasingly difficult to find.

Suntory’s flagship distillery, Yamazaki was founded by Shinjiro Torii in 1923. The town of Yamazaki was chosen to be the site of Japan’s first commercial distillery due to its very ‘Scottish’ climate, and with it being an area where three rivers converge. In its early days, Yamazaki produced both malt and grain for Suntory's blends, but the opening of the Chita distillery in 1972 allowed the company to focus on its single malt brand. It is now one of the world's most desirable. The first spirit ran from the stills in 1924, on 11th November at 11:11am.

Fettercairn 1980 Whyte and Whyte 13 Year Old 75cl / Spirits Library

Fettercairn distillery was built in 1825 and aside froma brief period in mothballs in the 1930s, has been in operation ever since. It was re-opened from that closure in 1939 by Associated Scottish Distilleries, the Scotch arm of the post-Prohibition drinks giant in the US, National Distillers. When ASD ceased trading in 1954 the distillery passed through various hands before being bought by Whyte & Mackay in 1973. Despite being an important contributor to their blends, they also pushed Fettercairn as a single malt brand, as well as making casks available to independent companies for bottlings like this. 

This was bottled for Whyte and Whyte, a Chicago-based independent spirits distributor in the US. The company had a UK arm that sourced casks of single malt from a variety of specialist firms, including Signatory Vintage and Wm. Cadenhead. This bottle is part of a sought after series the company imported for the Spirits Library, a Scotch and Cognac retailer in the US. Whyte and Whyte ceased trading in 1998, and these bottles are an increasing rarity.

Fettercairn 875 8 Year Old 1970s / Orlandi Import

Fettercairn distillery was built in 1825 and aside froma brief period in mothballs in the 1930s, has been in operation ever since. It was re-opened from that closure in 1939 by Associated Scottish Distilleries, the Scotch arm of the post-Prohibition drinks giant in the US, National Distillers. When ASD ceased trading in 1954 the distillery passed through various hands before being bought by Whyte & Mackay in 1973. Despite being an important contributor to their blends, they also pushed Fettercairn as a single malt brand, known as \"Old Fettercairn\" until 2002 when the prefix was dropped. 

This is the first single malt bottling of the Whyte & Mackay era, predating their launch of the Old Fettercairn brand. Named simply after the distillery (as it is again today), the 875 is simple too; 8 for its age, and 75 for its imperial proof. There was also a 575 for the Italian market.

Ferintosh 10 Year Old Speyside Single Malt

A mystery single Speyside single malt, bottled by Invergordon Distillers and likely from one of the Speyside distilleries in the Whyte & Mackay portfolio, such as Tamnavulin...

The brand is named after Ferintosh distillery, which was destroyed by a fire in the 17th century.

Frysk Hynder 2007 Frisian Single Malt​

Frysk Hynder is the single malt brand of the Us Heit distillery and Brewery in Frisia, The Netherlands.

This 2007 vintage has been matured in single red wine cask #51 and was bottled in January 2007.

Finlaggan Old Reserve Islay Single Malt 75cl / US Import

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 this Finlaggan (an Islay) and Tantallan (a Highland), using whisky sourced from unspecified distilleries.