The Perfect Collection Part Two

Glengoyne 8 Year Old 1970s / Giorgio Gnudi Import

Built in 1833, what is now known as Glengoyne is a Highland distillery so close to the Lowland region border that its warehouses across the road actually fall into the latter geographical category. The distillery was owned by the Lang Brothers for 89 years, who used it as provision for their blends. In that time it was also important to those of Robertson & Baxter, who would eventually acquire the site in 1966, and bottled it as a single malt for the first time in the 1970s. It was not until the 1990s that the single malt brand became the distillery’s main focus however. An eventual restructuring by Robertson & Baxter’s parent company, Edrington, saw its operations quieted, and Glengoyne was sold to Ian Macleod Distillers in 2003. 

This is one of the earliest distillery bottlings, an 8 year old bottled for the Italian market in the 1970s. 

Ledaig 1974

This is a rare single malt from the Isle of Mull's Tobermory distillery. Opened way back in 1798, it was originally known as Ledaig. It was dormant for the majority of the 20th century, shut down by DCL in 1930, and when it re-opened in 1972, it did so as again as Ledaig distillery. Its revival was only brief however, closing down in 1975. When the distillery was again re-opened in 1979, it was now known as Tobermory. Its production in former years had generally been peated whisky like this, and the single malt was still bottled under the brand name of Ledaig. The newly revived company began producing non-peated as well, for the provision of a blended malt which they marketed under the Tobermory name. Burn Stewart discontinued the blend when they took over in 1993, opting to continue the production of both styles as two distinct single malt brands. The un-peated single malt took over the Tobermory name, while the traditional peated style fittingly retained the historic Ledaig name.

Bottled in 1992, this was one of the last vintage releases from the old ownership.

Talisker 1986 Distillers Edition / Inaugural Release

For a long time, Talisker was the sole distillery on Scotland’s iconic Isle of Skye. Renowned for the quality of its output, the distillery has rarely changed hands, joining what has now become Diageo back in 1916. Despite this, releases were not the most common. An 8 year old was bottled officially and Gordon & MacPhail produced what are now classic and sought after vintage bottlings under official license from the distillery. When a 10 year old expression became a founding pillar of the classic malts range, the popularity of the distillery exploded, and it is now one of the most revered and exported in Scotland. 

The Distillers Edition range are cask finished variations on the Classic Malts. The earliest release of this double matured series from the Isle of Skye, and was finished in Jerez Amoroso cask wood.

Distilled 1986 and bottled 1999. 

I.D. is TD-S: 5AM

Bowmore 1989 D&M 16 Year Old 75cl / US Import

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. The unique microclimate in their iconic No.1 vaults shares very little with the angels, meaning casks are readily available for independent labels like this, many of which are spectacular.

This is a 1989 vintage single cask, bottled for the Connoisseurs' Club at D&M Wine & Spirits in California.

Macallan 1967 Duncan Taylor 40 Year Old Miniature 

Duncan Taylor was founded in Glasgow in 1938 as a cask broker and trading company. Its modern history began in 2001 when a former Glendronach employee, Euan Shand, purchased the firm and moved it to Huntly in Aberdeenshire, using the impressive cask portfolio it has amassed over the 20th century to become one of the premier independent bottlers in Scotland.

This is a 1967 vintage Macallan, bottled in 2007.

It may be hard to imagine today, but for much of the 20th century, Macallan was primarily a constituent malt in blends. It was not until the 1980s downturn in the market that the distillery decided to focus on its single malt brand. Fortuitously, this coincided with the crest of a wave of enthusiasm for the high quality releases that the distillery had licensed to Campbell, Hope & King and Gordon & MacPhail in the 1960s and 1970s. These remain some of the most collectible on the market. While global single malt sales volume is still lead by Speyside neighbours, Glenfiddich and Glenlivet, Macallan is easily the most sought after. So much so in fact, that they had to open a brand new distillery in 2018, a subterranean architectural masterpiece within the Easter Elchies estate, boasting 36 copper pot stills.

Glen Mhor 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 19 year old Glen Mhor was distilled in 1976 and bottled for the US.

Glen Mhor was one of three distilleries based in Inverness along with Millburn and Glen Albyn, all of which closed within two years of each other. Glen Mhor was one of the earlier, in 1983, and it was demolished just three years later. A historically significant malt, this was just a small two still operation, but was bottled both as a single malt in the late 19th and early 20th century, as well as making its way into high profile blends such as the one discovered in ice under Ernest Shackleton's hut. The owners for the majority of its history were Charles Mackinlay & Co, who produced several official releases for the emerging Italian single malt market in the late 1960s, but this stopped when DCL took over 1972. They licensed the brand to Gordon & MacPhail until its closure, and Diageo later included it in the Rare Malts Selection series, all of which remain rare and increasingly sought after. Bottlings from independent labels like this are equally so.

Glen Mhor 1976 Hart Brothers 21 Year Old

The Hart Brothers bottling company was founded in 1964 when Iain and Donald Hart incorporated as a wine and spirit merchant and Scotch whisky blenders. They have been bottling independent single malts since the 1980s.

This is a 1976 vintage Glen Mhor, bottled as a 21 year old.

Glen Mhor was one of three distilleries based in Inverness along with Millburn and Glen Albyn, all of which closed within two years of each other. Glen Mhor was one of the earlier, in 1983, and it was demolished just three years later. A historically significant malt, this was just a small two still operation, but was bottled both as a single malt in the late 19th and early 20th century, as well as making its way into high profile blends such as the one discovered in ice under Ernest Shackleton's hut. The owners for the majority of its history were Mackinlays, who produced several official releases for the emerging Italian single malt market in the late 1960s, but this stopped when DCL took over 1972. They licensed the brand to Gordon & MacPhail until its closure, and Diageo later included it in the Rare Malts Selection series, all of which remain rare and increasingly sought after.

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.

Old Rhosdhu 1967

First distilled in the 1960s, Rhosdhu was a style of single malt produced at Loch Lomond distillery. The brand was discontinued in the year 2000, but was later revived by the distillery as the name for an unusual single grain that they column distilled from 100% malted barley. 

Known as Old Rhosdhu when officially bottled, this is a 1967 vintage distillery bottling from 1996.

Springbank CV Green Thistle 75cl 1990s / US Import

Springbank distillery has been owned and operated by the Mitchell family in Campbeltown since 1837, and it one of Scotland's most revered distilleries. Following a brief mothballing between 1979 and 1987, upon the reopening the decision was taken to cease all sales to the blending industry and focus on its single malt sales. Today it is the only distillery to malt, distil, bottle and mature whisky on the same site, and produces three distinct and highly prized single malts. 

This is a 1990s bottling of the CV, a former entry-level product in the distillery's core range. It disappeared at some point in the following decade, before making a brief return in 2010.

These releases are affectionaltely known as the 'Green Thislte' bottlings on account of their packaging.

Royal Brackla 1976 D&M 26 Year Old Sherry Wood 75cl / US Import

Founded in 1817, Brackla distillery was the first in Scotland to be granted a Royal Warrant, becoming Royal Brackla at the behest of King William IV in 1835. The distillery was primarily tasked with providing malt for blending, and became part of DCL (now Diageo) in 1943. It was one of the many distilleries that they were forced to close due to a production surplus in the 1980s however, mothballed between 1985 and 1991. Royal Brackla was sold along with the rest of those associated with the Dewar's brand to Bacardi in 1998. Although Bacardi launched a single malt brand for the distillery in 1999, it was not widely distributed until it was repackaged as part of their Last Great Malts collection in 2014. Independent releases from all eras have become increasingly sought after.

This is an independent single cask, bottled for the Afficionados' Club of D&M Wine & Spirits in California.

Bruichladdich 1979 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 1979 vintage Bruichladdich was bottled for the US market in June 1998.

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 1979 Cadenhead's 17 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 1979 vintage Bruichladdich was bottled for the US market in March 1997.

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. 

Talisker 1986 Distillers Edition / Inaugural Release

For a long time, Talisker was the sole distillery on Scotland’s iconic Isle of Skye. Renowned for the quality of its output, the distillery has rarely changed hands, joining what has now become Diageo back in 1916. Despite this, releases were not the most common. An 8 year old was bottled officially and Gordon & MacPhail produced what are now classic and sought after vintage bottlings under official license from the distillery. When a 10 year old expression became a founding pillar of the Classic Malts range, the popularity of the distillery exploded, and it is now one of the most revered and exported in Scotland. 

The Distillers Edition range are cask finished variations on the Classic Malts. The earliest release of this double matured series from the Isle of Skye, and was finished in Jerez Amoroso cask wood.

Distilled 1986 and bottled 1999. 

I.D. is TD-S: 5AM

Aberfeldy 1978 Cadenhead's 17 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 1978 vintage Aberfeldy was bottled for the US market in September 1995.

Aberfeldy distillery was built in 1896 by John Dewar & Sons to provide whisky for their famous blends. Although the capacity of the distillery was doubled in 1973, it was still rarely seen as a single malt, appearing only occasionally in limited releases from Diageo while part of their stable. It was only in 1999 that a permanent single malt range was released by new distillery owners, Bacardi. Despite being so prized by its ownership, there are a number of fantastic casks that have made their way to market via independent bottlers over the years, like this one. 

Clynelish 1983 Cooper's Choice 12 Year Old 75cl / US Import

Clynelish distillery as it is recognised today, was built in 1967 to replace the smaller distillery next-door, which was the original site of that name. The first distillery was closed, but later re-opened, changing its name to Brora (and the rest is history). Clynelish is part of the Diageo stable, having been taken over by DCL in 1912. Despite being an important part of the Johnnie Walker blends, it has long been bottled as a single malt. 

A 1983 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.

Clynelish 1984 Adelphi 11 Year Old 75cl / US Import

Adelphi has a rich history, operating as a distillery in the Gorbals district of Glasgow from 1825, producing spirit from the waters of Loch Katrine. The distillery ceased production in the early 20th century however and several changes in ownership culminating in a takeover by Distillers Company Ltd in 1902. The Adelphi name was revived in 1993 by Jamie Walker, great-grandson of former distillery owner Archibald. With a lineage of whisky expertise he operated Adelphi as private bottling company, which now in the hands of Keith Falconer and David Houston, continues the fine work he began of bottling top quality expressions from Scotland's finest distilleries. The company is now also distilling their own whisky at Ardnamurchan distillery in Glenbeg. 

This 1984 vintage Clynelish is one of the company's earliest releases.

Clynelish distillery as it is recognised today, was built in 1967 to replace the smaller distillery next-door, which was the original site of that name. The first distillery was closed, but later re-opened, changing its name to Brora (and the rest is history). Clynelish is part of the Diageo stable, having been taken over by DCL in 1912. Despite being an important part of the Johnnie Walker blends, it has long been bottled as a single malt. 

Clynelish 1982 Lombard Jewels of the Highlands 75cl / US Import

Lombard was a company originally based on the Isle of Man. Although blending was their chief concern, they began to acquire stocks of well-selected single malt in the 1960s, the legacy of which has provided some fantastic independent releases.

This 1982 vintage Clynelishis part of their Jewels of range, and was bottled in 1998 for the US market.

Clynelish distillery as it is recognised today, was built in 1967 to replace the smaller distillery next-door, which was the original site of that name. The first distillery was closed, but later re-opened, changing its name to Brora (but that’s another story). Clynelish is part of the Diageo stable, having been taken over by DCL in 1912. Despite being an important part of the Johnnie Walker blends, it has long been bottled as a single malt.

Lagavulin 1984 Murray McDavid 13 Year Old

Lagavulin distillery is one of the quintessential Islay producers, built in the early 19th century before eventually finding itself in the hands of White Horse blenders and their infamous proprietor, Sir Peter Mackie. It has truly captured the imagination of the whisky world in modern times, with the 16 year old becoming an instant (if unexpected) favourite when introduced as one of United Distillers’ Classic Malts in 1988. The company had not expected the smoky flavours to be as popular as lighter offerings such as Dalwhinnie and Glenkinchie. Lagavulin was also home to the legendary (and near mythical) Malt Mill distillery in the first half of the 20th century. Lower production in the 1980s and 90s, coupled with huge global demand for the current product means that independent bottlings from all eras are particularly rare.

Distilled in December 1984 and bottled in August 1998 from bourbon wood.

Murray McDavid were founded in 1996 by Mark Reynier, Simon Coughlin and ex-Springbank distillery Director, Gordon Wright. The company bought re-opened Bruichladdich distillery in December 2000, hiring Jim McEwan as Master Distiller. The company was purchased by Remy Cointreau in 2012, with the Murray McDavid brand eventually returning to Scottish hands the following year. Murray McDavid is famed for coining the term \"ACE-ing\" (additional cask enhancement) in relation to their cask finishing process, something they continue to use to great effect to this day.

The label bears text in the oddly salty tone typical of Murray McDavid bottling at the time. This is a bottle that is apparently \"not to be wasted on novices.\"

Lagavulin 16 Year Old White Horse 75cl 1990s / US Import

Lagavulin distillery is one of the quintessential Islay producers, built in the early 19th century before eventually finding itself in the hands of White Horse blenders and their infamous proprietor, Sir Peter Mackie. It has truly captured the imagination of the whisky world in modern times, with the 16 year old becoming an instant (if unexpected) favourite when introduced as one of United Distillers' Classic Malts in 1988. The company had not expected the smoky flavours to be as popular as lighter offerings such as Dalwhinnie and Glenkinchie. Lagavulin was also home to the legendary (and near mythical) Malt Mill distillery in the first half of the 20th century. 

Unlike some of the other Classic Malts, Lagavulin already had its own single malt brand, and was marketed alongside Talisker in the Ascot Malt Cellar range from DCL in 1982. Considered a somewhat half-hearted attempt to compete in the emerging single malt market (two of the six bottles were still blends), the Malt Cellar featured a 12 year old Lagavulin which would be discontinued in 1988 with the introduction of this expression.

This is the early release of the Classic Malts 16 year old. When United Distillers succeeded DCL, one of their first orders of business was to reclaim control of the distribution of their single malts. In the DCL days, the distilleries had been licensed to the blending companies in their portfolio, Cragganmore for example to D&J McCallum, and Talisker to John Walker & Sons. The process of cancelling these contracts was quicker for some distilleries than others, so some of the early Classic Malts still bear the names of these former licensees, most notably here, with White Horse Distillers still displayed on the packaging. These versions are increasingly sought after.

Bush Pilot's Private Reserve 1982 Single Cask 13 Year Old Canadian Whisky / US Import

Released in the USA in the 1990s, this liquid was originally intended for blending, but was deemed of to high a quality for such purposes.

This 13 year old 100% unblended corn whisky has an interesting tale behind the name.

Bush Pilot’s Private Reserve was Marilyn Smith’s tribute to her father, Fred Johnson, a Detroit entrepreneur. Smith’s partner, Bob Denton, discovered a cache of well-aged corn whisky while purchasing bulk Canadian blended whisky for his independent spirits company. The distiller had originally produced this whisky for an older Canadian blend, but discovering Denton’s interest, decided there was no reason it couldn’t be sold as is. Denton decided to bottle it for Smith, unblended, and one batch at a time.

Smith’s father was an adventurous spirit, creating a small bush airline as a hobby. Johnson’s Great Northern Skyways specialised in flying the wealthy of Detroit to the Blind River area of Ontario to hunt and fish. The pilots would bring along unmarked bottles of whisky from the Hiram Walker distillery to help them fend off the arctic chill, which the staff would refer to as “The Bush Pilot’s Private Reserve.” Smith, recalling her father fondly retelling tales of bonding by backwoods campfire, bodies warmed by this seemingly-illicit tonic, revived the sobriquet in his memory.

Old Rhosdhu 1967

First distilled in the 1960s, Rhosdhu was a style of single malt produced at Loch Lomond distillery. The brand was discontinued in the year 2000, but was later revived by the distillery as the name for an unusual single grain that they column distilled from 100% malted barley. 

Known as Old Rhosdhu when officially bottled, this is a 1967 vintage distillery bottling from 1999.

Laphroaig 1988 Blackadder 12 Year Old 75cl / US Import

Laphroaig is the largest of the three heavyweight Islay distilleries in Kildalton, out-stripping the production capacity of neighbours, Ardbeg and Lagavulin, by over 1 million litres per annum. Despite its traditional appearance, Laphroaig was always a forward-thinking distillery. It was bottled as a single malt as early as the 1920s, an unfashionable option at the time, especially for a peated whisky. They were also shrewd in capitalising on post-Prohibition America to add trademark sweetness to their spirit through the use of imported ex-bourbon casks, and hired Scotland’s first ever female distillery manager, Bessie Williamson, in 1954. Laphroaig is one of only a handful of distilleries in Scotland to still use in-house maltings, providing them with 20% of their annual requirements, and contributing to the distillery’s unique flavour profile. 

Distilled in 1988, this is a Blackadder bottling 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.

Glentauchers 1977 Cadenhead's 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 is a Glentauchers, distilled in October 1977 and bottled in March 1996 for the US market.

Glentauchers is an important single malt for blended Scotch, most recently a named component of Ballantine's. As such, it is rarely seen in single malt form. Over the years, some bottlings were officially licensed to Gordon & MacPhail, and 2017 saw a distillery bottling launched under the Ballantine's banner along with a Glenburgie and Miltonduff. Prior to that, enthusiasts were limited to seeking out independent bottlings like this one.

Laphroaig 1988 Blackadder 12 Year Old 75cl / US Import

A single cask Laphroaig, filled into cask #3855 in 1988 and bottled by Blackadder in September 2000. 

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.

One of 310 bottles filled at 45% ABV. These casks were often split between a natural strength and reduced strength run.

Laphroaig is the largest of the three heavyweight Islay distilleries in Kildalton, out-stripping the production capacity of neighbours, Ardbeg and Lagavulin, by over 1 million litres per annum. Despite its traditional appearance, Laphroaig was always a forward-thinking distillery. It was bottled as a single malt as early as the 1920s, an unfashionable option at the time, especially for a peated whisky. They were also shrewd in capitalising on post-Prohibition America to add trademark sweetness to their spirit through the use of imported ex-bourbon casks, and hired Scotland’s first ever female distillery manager, Bessie Williamson, in 1954. Laphroaig is one of only a handful of distilleries in Scotland to still use in-house maltings, providing them with 20% of their annual requirements, and contributing to the distillery’s unique flavour profile. 

Lagavulin 16 Year Old White Horse 75cl 1990s / US Import

Lagavulin distillery is one of the quintessential Islay producers, built in the early 19th century before eventually finding itself in the hands of White Horse blenders and their infamous proprietor, Sir Peter Mackie. It has truly captured the imagination of the whisky world in modern times, with the 16 year old becoming an instant (if unexpected) favourite when introduced as one of United Distillers' Classic Malts in 1988. The company had not expected the smoky flavours to be as popular as lighter offerings such as Dalwhinnie and Glenkinchie. Lagavulin was also home to the legendary (and near mythical) Malt Mill distillery in the first half of the 20th century. 

Unlike some of the other Classic Malts, Lagavulin already had its own single malt brand, and was marketed alongside Talisker in the Ascot Malt Cellar range from DCL in 1982. Considered a somewhat half-hearted attempt to compete in the emerging single malt market (two of the six bottles were still blends), the Malt Cellar featured a 12 year old Lagavulin which would be discontinued in 1988 with the introduction of this expression.

This is the early release of the Classic Malts 16 year old. When United Distillers succeeded DCL, one of their first orders of business was to reclaim control of the distribution of their single malts. In the DCL days, the distilleries had been licensed to the blending companies in their portfolio, Cragganmore for example to D&J McCallum, and Talisker to John Walker & Sons. The process of cancelling these contracts was quicker for some distilleries than others, so some of the early Classic Malts still bear the names of these former licensees, most notably here, with White Horse Distillers still displayed on the packaging. These versions are increasingly sought after.

Macduff 1973 Caledonian Selection 27 Year Old 75cl / US Import

Production began at Macduff distillery in 1963, and it was eventually purchased by William Lawson, the Scotch whisky arm of Italian giants, Martini & Rossi. In addition to provision for the William Lawson blend, the company also set about bottling its single malt, selecting the name \"Glen Deveron,\" and youthful 5 and 8 year old age statements so make it more marketable in Italy, where its Glen Grant equivalents were best-sellers. Glen Deveron disappeared after Bacardi took over the distillery ownership in 1993, but eventually returned as simply The Deveron. Macduff-labelled single malts were widely bottled by independent companies in the meantime, and continue to be today. 

This is an elegant decanter from the Caledonian Selection series, a range of independently bottled single malts for various export markets.

This Macduff was distilled in 1973, and bottled in 2000 at cask strength for the US market.

Drawn from hogshead cask #3716.

Springbank 12 Year Old Decanter 1980s

Springbank distillery has been owned and operated by the Mitchell family in Campbeltown since 1837, and it one of Scotland's most revered distilleries. Following a brief mothballing between 1979 and 1987, upon the reopening the decision was taken to cease all sales to the blending industry and focus on its single malt sales. Today it is the only distillery to malt, distil, bottle and mature whisky on the same site, and produces three distinct and highly prized single malts.  

A classic Springbank, this 12 year old was released in a black branded flagon decanter.

Old Fettercairn 26 Year Old Stillman's Dram 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, known as \"Old Fettercairn\" until 2002 when the prefix was dropped. 

This was bottled within The Stillman's Dram series of whiskies, a premium range of limited editions which showcased impressive age-statements from the Whyte & Mackay distillery portfolio, which also includes Jura, Tamnavulin and Dalmore.

Talisker 1986 Distillers Edition / Inaugural Release

For a long time, Talisker was the sole distillery on Scotland’s iconic Isle of Skye. Renowned for the quality of its output, the distillery has rarely changed hands, joining what has now become Diageo back in 1916. Despite this, releases were not the most common. An 8 year old was bottled officially and Gordon & MacPhail produced what are now classic and sought after vintage bottlings under official license from the distillery. When a 10 year old expression became a founding pillar of the classic malts range, the popularity of the distillery exploded, and it is now one of the most revered and exported in Scotland. 

The Distillers Edition range are cask finished variations on the Classic Malts. The earliest release of this double matured series from the Isle of Skye, and was finished in Jerez Amoroso cask wood.

Distilled 1986 and bottled 1999. 

I.D. is TD-S: 5AM

Auchentoshan 25 Year Old Decanter 75cl / US Import

Famed for its exclusive use of triple distillation, Auchentoshan is based on the outskirts of Glasgow and was owned for the duration of the 1960s by Tennents brewery. They sold it to Eadie Cairns at the end of the decade, who upgraded the site and began officially bottling it as a single malt. The distillery passed through the hands of Morrison Bowmore before becoming part of the Beam Suntory table today. Unusually, none of the Auchentoshan output is reserved for blends, meaning there has been a wealth of distillery bottled single casks and independent releases throughout the years.  

This is a 25 year old, bottled in an elegant ceramic decanter.

Glenturret 1976 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.

A rare old vintage of Glenturret, distilled in 1976 and bottled in frosted glass at cask strength in 1986.