The Perfect Collection Part Two

Island Single Malt 1996 Blackadder Statement 75cl / US Import

An undisclosed single malt whisky from the Islands, bottled by Blackadder International from a cask with reference #ARN96/039, which may be an indication of the source...

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.

Laphroaig 15 Year Old 75cl / Hiram Walker Import, US

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.

A 15 year old bottle of Laphroaig, bottled in the mid to late 1990s, after the award of the Royal Warrant in 1994.

This particular bottling was said to be Prince Charles' favourite. It was replaced in the core range by an 18 year old expression in 2009.

Ardmore 1981 Gordon and MacPhail

Ardmore was built by Wm. Teacher at the end of the 19th century, and as a rare peated Highland single malt, provided the smoky qualities in their well-loved blends. Now in the hands of Beam Suntory, there have been very few official bottlings, but independent releases like this have appeared over the years and are much sought after. 

These Gordon & MacPhail releases are the most prominent of the independent releases. This is part of what is now known as the Distillery Labels series, which replicates the livery the Elgin-based bottlers used in the mid-20th century when they produced the only official bottlings (under license) for many distilleries like this.

A 1981 vintage, this was bottled in 1997.

Allt-A-Bhainne 1981 Signatory Vintage 12 Year Old

A lesser seen single malt, Allt-A-Bhainne is a brutalist structure built by Seagram in 1975. Primarily a constituent in blends, Chivas Brothers bottled an official single malt for the first time in 2018. A number of independent releases like this were made available in the preceding years however, and are still a popular addition to catalogues today. 

This 1981 vintage was bottled in 1994.

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.

Michel Couvreur Pale Single-Single 75cl / US Import

Michael Couvreur was an innovator in the world of whisky, sourcing single malts in Scotland and taking them to Burgundy for further ageing, mostly in sherry casks. Scotch Whisky Associations prevent these from being called single malts due to their time spent in cask outside Scotland, and thus they are known as Single-Singles.

This \"pale\" single-single is a fruity and floral, softer style of whisky from Michel Couvreur.

Clynelish 1990 Cadenhead's 12 Year Old 75cl / US Import

The Original Collection was launched by Wm. Cadenhead in the early 1990s, and was the natural successor to replace their famous \"dumpy\" bottlings. They were generally produced at 46% ABV or lower, but eventually their cask strength alternative, The Authentic Collection, was preferred as the flagship Cadenhead brand. It is now one of the most recognisable independent labels on the market, and these lower strength releases are increasingly collectible rarities.

This Clynelish was distilled in 1990 and bottled in June 2002 from a bourbon barrel.

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.

Balmenach 1981 Cadenhead's 15 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 Balmenach was distilled in 1981 and bottled for the US market in March 1997.

Balmenach is a rarely seen single malt distillery in Speyside. It was built in the early 19th century and for the majority of the 20th it was owned by DCL (now Diageo). Its distinctive style made it highly prized by blenders, and little of it was spared for official distillery bottlings, or independents for that matter. The distillery was closed in 1993 during the Scotch market downturn, but was revived in 1997 by Inver House who purchased it and resumed production. The focus today is still on provision for blends, and Inver House are yet to release a distillery bottling. It is however the source of the popular Carounn gin. 

Caol Ila 1981 Cooper's Choice 14 Year Old 75cl / US Import

Caol Ila distillery was built in 1846 by Hector Henderson, who was bought out from the venture a little over 10 year later by Bulloch Lade. The blending firm merged with DCL (now Diageo) in 1927, who still run the distillery today. In 1972 the original site was demolished and replaced by a new one. When distilling resumed in 1974, Caol Ila was the largest producer of single malt on the Isle of Islay. Despite this, due to its importance in popular blends such as Johnnie Walker, its single malt brand disappeared under United Distillers, and it was not until 2002 that it would return, when the 12 year old was revived by Diageo. The Flora & Fauna release was well-regarded in the meantime, but it was independent releases like this that gave the best opportunity to sample this much-loved single malt. 

A 1981 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.

Mannochmore 1977 Cadenhead's 18 Year Old 75cl / US Import​

Mannochmore was built in 1971 by DCL (now Diageo) on the site of its sister distillery, Glenlossie, to assist with the increasing demand for blended Scotch in the international market. Its output remains blend focussed to this day, and as such is more commonly bottled as a single malt by independent labels. Occasional official releases have appeared over the years though, in the Flora & Fauna and Rare Malts series, and as the infamous “black whisky,” Loch Dhu. 

This independent bottling was distilled in 1977 and bottled after 18 years for the US market.

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.

Meg Dod's Blend circa 1930s

An unusual old blend produced for the Traquair Arms in Innerleithen, which still exists as a hotel today. The blend is named after the Meg Dods character from Sir Walter Scott's St. Ronan's Well, a novel which takes its name from a pavilion in the same town.

Aberfeldy 1978 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 1978 vintage Aberfeldy was bottled for the US market in December 1996.

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. 

Glencraig 1970 Gordon and Macphail

Glencraig is a rare single malt that was produced at Glenburgie distillery while owned by Hiram Walker, the Canadian drinks giant who bought into Scotch whisky in the early 1930s. They conducted a number of experiments with Lomond stills in the mid-20th century in order to produce a greater variety of malts for their blends, most notably Ballantline's. The spirit from Glenburgie's Lomond still was Glencraig. It was never intended to be bottled as a single malt, and there are no official releases, but a number of sought after independent bottlings like this have appeared over the years. Production of it ceased in 1981 when the stills were removed. 

Distilled in 1970, this is an unusual bottle of whisky from Gordon and MacPhail bottled in 1991.

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.

Imperial 1990 Gordon and MacPhail Private Collection / Calvados Wood Finish

Built in the last years on the 19th century, Imperial is a distillery with a sadly chequered history, spending almost as much time in mothballs as it did distilling. Its longest period of production came between 1955 and 1985 under the ownership of DCL (now Diageo). Allied Distillers bought it in 1989, opening it again two years later, but only for another seven. It was under their tenure that the only distillery bottling of its single malt appeared, but thankfully a number of increasingly sought after independent releases like this have been produced over the years. Imperial was demolished in 2013 and the site now houses the new distillery, Dalmunach. 

This is from the Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection range. This is an earlier addition to the series, before it replaced Rare Old as their premium label in 2018. These older editions focussed on cask finishing, in this case, ex-Calvados wood.

Tamnavulin 25 Year Old Stillman's Dram

Tamnavulin distillery was opened in 1966 by Invergordon Distillers as a response to the increasing demands for their blends, and such provision has always been the distillery's focus. When Invergordon were bought over by Whyte & Mackay in 1995, the distillery was mothballed, but eventually re-opened in 2007. It now has a permanent range for its single malt brand, but earlier distillery bottlings like this are a rarity.

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, Dalmore and, at the time, Bruichladdich.

Strathmill 1974 Hart Brothers 25 Year Old Cask Strength 75cl / US Import

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 1974 vintage Strathmill, bottled at cask strength in 1999.

Strathmill is a somewhat elusive single malt. The distillery was built in 1892 as Glenisla, and was renamed three years later by new owners, W&A Gilbey. A series of mergers over the years brought Gilbey's into the IDV fold, and Strathmill became a key component in its Justerini & Brooks blends (J&B). Now owned by Diageo, this remains the arrangement to this day. Such is the demand on its output by the blend, that only a single distillery bottling is permanently available, the Flora & Fauna release. A Diageo special release and a Manager's Dram are the only other official bottlings, and it is similarly rare independent releases like this that present the best chance to try Strathmill.

Glenlossie 1974 Gordon and MacPhail

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, retained as a permanent release. Independent bottlings are more common, but are still decidedly rare.

This Gordon & MacPhail bottling was distilled in 1974 and 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.

Aberlour 18 Year Old Sherry Wood Matured 75cl / US Import

Aberlour is a picturesque Speyside distillery, built in 1879 by James Fleming after the original distillery of the same name was lost in a fire. It became the first distillery in the S. Campbell & Son portfolio when they acquired it in 1945, and produced fillings for their popular Clan Campell and White Heather blends. Production capacity was increased to meet rising demand for its spirit in 1973, and the following year the company was bought over by Pernod-Ricard who operated it under the Campbell Distillers before merging it with Chivas Brothers, which they acquired from Seagram in 2001. The reverence for the sherry-casked A'Bunadh, launched in 1997, has greatly boosted the popularity of the distillery, and its output from all eras is increasingly sought after.

The long-running ownership of the distillery by Pernond-Ricard means that the distillery has a well-established customer base in France. This 18 year old was exclusively available there until 2010 when it was made more widely available.

Glen Ord 1985 Cadenhead's 10 Year Old 

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 1985 vintage Glen Ord, bottled in July 1995.

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.  

Highland Park 1979 Murray McDavid 17 Year Old 75cl / US Import

Highland Park was built by David Robertson all the way back in 1798. The distillery's relationship with blenders, Robertson & Baxter, saw it acquired by Highland Distillers in 1937, who were subsequently bought by Edrington in 1999, who run it today. The modern Highland Park single malt brand was first officially bottled in the 1970s, with the release of an 8 year old age statement, but distillery bottlings first appeared around the 1950s. The look of the brand has changed many times over the years, but its cult following and popularity has never diminished. It remains one of the most recognisable single malts in the world to this day.  

This is a Murray McDavid bottling, distilled in 1979 and aged for 17 years in refill sherry 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.

In keeping with the tone of these at the time, the label goes to great pains to crow-bar in a tenuous joke about the scuttling of German ships at Scapa at the end of the Great War. You can decide for yourself if it was worth the effort.

Lochside 10 Year Old 1980s

Lochside was founded in 1957, however single malt vintages only date from the early to mid 1960s and from the early 1980s as its Spanish owners in the 1970s, Destilerias y Crianzas (DYC), used its malt exclusively for export blends. Prior to this it was in the hands of Joseph Hobbs who had operated both pot and a coffey still, blending both malt and grain at birth for the distillery's Sandy MacNab brand. Some of these \"blended at birth\" casks have subsequently been bottled by independent labels. The practice stopped with Hobbs' death in 1964, and the distillery exclusively produced malt until it eventually closed in 1992. 

This is an excellent example of the only official single malt bottling from this closed Montrose distillery, released during the 1980s.

Glen Grant 21 Year Old Gordon and MacPhail 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. 

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.

Imperial 1990 Gordon and MacPhail Private Collection / Claret Wood Finish

Built in the last years on the 19th century, Imperial is a distillery with a sadly chequered history, spending almost as much time in mothballs as it did distilling. Its longest period of production came between 1955 and 1985 under the ownership of DCL (now Diageo). Allied Distillers bought it in 1989, opening it again two years later, but only for another seven. It was under their tenure that the only distillery bottling of its single malt appeared, but thankfully a number of increasingly sought after independent releases like this have been produced over the years. Imperial was demolished in 2013 and the site now houses the new distillery, Dalmunach. 

This is from the Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection range. This is an earlier addition to the series, before it replaced Rare Old as their premium label in 2018. These older editions focussed on cask finishing, in this case, ex-Claret wood.

Macallan 12 Year Old 37.5cl / US Import

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.  

When Macallan assumed the responsibility for their own bottlings from Campbell, Hope & King in 1980, they inherited both an 8 and 12 year old age-statement release, quickly adding a new 10 year old into the mix as well. The 12 year old however was the firm favourite, and is the only of the three still in production today, bottled as part of the Sherry Oak Cask line of the core range.

This version of the product was bottled between 2006 and 2018 when the 12 year old was rebranded as part of the Sherry Oak line of the Macallan core range.

Talisker 1988 Milroys 8 Year Old

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. As such, independent bottlings like this are scarce, and particurly sought after when they appear. ​​​​​​​

This is a 1988 vintage from Milroys of Soho, bottled in 1996.

Milroys of Soho is a legendary bottle shop located on Greek Street in London. The store was foundered by John & Mary Milroy in 1964, but it was not until John's brother Wallace joined the company four years later that their focus on whisky was to catch up with their interest in wine. In that year alone, their single malt catalogue increased from just three to well over 30. Their dedication to this unfashionable style of whisky (at the time) continues to be rewarded today, with the Greek Street store still a cornerstone of London's whisky world.

Glenfarclas 1980 Cadenhead's 13 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.

Inchmurrin 28 Year Old 75cl / US Import

An older bottling of this lightly peated whisky, produced in limited amounts from Loch Lomond distillery. This is one of a number of distinct spirits produced at the distillery, in this case on specially designed pot stills with rectifying heads to allow a higher cut point in the distillation process.

Although given more prominence under the current Loch Lomond distillery ownership, Inchmurrin from this period is much rarer.

Mortlach 1988 Signatory Vintage 13 Year Old 75cl / US Import

Mortlach was founded in 1823 and was the first of Dufftown's \"Seven Stills\" to be licensed. It rose to pre-eminence under George Cowie & Son, who's unique distillation regime produced a famously \"meaty\" whisky, which was highly prized by blenders. It was for this reason that it was acquired by John Walker & Sons, and so important to them was it that little stock was left available for bottling as a single malt. The Flora & Fauna release was the first official distillery bottling, but it was not until 2014 that Mortlach was bottled under its own fully fledged single malt brand. Thankfully, there have been many spectacular releases from independent labels like this over the years.

This is a Signatory Vintage bottling, distilled in 1988 and bottled from a sherry butt in October 2001.

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.

Linkwood 1982 Adelphi 15 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 is a 1982 vintage Linkwood, bottled as a 15 year old for their US customers.

Linkwood single malt has always been considered a key component of many popular blends, such as Johnnie Walker and White Horse, with much of its output reserved for these as a result. In 1982 it was selected for the Ascot Malt Cellar range by DCL, an early precursor to the Classic Malts range later launched by United Distillers. It had been on the short-list for the subsequent range at the time, but the company eventually opted for Cragganmore as the Speyside representative instead, later opting to revive the 12 year old under the Flora & Fauna brand. That remains the only permanent distillery bottling, but independent releases like this are more common however.

Glen Scotia 1973

Despite having been mothballed several times throughout its history, Glen Scotia is a proud survivor of the early 20th century desolation of Campbeltown, once known as \"the whisky capital of the world.” The Kintyre peninsula formerly boasted over 30 distilleries, but by the end of the 1920s, only this and Springbank remained. Shut for most of the 1990s before being re-opened by Loch Lomond Distillers, today it is one of only three in the region, with an increasingly prominent portfolio of distillery bottlings in comparison to its quiet output under previous owners.

Bottled in 1999, this is an early release from the Loch Lomond Distillers era, who acquired the distillery 5 years earlier. Presented in the familiar screen-printed green glass used by the group at the time.

Glen Spey 1981 Cadenhead's 16 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 1981 vintage Glen Spey, bottled for the US market in July 1997.

Glen Spey is the historic home of the Gilbey's 'Spey Royal' blend, and currently provides the majority of its output to J&B. Distillery owners, Diageo, produced an official distillery bottling in the 1990s as part of the Flora & Fauna range, which then became a permanent product. Outside of this however, it is a rarely seen single malt.

Glen Mhor 8 Year Old Gordon and MacPhail Miniature 1970s

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.

This is one of the Gordon & MacPhail bottlings from the late 1970s. The licensed Gordon & MacPhail bottlings of DCL single malts were usually recognisable by the uniform use of an eagle motif (see Talisker, Mortlach, etc), however Glen Mhor did not follow this theme. Instead, it received this unique label, similar to those used for Hiram Walker distilleries but with a different colour scheme. In the 1980s this method was expanded across their portfolio, and specific branding was created for individual distilleries rather than their parent company. Although no longer the licensees, Gordon & MacPhail still produce bottles like this for various distilleries today, renamed in 2018 as their Distillery Labels range.

Jura 26 Year Old Stillman's Dram

The Isle of Jura is one of the most isolated in the Hebridean archipelago, and by all logical accounts an unusual place to build a distillery. However, the historic site was re-opened in the 1960s, in part to provide jobs to what was a declining population at the time. The rebuilding of the distillery was back by blenders, Charles Mackinlay & Co, so like Bruichladdich, despite the island being covered in peat, it produced an un-peated spirit to meet the needs of their blends. This continued into the 1990s when Whyte & Mackay became its owners, although they did eventually introduce some peated malt to their distilling, launching the Jura Superstition in 2003. 

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 Dalmore, Tamnavulin and at the time, Bruichladdich.