Our top lot in November was Karuizawa 33 Year Old Sherry Cask Golden Geisha which fetched £9600. Two bottles from the Ghost Series were next, both of which are seldom seen at auction. Karuizawa 1996 Sherry Cask Ghost Series 1st Edition finished at £6200 while Hanyu 2000 Grappa Finish Ghost Series 3rd Edition ended at £4300. Karuizawa 1983 Noh #7576 reached £4500 when the hammer finally fell.
A large collection of American whiskey went under the hammer in November. The star lot was the exceptional Van Winkle Special Reserve 1974 20 Year Old bottled for Corti Brothers which finished at £5000.
Another seldom seen bottle, Colonel E H Taylor 2002 Old Fashioned Sour Mash ended at £4100 after frantic last minute bidding. A bottle of Very Old Fitzgerald 10 Year Old 1956 bottled in 1966 fetched £2800. Van Winkle Special Reserve 1979 12 Year Old Lot ‘A’ signed by Julian P Van Winkle III hit £2600.
A collection of first releases from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection all sold well. W L Weller 1980 19 Year Old, George T Stagg 1st Edition, Sazerac 1981 18 Year Old and Eagle Rare 1982 17 Year Old finished at £2600, £1450, £1300 and £1250 respectively.
A H Hirsch Reserve 1974 ‘blue wax’ 16 Year Old distilled at the Bomberger’s (Michter’s) Distillery fetched £2300, Henry Clay 1980 16 Year Old bottled in the 1990s for the Rare Bourbon Collection ended up at £1700. Another first edition, Parker’s Heritage Collection 2007 release, reached £1300. Rittenhouse Rye 21 Year Old Single Barrel fetched £875 and Jefferson’s Presidential Select 1991 17 Year Old ended at £700.
The Macallan shows no sign of slowing, particularity for older expressions. The Macallan 1940 Handwritten Label bottled in 1981 and imported into France by Corade fetched an impressive £8600 while The Macallan 1950 Handwritten Label bottled in the 1980s and imported into Italy by Rinaldi ended at £5400.
The Macallan 1956 Campbell Hope & King finished up at £3500; The Macallan 1962 25 Year Old Anniversary Malt, bottled in 1988 finished at £3500 and The Macallan 1965 25 Year Old Anniversary Malt, bottled in 1991 finished at £3000.
Glendronach 1968 Sherry Cask No. 2628 presented to Andrew Dewar-Durie by Allied Distillers which fetched an impressive £6800. Another bottle from the same collection, the Laphroaig 1989 bottled in 2002 Iain Henderson Retiral finished at £2400 after a flurry of late bidding.
The Dalmore 1974 Matusalem Sherry Finesse ended at £2700; Glendronach 1972 38 Year Old Single Cask finished up at £1950; Laphroaig 1974 31 Year Old fetched £4600.
Italian bottlers Samaroli and Moon Import showed strong prices. Springbank 1965 The Birds Cask #367 Moon Import ended at £5000; Ardbeg 1974 Sherry Wood Matured Samaroli ended at £3900 and Longrow 1973 Samaroli ended at £3800. Aultmore 1973 bottled by Samaroli finished up at £3300 and the Glen Cawdor 1976 also bottled by Samaroli fetched £2000.
Two blended whiskies stood out this month with Imperial Institute Spring Cap bottled in the 1950s by John Dewar & Son Ltd ending at £525 and White Horse bottled in 1938 at £410.
The highlight from Ireland was undoubtedly a bottle of Midleton Very Rare bottled in 1989, which reached an impressive £5600.
In the rum category the standout lot was Caroni 1974 34 Year Old Full Proof bottled by Velier in 2008 which fetched £2600. Lemon Hart 151 Proof and Lemon Hart Overproof, both from the 1940s, reached a record £1550 and £1450 respectively. Hudson’s Bay Jamaica Rum bottled in 1960 finished at £925 and Alfred Lamb’s 1939 Special Reserve ended at £875. An old Bacardi Carta Blanca, bottled in in the 1960s in Cuba fetched £370.
Domaine De La Romanee-Conti’s La Tache 1997 finished at £1800 and Romanee St Vivant 2000 sold for £1400. Madeira Companhia Vinicola Da Madeira Malvasia Velha 1877 ended at £420 and Leacock & Co Solera 1860 Sercial hit £410.
Two historic gins were auctioned in November. An old sealed tin of Booth’s Ultra Special Dry Gin bottled 1920s-1930s fetched £525. Tanqueray’s Special Dry Distilled London Gin Spring Cap bottled 1950s-1960s ended at £210.
Finally, demand for old liqueurs continues to rise and there was frantic late bidding in the liqueurs category. Chartreuse produced in Spain fetched top prices. A bottle of Chartreuse Yellow Bottled 1930-1945 Tarragona ended at £1000 and a bottle of Chartreuse Green Bottled 1951-1959 Tarragona fetched £875. Campari Bitter bottled in the 1950s finished up £300.
Karuizawa 33 Year Old Sherry Cask #3579 Golden Geisha – Elixir Distillers
A bottle of Karuizawa 33 Year Old, presented in a wooden case. This was matured in a single sherry cask and bottled for Elixir Distillers.
Winning bid £9600
Macallan 1940 Handwritten Label Bottled 1981 – Corade
A bottle of The Macallan 1940, specially selected and bottled in 1981 and imported by Corade, Paris. This bottling has a handwritten label and is presented in a wooden box.
Winning bid £8600
Glendronach 1968 Sherry Cask No. 2628 Presented to Andrew Dewar-Durie By Allied Distillers
A bottle of The Glendronach 1968, matured in a single sherry cask and specially presented to Andrew Dewar-Durie by his colleagues on the Board of Allied Distillers Limited, Glendronach Distillery, 28th October 1999. This bottle comes from the personal collection of Andrew Dewar-Durie of Durie CBE, Managing Director and then Chairman of Allied Distillers in the 1990s.
Winning bid £6800
Karuizawa 1996 Sherry Cask #3681 Bottled 2013 – Ghost Series 1st Edition
A bottle of Karuizawa 1996 Japanese Single Cask Malt Whisky, matured in a single sherry cask and bottled in 2013. This is the first in the Ghost series of Japanese whiskies selected by Nonjatta. The label features the print from Yoshitoshi’s ‘New Forms of 36 Ghosts’.
Winning bid £6200
Midleton Very Rare Bottled 1989
The 1989 release of Midleton Very Rare. Every year since 1984, a new release has been produced and bottled in limited quantities.
Winning bid £5600
Macallan 1950 Handwritten Label Bottled 1980s – Rinaldi
A bottle of The Macallan 1950 Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky. This was bottled for the Italian market and imported by Rinaldi, we estimate in the 1980s. This bottle has a handwritten label.
Winning bid £5400
Springbank 1965 The Birds Cask #367 Bottled 1987 – Moon Import
A bottle of Springbank 1965 Single Malt Scotch Whisky. This was distilled in 1965 and bottled in 1987 by Brae Dean Int. as part of The Birds series from Italian importer Moon Import.
Winning bid £5000
Van Winkle Special Reserve 1974 20 Year Old Corti Brothers – Stitzel-Weller
A bottle of Van Winkle Special Reserve 20 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This was distilled in spring 1974 at Stitzel-Weller distillery and bottled by Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery for Corti Brothers, a wine merchant in Sacramento, California.
Winning bid £5000
A bottle of Laphroaig 1974 31 Year Old Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky, matured in sherry casks.
Winning bid £4600
Karuizawa 1983 Noh #7576 Bottled 2012 – La Maison Du Whisky
A bottle of Karuizawa 28 Year Old from the Noh series. This was distilled in 1983, matured in a single sherry butt, and bottled in 2012 for French whisky merchant La Maison du Whisky.
Winning bid £4500
Hanyu 2000 Cask #1702 Grappa Finish Bottled 2014 – Ghost Series 3rd Edition
A bottle of Hanyu 14 Year Old Japanese Single Cask Malt Whisky. This was distilled in 2000, finished in a grappa cask and bottled in 2014 by Number One Drinks. This is the third edition in the Ghost series which feature images from Yoshitoshi’s ‘New Forms of 36 Ghosts’.
Winning bid £4300
Colonel E H Taylor 2002 Old Fashioned Sour Mash – Buffalo Trace
A bottle of Colonel E H Taylor Old Fashioned Sour Mash Straight Kentucky Rye Whisky. This was distilled in 2002 at Buffalo Trace distillery and bottled in bond at 100 proof (50% ABV).
Winning bid £4100
Ardbeg 1974 Sherry Wood Matured Bottled 1983 – Samaroli
A bottle of Ardbeg 1974 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky. This was distilled in 1974, matured in sherry wood and bottled at cask strength by R W Duthie & Co. in 1983 for Italian importer Samaroli.
Winning bid £3900
Longrow 1973 Bottled 1985 – Samaroli
A bottle of Longrow 1973 Single Malt Scotch Whisky. This was distilled in 1973, matured in three hogsheads and bottled at cask strength by R W Duthie & Co. in 1985 for Italian importer S Samaroli.
Winning bid £3800
Macallan 1956 Campbell, Hope & King Bottled 1970s – Rinaldi
A bottle of The Macallan 1956 bottled by Campbell, Hope & King. This was imported to Italy by Rinaldi, we estimate in the 1970s.
Winning bid £3500
Macallan 1962 25 Year Old Anniversary Malt Bottled 1988 – Giovinetti
A bottle of The Macallan 1962 Unblended Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky. This was matured in sherry casks for 25 years and bottled in 1988 as part of the Anniversary Malt series. This was produced for the Italian market and imported by Giovinetti & Figli.
Winning bid £3500
Aultmore 1973 Bottled 1980s – Samaroli
A bottle of Aultmore Single Malt Scotch Whisky. This was distilled in 1973, bottled by R.W. Duthie & Co. and imported to Italy by Samaroli, we estimate in the 1980s.
Winning bid £3300
Macallan 1965 25 Year Old Anniversary Malt Bottled 1991 – Giovinetti
A bottle of The Macallan 1965. This was matured in sherry casks for 25 years and bottled in 1991 as part of the Anniversary Malt series. This was imported to Italy by Giovinetti & Figli.
Winning bid £3000
Very Old Fitzgerald 10 Year Old 1956 Stitzel-Weller – Bottled 1966
A bottle of Very Xtra Old Fitzgerald 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, packaged with a pair of shot glasses in a presentation box. This was distilled in 1956 at Stitzel-Weller distillery and bottled in bond in fall 1966.
Winning bid £2800
Dalmore 1974 Matusalem Sherry Finesse
A bottle of Dalmore 1974 Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky. This was distilled on 15 April 1974, matured in a single Matusalem Sherry butt from Jerez De La Frontera and bottled at 42% ABV.
Winning bid £2700
Caroni 1974 34 Year Old Full Proof Heavy Trinidad Rum Bottled 2008 – Velier
A bottle of Caroni 34 Year Old Full Proof Heavy Trinidad rum. This was distilled in 1974 and bottled from a stock of seven drums in 2008 for Italian importer Velier.
Winning bid £2600
A bottle of Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Old Lot ‘A’ Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This was distilled at Stitzel-Weller distillery in fall 1979 and bottled in the early 1990s at Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery, Lawrenceburg. This bottle is signed by Julian P. Van Winkle III.
Winning bid £2600
W L Weller 1980 19 Year Old 1st Edition Bottled 2000 – Antique Collection
A bottle of W L Weller 19 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This was distilled in fall 1980 and bottled in summer 2000 as part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. This is the first edition of W L Weller in the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.
Winning bid £2600
Laphroaig 1989 Bottled 2002 – Iain Henderson Retiral
A bottle of Laphroaig 1989 Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky. This was distilled in December 1989 and specially bottled in November 2002 to mark the retiral of Iain Henderson, Laphroaig Distillery Manager from 1989 to 2002. This bottle is signed by Iain Henderson. This bottle comes from the personal collection of Andrew Dewar-Durie of Durie CBE, Managing Director and then Chairman of Allied Distillers in the 1990s.
Winning bid £2400
A H Hirsch Reserve 1974 16 Year Old – Bomberger’s (Michter’s) Distillery
A bottle of A H Hirsch Reserve 16 Year Old Pot Stilled Sour Mash Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This was distilled in spring 1974 at Bomberger’s Distillery (later renamed Michter’s) by Master Distiller Dick Stoll, matured for 16 years and bottled by Hirsch Distillers, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, in the early 1990s.
Winning bid £2300
Glen Cawdor 1976 Bottled 1980s – Samaroli
A bottle of Glen Cawdor 1976 Pure Malt Scotch Whisky. This was distilled in 1976 and bottled at cask strength by R W Duthie & Co. for Italian importer Samaroli, we estimate in the 1980s.
Winning bid £2000
Glendronach 1972 38 Year Old Single Cask Bottled 2010
A bottle of The Glendronach 38 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky. This was distilled on 2 March 1972, matured in a single oloroso sherry butt and bottled in June 2010.
Winning bid £1950
Remy Martin Louis XIII Cognac Baccarat Crystal – Bottled 1990s
A bottle of Rémy Martin Louis XIII Cognac, presented in a Baccarat crystal decanter with stopper. This is composed of Grande Champagne eaux-de-vie aged between 40 and 100 years. We estimate this was bottled in the 1990s.
Winning bid £1800
La Tache 1997 Domaine De La Romanee-Conti
A bottle of 1997 La Tâche from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. This wine was purchased en primeur through the UK importer Corney & Barrow and delivered to the owner in 2009 since when it has been stored in a temperature controlled wine fridge.
Winning bid £1800
Glenlivet 1964 Cellar Collection Bottled 2004 – 40 Year Old
A bottle of The Glenlivet 40 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky presented in an ash cabinet. This was distilled in 1964 and bottled in 2004 for the Cellar Collection series.
Winning bid £1700
Henry Clay 1980 16 Year Old Bottled 1990s – Rare Bourbon Collection
A bottle of Henry Clay 16 Year Old Rare Bourbon Whiskey. This was distilled in 1980 by The Henry Clay Distillery, Louisville, and released in 1997 as part of the Rare Bourbon Collection from United Distillers.
Winning bid £1700
Glenfiddich 1976 Private Vintage – Concorde Limited Edition
A limited edition bottle of Glenfiddich Private Vintage Single Malt Scotch Whisky. This was laid down in 1976 and bottled from cask number 2433, exclusively for Concorde.
Winning bid £1600
Lemon Hart 151 Proof Bottled 1940s – Caldbeck, Macgregor & Co.
A bottle of Lemon Hart 151 Proof Royal Navy Demerara Rum, produce of British Guiana. This was imported by Caldbeck, Macgregor & Co. Ltd. for China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malayan Federation. We estimate this was bottled in the 1940s.
Winning bid £1550
Lemon Hart Overproof Bottled 1940s
A bottle of Lemon Hart Overproof Royal Navy Demerara Rum, produce of British Guiana. We estimate this was bottled in the 1940s.
Winning bid £1450
George T Stagg 1st Edition Bottled 2002 – Antique Collection
A bottle of George T Stagg Barrel Proof Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, bottled at 68.8% ABV for Buffalo Trace’s Antique Collection in 2002.
Winning bid £1450
Romanee St Vivant 2000 Domaine De La Romanee-Conti
A bottle of Romanée St Vivant 2000 from the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. This wine was purchased en primeur through the UK importer Corney & Barrow and delivered to the owner in 2009 since when it has been stored in a temperature controlled wine fridge.
Winning bid £1400
Sazerac 1981 18 Year Old 1st Edition Bottled 2000 – Antique Collection
A bottle of Sazerac 18 Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey. This was distilled in fall 1981 and bottled in summer 2000 as part of Buffalo Trace’s Antique Collection. This is the first edition of Sazerac in the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection
Winning bid £1300
Parker’s Cask Strength Heritage Collection 2007 – 1st Edition
A bottle of Parker’s Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This is the 1st edition in the Parker’s Heritage Collection, distilled in 1996 and bottled by Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery in 2007.
Winning bid £1300
Eagle Rare 1982 17 Year Old 1st Edition Bottled 2000 – Antique Collection
A bottle of Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This was distilled in fall 1982 and bottled in summer 2000 as part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. This is the first edition of Eagle Rare for the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.
Winning bid £1250
Chartreuse Yellow Bottled 1930-1945 – Tarragona
A bottle of yellow Chartreuse liqueur. This was produced in Tarragona, Spain, we estimate between 1930 and 1945.
Winning bid £1000
Chartreuse Green Bottled 1951-1959 – Tarragona
A bottle of Chartreuse Green liqueur produced in Tarragona, Spain. We estimate this was bottled between 1951 and 1959.
Winning bid £875
