December 2022 Auction

Macallan Distil Your World London 

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.

This limited-edition release has been produced by Macallan Whisky Maker Steven Bremner alongside the Roca brothers of the world-famous restaurant El Celler de Can Roca of Girona, Spain. The restaurant opened in 1986 and since then has twice been named best restaurant in the world by Restaurant magazine. Altho the Roca brothers have never felt the need to open more restaurants in different locations, they do occasionally take their cuisine on tour via temporary \"pop-ups\". Some of these locations have included the city of London to which this release is dedicated to.

The whisky has been aged in six first-fill European oak Oloroso seasoned casks and bottled at cask strength. The bottle is presented in a stunning display case which features a 3D triangular design and a hidden compartment containing a book which details the release.

One of 2,000 bottles which originally went on sale in Autumn 2020.

Yamazaki 25 Year Old

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.

Launched in 1999, the 25 year old Yamazaki is one of the most sought after releases in Japanese whisky.

This is the 2021 revamp of the age-statement which introduced a new recipe and label design. Formerly a sherry-cask single malt, the whisky is now vatted from American, Spanish and Japanese mizunara oak, harmonising it with the 12- and 18-year old core range Yamazaki expressions. The distillery's master blender, Shinji Fukuyo, said his inspiration for the new recipe was the limited edition Yamazaki 1984 single malt created to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Yamazaki and the 110th anniversary of Suntory.

The label is printed on mulberry Echizen paper, handmade through a traditional Japanese process of drying the sheets on wood boards.

Yamazaki 2020 Editions 5 x 70cl

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.

This lot consists of the five editions which make up the 2020 Tsukuriwake selection. It includes...

• Yamazaki Bordeaux Wine Cask 2020 Edition 48% 70cl
• Yamazaki Puncheon 2020 Edition 48% 70cl
• Yamazaki Peated Malt 2020 Edition 48% 70cl
• Yamazaki Spanish Oak 2020 Edition 48% 70cl
• Yamazaki Mizunara Japanese Oak Cask 2020 Edition 48% 70cl

This lot will include a five bottle shipping fee.

Scapa 1958 Samaroli 52% / Handwritten Labels

Scapa distillery was the third to be constructed on Orkney, preceded by Highland Park and Stromness, although out-lasting the latter. It was built in 1885, and its early history was blighted with fires and closures. It was bought by Canadian giants, Hiram Walker, in 1954. As with several of their other distilleries, they experimented with the use of Lomond stills, installing Scapa's in 1959. Although it was decommissioned 20 years later, the still itself continues to be used, now without the rectifying plates. It is the only one of this type still producing Scotch whisky. Its single malt has been bottled since the 1970s, first under license by Gordon & MacPhail, with a 10 year old distillery bottling then launched in the 1980s. Scapa has since passed through the hands of Allied Distillers and is now part of the Pernod-Ricard portfolio.

In the words of Emmanuel Dron, owner of the Auld Alliance - \"The 1958 Samaroli is probably the best Scapa ever bottled.\"  It's certainly one of the oldest vintages known to exist. 

Bottled in 1985, two versions were produced, one at 52% and one at 46%. Both are exceptionally hard to find. This is the first time we have had the pleasure of auctioning a bottle of the 52%.

It is part of the Handwritten Labels series. While Samaroli was famed for his keen eye for aesthetic in designing his own labels, this series simply features his own elegant calligraphy reproduced on them.

Bottle number 92.

Port Ellen 1981 Single Cask #1301 / Feis Ile 2008

Port Ellen is the lost jewel in the Islay crown, closed down by DCL (now Diageo) in 1983 due to an oversupply of peated whisky for blending and a perceived lack of interest in it as a single malt. It has developed a legendary status in the years since. A very rare 12 year old bottled for attendees of the visit of Queen Elizabeth II in 1980 is believed to have been the only distillery bottling produced in its years of operation. Diageo then bottled the first publicly available distillery bottlings as part of the Rare Malts Selection, followed by the annual special releases.

Arguably one of the rarest Port Ellen around, this official bottling was released for the Fèis Ìle in 2008 and sold out instantly. A 1981 vintage was the only official single cask offering from Port Ellen for a long time. It was distilled on 15th April 1981 and bottled in 2008. The single ex-refill American oak cask #1301 yielded only 220 bottles.

Fèis Ìle, also known as the Islay Festival of Music and Malt had humble beginnings. It traces it origins back to 1985 and the establishment of The Islay Festival Association after it was realised that an event celebrating Gaelic, music and culture would drive tourism to the island. The inaugural event was two weeks of music, drama and workshops with ceilidhs, concerts and dances in the evening. The first whisky tasting took place as a festival event in 1990, and ten years later the island's distilleries began to be directly involved, organising their annual open days to coincide with it. Today it is one of the biggest events on the whisky calendar, annually drawing hundreds of revellers, and turning out an increasingly sought-after batch of limited edition whiskies like this.

Macallan Genesis

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.

Genesis was a special and highly limited release in August 2018, commemorating the unveiling of the brand new Macallan distillery just two months prior.

A collaboration with Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners, who were the architectural firm behind the impressive Macallan premises, the bottle celebrated their design process. Each bottle came complete with a signed lithographic print depicting and elevation of the building. The print was apparently produced on one of the only two map printing presses in the UK, using cotton paper from the Magnani paper mill in Chiesina Uzzanese, Italy. The quality is such that these are said to \"never degrade,\" and will last as long as any unopened bottle!

One of only 2500 bottles available from the Macallan distillery, and select duty free retail in the far east.

Macallan 1963 Special Selection / Rinaldi 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. 

Macallan vintage releases produced by Campbell, Hope & King tended to be aged around the 15 year old mark, but when Macallan took over the responsibility in 1980, they toyed for a few releases with more advanced age-statements before settling on the 18 year old as the optimum maturation.

This was distilled in 1963, this was bottled in 1980. The classic 18 year old distillery bottling was launched four years later.

Springbank 1965 Samaroli 23 Year Old / Ageing Monography

An iconic Springbank bottling from Samaroli.

Samaroli are perhaps Italy's most revered independent bottler of Scotch whisky. With an impeccable taste in single cask whiskies, and an eye for aesthetics (if not English spelling at times!), founder Silvano Samaroli is regarded by many as a visionary. Since his passing in 2017, the company has been run by his friend Antonio Bleve, who continues his tradition of high quality releases. Many of Silvano’s early bottlings occupy deserved spots on the pantheon of all-time whisky greats.

This is part of a series called Ageing Monography. Samaroli was fascinated with the whisky ageing process, both in cask and in the bottle. This series designed to explore the evolution of Sprinbank maturation from an 18 month old single malt spirit, right through to this 23 year old. There are five releases in the series.

Ageing Monography were bottled in 1989 for Samaroli by R.W. Duthie. Bottle number 324 of 660.

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.

Parker's Heritage Collection Cask Strength Bourbon / Inaugural Release

Launched in 2007, the Parker's Heritage Collection from Heaven Hill is named after former Heaven Hill Master Distiller, Parker Beam. Parker was sadly diagnosed with ALS (also known as Lou Gherig's disease) in 2010, and bottlings from then on were produced in order to raise funds for research into the condition, and this continues since his death in 2017. Parker's legacy with the company was his forward thinking-approach, and he created the industry’s first small batch bourbon, Elijah Craig, in 1986, and Heaven Hill's first single barrel bourbons, Evan Williams, in 1994. Thic collection continues to honour his ethos by celebrating his achievements as well as pursuing further experimentation in his honour.

This was the inaugural release in 2007, a 1996 vintage and some of the last whiskey distilled at the Heaven Hill distillery in Bardstown.

Heaven Hill was established by a group of private investors in 1935, following the repeal of Prohibition a few years earlier. Among the founders was distiller, Joseph L. Beam, and a member of the Shapira family. As the company grew, the Shapira's eventually acquired sole ownership of it, and their descendants still run it today. In a similar dynastic vein, Joe Beam remained master distiller despite the Shapira takeover, and members of his family have occupied the role ever since. This was produced at the Old Heavenhill Springs distillery, later renamed simply as Heaven Hill, which was located in Bardstown, Kentucky. It was sadly lost in a devastating fire in 1996, and bourbon made there has become increasingly sought after as the years pass. The company had no distillery for the next three years, but were permitted to rent stills at Jim Beam and Brown-Forman in order to maintain production. They eventually acquired the newly refurbished Bernheim distillery from Diageo in 1999, which has been their home ever since.

Bowmore 1974 Moon Import / The Costumes

Moon Import was founded by Pepi Mongiardino in 1980. Heeding the advice of the late, great, Silvano Samaroli, he opted to be \"free from the big companies,\" and became the official distributor for Islay's Bruichladdich, and later Tamnavulin and Tullibardine, preferring however to procure casks from private owners. Mongiardino bottled his first whisky in 1982, titled the Half Moon series. Always beautifully labelled, Pepi is acclaimed for designing the packaging for Moon Import bottles himself, using images found in old books. The famous Birds, Animals, Costumes and Sea series were all labelled using pictures he discovered in an 18th century German encyclopaedia. These iconic designs, coupled with the quality of the liquid saw Moon Import steadily grow in popularity, and with the help of Intertrade founder, Nadi Fiori, they exported their first bottles to Japan in 2001. Moon Import now occupies an important place in the pantheon of historic whisky greats.

This Bowmore was matured in hogshead #5508 and was bottled in 1988.

Bottle number 255 of 324. 

Miyagikyo 1999 Single Cask #300092

Miyagikyo was built in 1969 by the Nikka Whisky company. 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. Miyagikyo is primarily a malt distillery, but now also produces Nikka’s grain whisky after it moved the Nishinomaya coffey stills there in the 1999.

This single cask release was distilled on 4th October 1999 and matured in recharred hosghead #300092 for 13 years before being bottled on 9th July 2013.

Glendronach 1968 Single Cask 25 Year Old #17 / All Nippon Airways

Glendronach was built in 1826 by James Allardice, and rebuilt following a fire in 1852 by an individual named Walter Scott (although not the one you might be thinking of). It eventually passed into the hands of perhaps Scotland's greatest distilling dynasty, the Grants of Glenfiddich. Charles, the youngest son of William Grant procured the then-silent distillery from the government in 1920, and it remained in the family until they sold it to Wm. Teacher 40 years later. The Grants and Teachers were early champions of the single malt category, and distillery bottlings of Glendronach were produced for most of the 20th century until it was mothballed by Allied Distillers in 1996. The distillery was revived in 2002, and has since become one of the strongest single malt brands in the world.

There are a number of famous Glendronach from 1968 and this is no different. This was a single cask bottled for Nippon Airways. 

This is the original Glendronach 25 year old from 1968, which Serge Valentin from WhiskyFun explains is 'A tremendous sherry monster', scoring 90 points.

Cask #16, one of 478 bottles. 

Speyside Single Malt 60 Year Old Master of Malt

Master of Malt began operating in 1985 as a small mail-order company that specialised in selling whisky, and they would go on to open their first retail shop in the Kent town of Royal Tunbridge Wells in 1990. Like many savvy businesses of the 1990s, they saw the huge potential of the internet and launched their first website in 1997. This proved so successful that they closed the original shop the following year. Over the years, Master of Malt has built a reputation as a prolific independent bottler. With access to swathes of impressive stock, the company has always offered a wide range of different whiskies and in 2013 they bottled an unnamed 60 year old Speyside malt, at the time was one of the oldest single malts ever released.

A stunning 60 year old Speyside single malt whisky prodcued from the chaps over at Master of Malt. This is the first release from their Secret Bottlings Series.

Highland Park 1973 Dragon

A legendary Highland Park, distilled in 1973 and bottled by Robertson of Kirkwall.

The 1973 Dragon rarely appears at auction, these Robertson's of Kirkwall bottlings are very highly regarded.

The Dragon from which this whisky takes its name comes from the 12th century carving in Maes Howe neolithic tomb, Orkney.

Bottled at 20 years old from cask #13313, in a 75cl bottle with burgundy capsule.

Bruichladdich 1989 Black Art 19 Year Old 1st Edition

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 & 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.

Bottled in 2009, this is the first release of the Black Art, a unique secret marriage of casks or finishes. Jim McEwan is not letting his secrets slip!

One of 6000 bottles.

Glenfiddich 1976 Private Vintage #16392 / La Grande Epicerie 

Glenfiddich was an early advocate of the single malt Scotch category, and their faith is rewarded today by being one of the best-selling Scotch brands in the world. The distillery was built by William Grant in 1886, distilling its first spirit on Christmas day the following year. Today it is still part of the family-owned, William Grant & Sons. They became the first distillery to actively market their single malt brand in 1963, and were the first to open their facility to visitors. Glenfiddich was an important trailblazer in the whisky industry, who's contribution cannot be forgotten. The scale of their operation today is a testament to this.

The Private Vintage collection from Glenfiddich is a selection of single cask bottlings, produced between 2001 and 2008. Each cask was exclusively selected for and bottled for a variety of private parties and whisky retailers.

This 2006 bottling of 1976 vintage was for La Grande Epicerie, Paris. The cask yielded 243 bottles.

Glenfarclas 21 Year Old Grant Bonding Co for Edoardo Giaccone / Edward and Edward

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.

Like many other distilleries in the 1960s and 1970s, Glenfarclas licensed its single malt brand to Gordon & MacPhail who produced official releases using their Grant Bonding Co subsidiary. As the single malt category began to grow in popularity, many distilleries began to reclaim control of their brands, and Glenfarclas was one of them, bottling their own whisky for the first time in 1979.

An incredible example of Glenfarclas from the early 1970s, this was bottled for Edoardo Giaccone, owner of the Whiskyteca in Salo, Italy.

Giaccone was something of a trailblazer, and was importing specially bottled official single malts for his bar in the late 1960s. He opened the famous venue in 1958, and it has been called a few different things over the years, including Garten, Edward & Edward, and La Taverna del Comandante.

Edoardo set the stage for later legendary bottlers such as Silvano Samaroli, Nadi Fiori and Ernesto Mainardi. Moon Import founder, Pepi Mongiardino said, \"he was the first person I visited\" when he became the distributor for Bruichladdich in 1981. Giaccone did not have any of his own labels or series, but was the first person in Italy to have official bottlings produced exclusively for him. Through his bar, Italy was treated to exclusive releases from Clynelish, Bowmore, Dalmore, Highland Park and even Jack Daniel's.

This is one of two 21 year olds bottled in this taller style for Giaccone, the other being a cask strength offering.

Very Olde St Nick 22 Year Old Barrel Strength Bourbon 81.2 US Proof / KBD

The Very Olde St Nick brand is owned by InterBev, a subsidiary of Allied Lomar in California, who's other products include Rare Perfection and Wattie Boone. Its president, Marci Palatella has been sourcing barrels and bottling them for several decades. She was Julian Van Winkle III's agent in the Japanese market in the 1980 and 1990s, and devised the Very Olde St Nick brand to capitalise on the Japanese demand for well-aged bourbon, which fortuitously was not popular in the US. Her first bottles were produced for her by Van Winkle at his Old Commonwealth bottling facility in the late 1980s.

At this time however, Van Winkle did not have a wealth of aged stock in his warehouses, and Palatella instead turned to Evan Kulsveen's Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (KBD), who bottled Olde St Nick throughout the 1990s and early 2000s at the then-silent Willett distillery in Bardstown. KBD sourced most of their barrels from neighbours, Heaven Hill, although Kulsveen had joked in the past that their warehouses contained bourbon from every distillery in Kentucky except his own. Van Winkle was not finished with the Very Olde St Nick story however, and put Palatella in touch with representatives at United Distillers who sold InterBev a number of ageing casks that they no longer had any interest in. Much of this was placed into a steel tanks and warehoused in California to prevent any further maturation. 

When KBD fired up the still at Willett again in 2012, they began sourcing less casks from elsewhere, reserving the best stock for their own Willett Family Reserve label. Essentially cut off, the production of Very Olde St Nick moved to California where some of the tanked Stitzel-Weller casks were bottled by Frank-Lin Distillers.

In 2018, Palatella opened the Preservation Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. A small craft-distillery operating a pot still, its produces only a few barrels each day. The bottling of Very Olde St Nick now takes places there, and will eventually contain the distillery's own whiskey.

This 22 year old bourbon was bottled in the early 2000s by KBD.

Macallan 1974 Murray McDavid 21 Year Old

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.  

A very rare independent single cask bottling of Macallan.

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.

Distilled in July 1974 and bottled by Murray McDavid after 21 years of maturation .

Charged from sherry wood cask #MM3928.

Springbank 1994 Private Sherry Cask 25 Year Old #31

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 one of the only distilleries to malt, distil, bottle and mature whisky on the same site, and produces three distinct and highly prized single malts.

This whisky was distilled on 18th November 1994 and aged for 25 years in refill ex-Sherry cask #31. 

Macallan 1982 Georgio d'Ambrosio for Niccolo Gallivanoni

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.

This Macallan was distilled in 1982 and was produced by Georgio d'Ambrosio specially for Niccolo Gallivanoni. The bottling appears to have been carried out by Ernesto Mainardi's Silver Seal.

Georgio d'Ambrosio was the founder of the esteemed former Bar Metro in Milan, a favourite of connoisseurs in its time for its incredible selection. Giorgio was a contemporary of the legendary Edoardo Giaconne of the Edward & Edward 'whiskyteca' in Salo, and both men were among the first in Italy to have special bottlings produced for their bars.

Macallan Classic Cut 2017 Release 75cl / 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.

This is the first edition of the Classic Cut series, launched in 2017. The expression takes its name from the third of Macallan's six pillars, known as the \"finest cut,\" in reference to their selection of only the most superior quality spirit from their stills.

Macallan Classic Cut 2017 Release 75cl / 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.

This is the first edition of the Classic Cut series, launched in 2017. The expression takes its name from the third of Macallan's six pillars, known as the \"finest cut,\" in reference to their selection of only the most superior quality spirit from their stills.

Macallan Classic Cut 2017 Release 75cl / 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.

This is the first edition of the Classic Cut series, launched in 2017. The expression takes its name from the third of Macallan's six pillars, known as the \"finest cut,\" in reference to their selection of only the most superior quality spirit from their stills.

Springbank 1994 Private Sherry Cask 25 Year Old #30

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 one of the only distilleries to malt, distil, bottle and mature whisky on the same site, and produces three distinct and highly prized single malts.

This whisky was distilled on 18th November 1994 and aged for 25 years in refill ex-Sherry cask #30. 

Macallan Classic Cut 2017 Release 75cl / 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.

This is the first edition of the Classic Cut series, launched in 2017. The expression takes its name from the third of Macallan's six pillars, known as the \"finest cut,\" in reference to their selection of only the most superior quality spirit from their stills.

Macallan 12 Year Old Gran Reserva

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.

A 12 year old Macallan released exclusively to the Japanese and Taiwanese Markets.

Aged exclusively in first fill Oloroso casks.

Bruichladdich 1989 Black Art 21 Year Old Edition 2.2

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 & Mackay, who eventually shut it down in 1995, deeming it surplus to requirements. They sold the distillery to Murray McDavid in 2001, who launched the peated Port Charlotte and heavily-peated Octomore single malts in 2006 and 2008. A recommissioned Lomond still also now produces the popular Botanist gin there.

This is the second Black Art release, distilled in 1989 and bottled as a 21 year old. It was matured in wide variety of American and European oak wines casks.

Laphroaig 1988 Giorgio d'Ambrosio for Georgio Finzi

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.

An exclusive bottling of Laphroaig, distilled in 1988 and produced by Georgio d'Ambrosio for Georgio Finzi. The bottling was carried out by Silver Seal.

This was bottled for, Georgio Finzi,, founder of the esteemed former Bar Metro in Milan, a favourite of connoisseurs in its time for its incredible selection. Giorgio was a contemporary of the legendary Edoardo Giaconne of the Edward & Edward 'whiskyteca' in Salo, and both men were among the first in Italy to have special bottlings produced for their bars.

Yamazaki Limited Edition 2015

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 limited edition Yamazaki has been put together using 20 year old sherry matured whisky along with some distinct bourbon character \"young talents\".

This is the 2015 release.

Macallan Amber Liqueur 75cl / 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.

The highly sought after Macallan Liqueur, created with Pecan and Maple Syrup.

Please note the paper seals on the Macallan Amber Liqueur are very fragile and can often break in transit.

Macallan The Harmony Collection / Fine Cacao

Released in May 2022, Fine Cacao is the second in an annual series from Macallan titled The Harmony Collection. The project is spearheaded by the distilleries efforts to focus on sustainability.

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.

Fine Cacao is a collaboration between Macallan Whisky Maker Polly Logan and pastry chef Jordi Roca of three Michelin star restaurant El Celler de Can Roca. Jordi is also the owner of the famed chocolate boutique, Casa Cacao and in 2018 was voted \"World's Best Pastry Chef\" by Restaurant Magazine. Working alongside Jordi, Polly studied the techniques of chocolate making and would go on to create this whisky as a perfect pairing for high-quality chocolate. The whisky has been 100% aged in a ex-Sherry American and European oak casks. 

By focusing on sustainable packaging, Fine Cacao is presented in a 100% recyclable and biodegradable box and the bottle features labels that have also been recycled. These include:

• Front & Back Label - Made from 15% organic cacao shell, 40% post-consumer waste, 45% FSC virgin fibre.
• Shoulder Label - Made from virgin fibre 100% - FSC certified.
• Outer Box Wrap - 15% organic cacao shell, 1% Miscantheses (to provide texture), 40% post-consumer waste, 44% virgin fibre.
• Box Ribbon - The ribbon is made from 81% virgin wood pulp (necessary for strength/durability), 12.5% ink, 6% bonding agents. The wood pulp is FSC certified and is virgin material.

Fine Cacao premiered at The Macallan Airport Boutiques from May 2022, before being made available to global travel retailers from June 2022.