Curator's Corner: Whiskies to Watch from Joe Wilson

Have you ever wondered what the whisky experts and auction curators have their eye on at auction? We asked our Auction Curator, Joe Wilson, to share his picks - and he’s highlighted three stand-out whiskies in our live August auction.

Joe has worked with Whisky Auctioneer since 2017, combining his passion for heritage and history with the world of whisk(e)y. One of his greatest joys is unearthing the unique stories behind the labels of the whiskies he encounters. Covering a range of price-points (at the time of writing!) from legendary independent bottlers and outstanding distilleries, Joe’s highlights showcase a fascinating breadth of what this month’s auction has to offer.

Caol Ila Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection

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This month brings a captivating series of Caol Ila releases from Gordon & MacPhail’s prestigious Private Collection. First introduced in 2000, the range represents the company’s most premium offering, reserved for its oldest and rarest stocks of Scotch whisky. Distilled between 1988 and 1995 and finished in unusual casks such as Claret, Sassicaia, Calvados, Cognac, and Madeira, these bottles reflect some of G&M’s earliest experiments in alternative wood policies. What impressed Joe most about this series is how Caol Ila’s peated style harmonises with the sweeter influence of these casks, creating an intriguing and accessible entry point into the Private Collection for both collectors and fans.

McClelland’s 1976 Highland Malt

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Another highlight is the McClelland’s 1976 Highland Malt, a bottling that shines a light on the early days of single cask releases. While such programmes are commonplace today, they were far less common in the 1970s. At the time, Morrison Bowmore Distillers used its subsidiary T&A McClelland to handle certain bottlings where exclusivity agreements with importers applied. This particular single cask - believed to have been distilled at Glen Garioch - was produced for the Scotch Single Malt Circle, a German whisky club founded by Bill and Maggie Miller. Originally conceived as a German branch of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (though ultimately denied), the group went on to become a celebrated independent bottler in its own right. Joe highlights that, as one of its earliest releases, this rare Highland malt represents a remarkable piece of whisky history.

O.F.C. 1916 Pre-Prohibition Bourbon

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Joe’s final pick is an incredibly rare bourbon that embodies a pivotal chapter in American history - the O.F.C. 1916 Pre-Prohibition Bourbon. During the Prohibition era of the 1920s, bourbon could only be obtained legally with a doctor’s prescription, meaning very few bottles survived, as most were consumed at the time. Distilled in 1916 and bottled during Prohibition for medicinal use, this release provides a rare glimpse into that era. Its modern relevance makes it even more compelling: O.F.C. was the original name of the distillery now known as Buffalo Trace, and the brand itself has been revived as one of its premium labels today. Joe notes that this whisky is a rare gem, with so few examples from this period still in existence. This bottle endures as both an extraordinary survivor and a tangible link between past and present.

For more insights, watch our video where Joe Wilson delves deeper into the stories behind these remarkable bottles.