March 2023 Auction

Dalmore 1926 50 Year Old Decanter

Dalmore is undoubtedly the prize single malt in the Whyte & Mackay portfolio. This was not always the case though. The blenders purchased it from the Mackenzie family in 1960, having been long-standing customers. Due to the long-running importance of it to their blends, their distillery bottlings of its single malt were limited to a 12 year old expression. Nowadays however, it is positioned as a luxury brand, rubbing shoulder with the likes of Macallan, and is globally recognised.

A spectacular Dalmore distilled all the way back in 1926, just a few years after the distillery had re-opened after spending three years being used as a factory to produce American missiles. It was bottled in the 1970s by oweners, Whyte & Mackay.

Gordon and MacPhail Decanters for Co. Import & Sestante 6 x 75cl

When Gordon & MacPhail were producing official bottlings under license in the 1970s, each distillery was labelled using a specific branding determined by their parent companies, such as DCL, Hiram Walker or Highland Distillers. As of 2018, bottles in this style have been branded as part of the Distillery Labels range, which replicates the \"house labels\" used by the company for many distilleries like this over the years.

• Tomatin 1970 Gordon and MacPhail 15 Year Old Decanter 43% 75cl
• Caol Ila 1969 Gordon and MacPhail 15 Year Old Decanter 40% 75cl
• Strathisla 1960 Gordon and MacPhail 24 Year Old Decanter 40% 75cl
• Glenburgie 1954 Gordon and MacPhail 30 Year Old Decanter 40% 75cl
• Laphroaig 1968 Gordon and MacPhail 16 Year Old Decanter 40% 75cl
• Glen Mhor 1972 Gordon and MacPhail 15 Year Old Decanter 40% 75cl

Dalmore 1967 Sirius 44 Year Old

Dalmore is undoubtedly the prize single malt in the Whyte & Mackay portfolio. This was not always the case though. The blenders purchased it from the Mackenzie family in 1960, having been long-standing customers. Due to the long-running importance of it to their blends, their distillery bottlings of its single malt were limited to a 12 year old expression. Nowadays however, it is positioned as a luxury brand, rubbing shoulder with the likes of Macallan, and is globally recognised. Independent releases like this are hard to come by.

A single cask, this was bottled by Sirius Whisky Purveyors. It was distilled in 1967 and then filled into cask number #2055 on February 24th. 

One of only 89 bottles produced. 

Dalmore 1979 Sherry Finesse

Dalmore is undoubtedly the prize single malt in the Whyte & Mackay portfolio. This was not always the case though. The blenders purchased it from the Mackenzie family in 1960, having been long-standing customers. Due to the long-running importance of it to their blends, their distillery bottlings of its single malt were limited to a 12 year old expression. Nowadays however, it is positioned as a luxury brand, rubbing shoulder with the likes of Macallan, and is globally recognised.

This limited release Dalmore was distilled in 1979 and matured for over 30 years being being finished in Gonzalez Byass Matusalem sherry casks.

One of 487 bottles. 

This bottle is being sold from the Pat's Whisk(e)y private collection which, numbering in excess of 9,000 bottles and over 2,000 miniatures, is the single largest collection of whisky ever to be brought to auction. Pat's Whisk(e)y is the result of over fifteen years of passion and dedication to the goal of creating one of the most complete libraries of whisky and whiskey ever amassed by an individual collector. It contains bottles from over 150 different Scottish distilleries, as well as bourbon, rare Scotch releases from sought-after independent bottlers in Europe, and whisky from other distilleries across the globe. Whisky Auctioneer is delighted to have partnered with Pat's Whisk(e)y to offer this collection across a number of exclusive and spotlight auctions. For more information, please click here.

Dalmore 50 Year Old Decanter 10cl

Dalmore is undoubtedly the prize single malt in the Whyte & Mackay portfolio. This was not always the case though. The blenders purchased it from the Mackenzie family in 1960, having been long-standing customers. Due to the long-running importance of it to their blends, their distillery bottlings of its single malt were limited to a 12 year old expression. Nowadays however, it is positioned as a luxury brand, rubbing shoulder with the likes of Macallan, and is globally recognised.

This is a very interesting bottle, the liquid has a long and complex history. The casks used combine vintages from 1868, 1878, 1922, 1926 and 1939. A brief summary of these casks is below:

• Cask one: Distilled in June 1868 and transferred into sherry wood in August 1880 and again in October 1891.
• Cask two: Distilled February 1878 then re-racked into sherry wood in April 1890 and again in April 1908.
• Cask three: Distilled March 1922.

These three casks were then “racked” – one in May 1926, one in July 1926  and one in August 1926. Then in September 1977 all 3 were then re-racked to a single, unique butt and bottled in February 1978. Two further casks were filled in 1939 and bottled at 52 years of age in October 1991.

All the above whiskies were then blended under the master craftsmanship of Richard Paterson to create this stunning 50 Year Old. 

Dalmore 1981 Amoroso Sherry Finesse

Dalmore is undoubtedly the prize single malt in the Whyte & Mackay portfolio. This was not always the case though. The blenders purchased it from the Mackenzie family in 1960, having been long-standing customers. Due to the long-running importance of it to their blends, their distillery bottlings of its single malt were limited to a 12 year old expression. Nowadays however, it is positioned as a luxury brand, rubbing shoulder with the likes of Macallan, and is globally recognised.

Distilled on the 24th November 1981, this 26 year old Dalmore was matured in American white oak bourbon barrels before being given an 'intense' finish in Amoroso sherry casks from Gonzalez Byass.

Dalwhinnie 1966 36 Year Old

Dalwhinnie was one of the six original Classic Malts when they were selected by United Distillers (now Diageo) back in 1988, and it was tipped to become the favourite among consumers on account of its flawless floral flavours and elegant character. Although eventually pipped at the post by the smoky dark horse that was the Lagavulin 16 year old, it remains a well-loved single malt. The distillery is both the highest and coldest in Scotland, contributing to its unique flavour through the rapid condensing that occurs in its worm tubs.

Released within the original Special Release series from Diageo back in 2002, this Dalwhinnie was distilled in 1966 and bottled at an astonishing 36 years old - substantially older than any previous official Dalwhinnie releases.

Limited to only 1,500 bottles this 36 year old is considered to be an exceptional bottling.

Daftmill Collection 6 x 70cl

Daftmill is a farm distillery, owned and run by the Cuthbert family, who grow all of the barley used in their whisky on-site. The distillery is only operational during the farm's quiet periods in mid-summer and mid-winter, sometimes producing as few as 100 casks per year. The distillery was granted its license in 2005, but not in a hurry to rush out their product, it was 2018 before their inaugural release. This patience and dedication to their craft has won the distillery an army of passionate fans, among collectors and connoisseurs alike.

This lot includes:

• Daftmill 2006 Cask Strength 15 Year Old 70cl 55.7%

The barley for this twenty-eight cask vatting was harvested from the farm's Dam Park and Curling Pond fields on 31st August 2004. This was some of the last barley to the malted in Fife by Robert Kilgour & Co before they closed. The whisky was filled into ex- bourbon casks in 2006, matured for 15 years and bottled in 2022 at cask strength.

• Daftmill 2006 Winter Batch Release 2018 / UK 70cl 46%

This is the distillery's third offering from its inaugural release year, a 2006 single vintage bottling of 6 casks. The spirit matured for nearly 12 years in ex-bourbon casks from Heaven Hill Bernheim distillery in Louisville, Kentucky.

One of 1,625 bottles.

• Daftmill 2007 Winter Batch Release 2019 / UK 70cl 46%

This whisky is made up of a combination of seven first fill ex bourbon casks. Barrels 023/200, 024/2007, 025/2007, 027/2007, 032/2007, 035/2007 and 038/2007 were distilled and filled in November 2007.

One of 1,785 bottles.

• Daftmill 2008 Summer Batch Release 2019 / UK 70cl 46%

This was the somewhat tardy Summer 2019 release, which was not actually available until much later that year. Distilled 2008 using optic barley harvested from the farm's South fields in August 2006. It was malted in Alloa in 2007.

Filled from six first-fill bourbon barrels, #56, #58, #60, #62, #65 and #66, producing 1,760 bottles.

•  Daftmill 2009 Summer Batch Release 2020 / UK 70cl 46%

 This is the UK version of the Summer Batch Release for 2020.  A 2009 vintage, it is a vatting of bourbon and sherry casks, #21, #25, #32, #33 and #44.

Distilled from Optic barley grown in the farm's South fields and harvested in the last week of August 2006. It was stored on the farm to be malted in Alloa during the summer of 2007.

One of 1,875 bottles.

• Daftmill 2010 Summer Batch Release 2021 70cl 46%

 This is their Summer 2010, which was the last time the barley variety Optic was used for distillation. 

The spirit matured for nearly 12 years in ex-bourbon casks from Clermont Springs distillery in Kentucky before being bottled in 2021.

This bottling consists of 25 first fill bourbon barrels.

One of 6,250 bottles.

Daftmill Collection 6 x 70cl

Daftmill is a farm distillery, owned and run by the Cuthbert family, who grow all of the barley used in their whisky on-site. The distillery is only operational during the farm's quiet periods in mid-summer and mid-winter, sometimes producing as few as 100 casks per year. The distillery was granted its license in 2005, but not in a hurry to rush out their product, it was 2018 before their inaugural release. This patience and dedication to their craft has won the distillery an army of passionate fans, among collectors and connoisseurs alike.

This lot includes:

• Daftmill 2006 Cask Strength 15 Year Old 70cl 55.7%

The barley for this twenty-eight cask vatting was harvested from the farm's Dam Park and Curling Pond fields on 31st August 2004. This was some of the last barley to the malted in Fife by Robert Kilgour & Co before they closed. The whisky was filled into ex- bourbon casks in 2006, matured for 15 years and bottled in 2022 at cask strength.

• Daftmill 2006 Winter Batch Release 2018 / UK 70cl 46%

This is the distillery's third offering from its inaugural release year, a 2006 single vintage bottling of 6 casks. The spirit matured for nearly 12 years in ex-bourbon casks from Heaven Hill Bernheim distillery in Louisville, Kentucky.

One of 1,625 bottles.

• Daftmill 2007 Winter Batch Release 2019 / UK 70cl 46%

This whisky is made up of a combination of seven first fill ex bourbon casks. Barrels 023/200, 024/2007, 025/2007, 027/2007, 032/2007, 035/2007 and 038/2007 were distilled and filled in November 2007.

One of 1,785 bottles.

• Daftmill 2008 Summer Batch Release 2019 / UK 70cl 46%

This was the somewhat tardy Summer 2019 release, which was not actually available until much later that year. Distilled 2008 using optic barley harvested from the farm's South fields in August 2006. It was malted in Alloa in 2007.

Filled from six first-fill bourbon barrels, #56, #58, #60, #62, #65 and #66, producing 1,760 bottles.

•  Daftmill 2009 Summer Batch Release 2020 / UK 70cl 46%

 This is the UK version of the Summer Batch Release for 2020.  A 2009 vintage, it is a vatting of bourbon and sherry casks, #21, #25, #32, #33 and #44.

Distilled from Optic barley grown in the farm's South fields and harvested in the last week of August 2006. It was stored on the farm to be malted in Alloa during the summer of 2007.

One of 1,875 bottles.

• Daftmill 2010 Summer Batch Release 2021 70cl 46%

 This is their Summer 2010, which was the last time the barley variety Optic was used for distillation. 

The spirit matured for nearly 12 years in ex-bourbon casks from Clermont Springs distillery in Kentucky before being bottled in 2021.

This bottling consists of 25 first fill bourbon barrels.

One of 6,250 bottles.

Daftmill 2006 Single Bourbon Cask #48 / Taiwan

Daftmill was granted a license to begin producing spirit in 2005, and had not bottled a single drop of that first distillate until 2018 when it produced just 629 bottles of its inaugural release.

Daftmill is a farm distillery, owned and run by the Cuthbert family, who grow all of the barley used in their whisky on-site. The distillery is only operational during the farm's quiet periods in mid-summer and mid-winter, sometimes producing as few as 100 casks per year. 

This single malt was distilled from barley harvested on the farm's Dam Park and Curling Pond fields on 31st August 2004, and was some of the last to be malted by Robert Kilgour & Co in Fife before their closure.

The spirit was filled into first fill bourbon barrel #048/2006, and selected by Ho-chen Yao as the first Taiwan exclusive release of Daftmill.

One of 201 bottles.

Dallas Dhu 1970 Rare Malts 24 Year Old / 60.54%

The Rare Malts Selection was a historic selection of single malt whiskies from operational and lost distilleries that were released by Diageo between 1995 and 2005. As with the Flora & Fauna series, they were often from lesser-seen single malt distilleries.

In its time a key component of the Roderick Dhu blended Scotch, Dallas Dhu is a rarely seen single malt. As with much of the DCL (now Diageo) portfolio, the distillery was deemed surplus to requirements during the market downturn of the 1980s, and closed in 1983. It is now run as a distillery museum by Historic Environment Scotland. Very few official bottlings exist, and it is incredibly sought after when rare independent bottlings appear.

This was distilled in 1970 and bottled in one of the earlier Rare Malts Selection releases.

Dalmore 21 Year Old 2015 Release

Dalmore is undoubtedly the prize single malt in the Whyte & Mackay portfolio. This was not always the case though. The blenders purchased it from the Mackenzie family in 1960, having been long-standing customers. Due to the long-running importance of it to their blends, their distillery bottlings of its single malt were limited to a 12 year old expression. Nowadays however, it is positioned as a luxury brand, rubbing shoulder with the likes of Macallan, and is globally recognised.

This 2015 release from Dalmore has been finished in ex-Sherry casks.

Dalmore 1976 Cadenhead's 37 Year Old

Wm. Cadenhead is Scotland’s oldest independent bottler, founded in 1842 by George Duncan. His brother William Cadenhead joined the company in 1952, taking over after George’s death in 1958. The company got into the whisky bottling business after 1904, when his nephew Robert Duthie took over, and since its sale to J&A Mitchell in 1972, Wm. Cadenhead has become on of the most sought after names in whisky. Its Authentic Collection is the flagship brand, but the portfolio of the company has expanded in recent years with labels like this.

A stunning example of well-aged Dalmore, this was distilled in 1976 and bottled in 2014 from a single butt.

Dalmore is undoubtedly the prize single malt in the Whyte & Mackay portfolio. This was not always the case though. The blenders purchased it from the Mackenzie family in 1960, having been long-standing customers. Due to the long-running importance of it to their blends, their distillery bottlings of its single malt were limited to a 12 year old expression. Nowadays however, it is positioned as a luxury brand, rubbing shoulder with the likes of Macallan, and is globally recognised. Independent releases like this are hard to come by.

Dallas Dhu 1976 SMWS 45.5

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) was founded in 1983 by a group of friends lead by tax accountant Phillip ‘Pip’ Hills as a private members club. The concept behind the society was to source casks from all over Scotland which would then be bottled and made available exclusively to its members. Perhaps the most famous feature of these bottles are the unique codes. Each distillery is represented by a different number and the following digits indicate that particular release. That same year, the SMWS set up its first location in Leith’s Vault buildings in Edinburgh where it still stands today.

This whisky was distilled in October 1976 and bottled in February 1995.

In its time a key component of the Roderick Dhu blended Scotch, Dallas Dhu is a rarely seen single malt. As with much of the DCL (now Diageo) portfolio, the distillery was deemed surplus to requirements during the market downturn of the 1980s, and closed in 1983. It is now run as a distillery museum by Historic Environment Scotland. Very few official bottlings exist, and it is incredibly sought after when rare independent bottlings appear.

Dallas Dhu 1975 Rare Malts 21 Year Old / 61.9%

The Rare Malts Selection was a historic selection of single malt whiskies from operational and lost distilleries that were released by Diageo between 1995 and 2005. As with the Flora & Fauna series, they were often from lesser-seen single malt distilleries.

In its time a key component of the Roderick Dhu blended Scotch, Dallas Dhu is a rarely seen single malt. As with much of the DCL (now Diageo) portfolio, the distillery was deemed surplus to requirements during the market downturn of the 1980s, and closed in 1983. It is now run as a distillery museum by Historic Environment Scotland. Very few official bottlings like this exist, and are incredibly sought after.

This was distilled in 1975 and bottled long after the distillery's closure as a 21 year old.

Dalmore 1991 Hunter Laing 29 Year Old / Old and Rare

Dalmore is undoubtedly the prize single malt in the Whyte & Mackay portfolio. This was not always the case though. The blenders purchased it from the Mackenzie family in 1960, having been long-standing customers. Due to the long-running importance of it to their blends, their distillery bottlings of its single malt were limited to a 12 year old expression. Nowadays however, it is positioned as a luxury brand, rubbing shoulder with the likes of Macallan, and is globally recognised.

This whisky was distilled in October 1991 and aged for 29 years in a Bourbon barrel before being bottled in May 2021.

Hunter Laing & Co was established in 2013 by Stewart Laing. Having co-managed his father's Douglas Laing company with his brother Fred since 1982, the two eventually decided to split the company assets and strike out on their own with two separate enterprises. Stewart was joined by his two sons, Andrew and Scott, absorbing their Edition Spirits company in the process. Hunter Laing had grand ambitions beyond its traditional independent bottling roots, and announced its plans to open Ardnahoe distillery on Islay in 2016. The first casks were filled there two years later under the guidance of the legendary Jim McEwan.

This bottling part of their ultra-premium range, Old & Rare. Launched in 2001 and formerly the pride of the Douglas Laing portfolio, production of the label was moved to the Hunter Laing company when it was established in 2013.

One of 136 bottles.

Dalmore Millennium Release 1263 Custodian 2015 / 2nd Release

The second cask to be bottled for Dalmore's 1263 custodians, a concept introduced by the distillery for it's followers in 2012.

Dalmore is undoubtedly the prize single malt in the Whyte & Mackay portfolio. This was not always the case though. The blenders purchased it from the Mackenzie family in 1960, having been long-standing customers. Due to the long-running importance of it to their blends, their distillery bottlings of its single malt were limited to a 12 year old expression. Nowadays however, it is positioned as a luxury brand, rubbing shoulder with the likes of Macallan, and is globally recognised.

A trio of casks were filled at midnight on January 1st 2000, and gradually released on their 12th, 15th, and 18th birthday's.

This is the second 'Millennium Release', bottled in 2015 as a 15 year old. Initially matured in an American oak ex-bourbon cask, before being finished in a Matusalem oloroso sherry cask.

Dallas Dhu 20 Year Old Sestante

In its time a key component of the Roderick Dhu blended Scotch, Dallas Dhu is a rarely seen single malt. As with much of the DCL (now Diageo) portfolio, the distillery was deemed surplus to requirements during the market downturn of the 1980s, and closed in 1983. It is now run as a distillery museum by Historic Environment Scotland. Very few official bottlings exist, and it is incredibly sought after when rare independent bottlings appear.

The Sestante import company was founded in the 1970s by Ernesto Mainardi, and he bottled his first single casks under the name in 1985. Alongside his contemporary, Silvano Samaroli, Mainardi pioneered giving his customers a choice of both standard 40-46% bottlings, and cask strength releases from the same casks. Along with his other brand, Silver Seal, Mainardi's bottlings are incredibly sought after.

Deanston 1974 Single Sherry Cask 37 Year Old

A Deanston that was distilled in 1974, aged  in an Oloroso sherry cask for 37 years.

Deanston distillery opened in 1965, and its first single malt was called Old Bannockburn, first bottled in 1971. Invergordon Distillers procured the distillery two years later, and introduced the first Deanston-named single malt in 1974. Sadly, a lack of interest in it saw the distillery mothballed in 1982, and it was not until 1990 when it was bought by Burn Stewart that it was revived and began to flourish. Now part of the Distell group, Deanston has become a global single malt brand.

Dalmore Millennium Release 1263 Custodian 2018 / 3rd Release

Dalmore is undoubtedly the prize single malt in the Whyte & Mackay portfolio. This was not always the case though. The blenders purchased it from the Mackenzie family in 1960, having been long-standing customers. Due to the long-running importance of it to their blends, their distillery bottlings of its single malt were limited to a 12 year old expression. Nowadays however, it is positioned as a luxury brand, rubbing shoulder with the likes of Macallan, and is globally recognised.

The third bottling in the distillery's 1263 Custodian series, a concept introduced for its followers in 2012. A selection of casks were filled at midnight on January 1st 2000, and gradually released on their 12th, 15th, and 18th birthdays.

This was bottled in 2018 as a 18 year old and was initially matured in American oak ex-bourbon casks before being finished in Matusalem oloroso sherry butts. 

Daftmill 2007 Single Bourbon Cask #26 / Kirsch Germany

Daftmill was granted a license to begin producing spirit in 2005, and had not bottled a single drop of that first distillate until 2018 when it produced just 629 bottles of its inaugural release.

Daftmill is a farm distillery, owned and run by the Cuthbert family, who grow all of the barley used in their whisky on-site. The distillery is only operational during the farm's quiet periods in mid-summer and mid-winter, sometimes producing as few as 100 casks per year. 

This whisky is from a single ex- Heaven Hill first fill ex bourbon casks. Barrels #26  were distilled from Optic barley from the farm's South Fields, harvested in August 2006 and malted in Alloa in summer 2007. The cask was all filled in by 20th of November 2007.

One of 226 bottles exclusive bottled for Kirsch Import - Germany

Dornoch 2017 Single Oloroso Cask #001 50cl / Inaugural Release

The Thompson Brothers began their whisky bottling enterprise in 2013, establishing the Black Isle Whisky Company in their native Dornoch. The brothers, Simon and Philip, renamed the operation as the Dornoch Distilling Company in 2015, opening the Dornoch distillery the following year. Located in a tiny 19th century fire station in the grounds of Dornoch Castle, they began distilling in July 2017. They only use organic strains of heritage barley such as Plumage Archer and Maris Otter and at 216 hours, the distillery's fermentation process may be the longest in Scotland. Such long fermentation will result in a spirit with a fruity and complex flavour profile. The company has the capability to produce 12,000 litres of spirit annually and their very first single malt was released in November 2020.

This whisky was distilled on 5th July 2017 and matured in first-fill ex-Oloroso sherry butt #001. 

One of 893 bottles released in November 2020.

Dailuaine 1980 Cask Strength 34 Year Old

A very rare official bottling of Dailuaine. Distilled in 1980 and bottled in 2015 as part of Diageo's annual Special Releases.

Dailuaine was at a time in the 19th century, Speyside's largest distillery, and it was home to Scotland's first pagoda roofed kiln. That distillery perished in a fire however, in 1917. The newly rebuilt distillery was acquired by DCL (now Diageo) who used its \"meaty\" spirit as a filler for their many blends. As with most of the single malt operations in the Diageo portfolio, the Flora & Fauna release was Dailuaine's first ever distillery bottling.

Matured in refill American oak casks. One of 2,952 bottles.

Daftmill 2009 Single Oloroso Cask #24 / Kirsch Import - Germany

Daftmill is a farm distillery, owned and run by the Cuthbert family, who grow all of the barley used in their whisky on-site. The distillery is only operational during the farm's quiet periods in mid-summer and mid-winter, sometimes producing as few as 100 casks per year. The distillery was granted its license in 2005, but not in a hurry to rush out their product, it was 2018 before their inaugural release. This patience and dedication to their craft has won the distillery an army of passionate fans, among collectors and connoisseurs alike.

This whisky was filled into single ex-Oloroso cask #24 on 7th July 2009. It was selected and bottled for Kirsch Import of Germany in 2021.

One of 627 bottles.

Dailuaine 1980 Flora and Fauna Cask Strength

Following on from the successful introduction of the Classic Malts range in 1988 (at the time only six expressions), Diageo sought to build on this by releasing a further 26 single malts. These became affectionately known as the Flora & Fauna series, a term coined by whisky writer, Michael Jackson, in reference to their labels, and the range showcased the lesser-seen distilleries from the extensive Diageo portfolio at the time. A handful of these have become permanent distillery bottlings, but the majority are increasingly rare limited releases from this highly collectible series.

One of the nine rare Flora & Fauna releases bottled at cask strength, this Dailuaine was distilled in 1980 and bottled in 1997.

Dailuaine was at a time, in the 19th century, Speyside's largest distillery, and it was home to Scotland's first pagoda roofed kiln. That distillery perished in a fire however, in 1917. The newly rebuilt distillery was acquired by DCL (now Diageo) who used its \"meaty\" spirit as a filler for one of their many blends. As with many of the single malt operations in the Diageo portfolio, the Flora & Fauna release was Dailuaine's first ever distillery bottling. A fan favourite, it is one of the few still available as a permanent release. This cask strength limited edition is highly sought after though.

Dalmore King Alexander III / Chinese New Year Festive Edition

Dalmore is undoubtedly the prize single malt in the Whyte & Mackay portfolio. This was not always the case though. The blenders purchased it from the Mackenzie family in 1960, having been long-standing customers. Due to the long-running importance of it to their blends, their distillery bottlings of its single malt were limited to a 12 year old expression. Nowadays however, it is positioned as a luxury brand, rubbing shoulder with the likes of Macallan, and is globally recognised.

Launched in 2008, the King Alexander III is crafted to honour the act of saving Scotland’s king in 1263. This expression unites six specially selected casks housing spirit of perfect maturity. Whiskies matured in ex-bourbon casks, Matusalem oloroso sherry wood, Madeira barrels, Marsala casks, port pipes and Cabernet Sauvignon wine barriques are all brought together. 

Daftmill 2008 Single Bourbon Cask #25 / Master of Malt

Daftmill was granted a license to begin producing spirit in 2005, and had not bottled a single drop of that first distillate until 2018 when it produced just 629 bottles of its inaugural release.

Daftmill is a farm distillery, owned and run by the Cuthbert family, who grow all of the barley used in their whisky on-site. The distillery is only operational during the farm's quiet periods in mid-summer and mid-winter, sometimes producing as few as 100 casks per year. 

This single malt was distilled from barley harvested on the farm's Dam Park and Curling Pond fields on 31st August 2004, and was some of the last to be malted by Robert Kilgour & Co in Fife before their closure.

The spirit was filled into first fill bourbon barrel #025/2008, and selected by Master of Malt as an exclusive release of Daftmill.

One of 213 bottles.

Deanston 1977 Duthie's 15 Year Old

R.W. Duthie & Co of Aberdeen are a subsidiary company of Wm. Cadenhead, and handle the majority of the physical bottling operations for the company. In addition to this, they also provided casks to a number of international distributors, including the sought after portfolios of the Corti Brothes in the US, and early Samaroli releases.

This whisky was distilled in November 1977 and aged for 15 years before being bottled in December 1992.

Deanston distillery opened in 1965, and its first single malt was called Old Bannockburn, first bottled in 1971. Invergordon Distillers procured the distillery two years later, and introduced the first Deanston-named single malt in 1974. Sadly, a lack of interest in it saw the distillery mothballed in 1982, and it was not until 1990 when it was bought by Burn Stewart that it was revived and began to flourish. Now part of the Distell group, Deanston has become a global single malt brand.

Daftmill 2008 Single Bourbon Cask #67 / Berry Brothers and Rudd

Daftmill is a farm distillery, owned and run by the Cuthbert family, who grow all of the barley used in their whisky on-site. The distillery is only operational during the farm's quiet periods in mid-summer and mid-winter, sometimes producing as few as 100 casks per year. The distillery was granted its license in 2005, but not in a hurry to rush out their product, it was 2018 before their inaugural release. This patience and dedication to their craft has won the distillery an army of passionate fans, among collectors and connoisseurs alike.

This whisky was distilled in 2008 and aged in single first-fill ex-Bourbon cask #67. It was bottled in 2021 at cask strength for London spirit merchants, Berry Brothers and Rudd.

One of 223 bottles.

Dailuaine 1973 Douglas Laing 34 Year Old

Dailuaine was at a time in the 19th century, Speyside's largest distillery, and it was home to Scotland's first pagoda roofed kiln. That distillery perished in a fire however, in 1917. The newly rebuilt distillery was acquired by DCL (now Diageo) who used its \"meaty\" spirit as a filler for their many blends. As with most of the single malt operations in the Diageo portfolio, the Flora & Fauna release was Dailuaine's first ever distillery bottling. Its single malt had been available in the form of independent releases like this in the preceding years though.

This whisky was distilled in November 1973 and aged in a single refill hogshead for 34 years. It was bottle in December 2007 by Douglas Laing as part of the Old Malt Cask series. 

Douglas Laing & Co was established in 1948 by Fred Douglas Laing, affectionately known as “FDL.” The company started out as a blending business, but over time their focus shifted towards independently bottlings single malts. Fred died in 1982, leaving the business to his two sons, Stewart and Fred Jr, who eventually carved it up in 2013, with Stewart leaving to establish Hunter Laing. Fred Jr and his daughter Cara now run Douglas Laing, which continues to bottle single malt and has also revived its blending business. Additionally, the company has recently moved into distilling as well, announcing plans to construct the new Clutha distillery in Glasgow, and taking over Strathearn in Perthshire in 2019.

The Old Malt Cask series is one of the most established independent labels on the market. It was launched by Douglas Laing in 1998 and bottled by them until 2013 when the brand became part of the Hunter Laing portfolio instead.

One of 238 bottles.

Dailuaine 1989 Thompson Brothers 31 Year Old

The Thompson Brothers began their whisky bottling in enterprise in 2013, establishing the Black Isle Whisky Company in their native Dornoch. The brothers, Simon and Philip, renamed the operation as the Dornoch Distilling Company in 2015, opening the Dornoch distillery the following year. In addition to distilling their own whisky, their independent bottlings continue to flourish, with many exceptional tasting and fantastically labelled single malts and rums released under the Thompson Bros banner.

This whisky was distilled in 1989 and aged for 31 years. One of 117 bottles.

Dailuaine was at a time in the 19th century, Speyside's largest distillery, and it was home to Scotland's first pagoda roofed kiln. That distillery perished in a fire however, in 1917. The newly rebuilt distillery was acquired by DCL (now Diageo) who used its \"meaty\" spirit as a filler for their many blends. As with most of the single malt operations in the Diageo portfolio, the Flora & Fauna release was Dailuaine's first ever distillery bottling. Its single malt had been available in the form of independent releases like this in the preceding years though.

Duc de Loussac 1905 Vintage Armagnac

Armagnac is a style of brandy produced in the southwest of France, using the short alambic-armagnacais still which tends to produce richer spirits than that of Cognac. The impurities found in the spirit owing to these short stills require a long ageing period in order to reveal their silky richnesses within - thus well-aged Armagnacs can be a thing of utter beauty.

This 1905 vintage was bottled by Duc de Loussac in October 1988.