Our latest auction, composed primarily of a private collection, has a special focus on Islay whisky, in particular Port Ellen, the famous distillery which closed in 1983, found here in several independent bottlings from companies such as Berry Bros & Rudd, Douglas Laing and Jean Boyer. Indeed, official bottlings of Port Ellen are few and far between, save for the Annual Releases and a handful of very rare bottlings released when the distillery was still open. Ardbeg is also in the spotlight, with a number of bottles ranging from vintage expressions from the Hiram Walker era in the 1970s to more recent limited editions like Alligator, Perpetuum and Galileo.
Macallan and Springbank are also well-represented, with, among others, the Macallan 25 Year Old Anniversary Malts, various 18 year old vintages and the famous Replicas based on bottles purportedly from the 19th century. From Springbank, there are the famous 12 Year Old Green Thistles from the 1990s and a number of official limited editions (Local Barley) and independent bottlings.
Talking of which, this auction is a great opportunity to explore Signatory Vintage’s early ranges. Under the hammer at Fine Spirits Auction this edition, for example, are several bottlings from the Prestonfield range created shortly before Signatory Vintage was founded in 1988, while Andrew Symington was still working at the Prestonfield House hotel in Edinburgh, as well as the famous dumpy bottles used by Signatory Vintage for some of its greatest casks, and finally the Vintage Collection, a more accessible range launched in 1992 and bottled at 43% ABV.
Cadenhead is also has a prominent role in the collection, with many bottlings from the Authentic Collection. Launched in the 1990s, this range shunned the standard 46% ABV of the previous two decades in favour of cask strength versions. It was one of Cadenhead’s pioneering ranges.
From Japan, we find two spectacular bottles selected by La Maison du Whisky for The Owner’s Cask range. Launched by Suntory in November 2004, this programme enabled companies and private individuals to buy and bottle their own single casks. The first is a Yamazaki 1986 matured in Mizunara casks, a Japanese oak known for bringing the whisky notes of precious wood and incense, and the second a Yamazaki 1995 matured in sherry casks, a practice Suntory has more than mastered.
Outside this collection, there are also lots of Chartreuses, with many V.E.P. and Reine des Liqueurs expressions from various vintages. The V.E.P. (Vieillissement Exceptionnellement Prolongé; Exceptionally Long Ageing) expression was first launched in 1963. Produced using the same recipe as Green Chartreuse and Yellow Chartreuse, it differs by undergoing additional ageing in barrel. Reine des Liqueurs is a blend of liqueurs selected by the Carthusian monks to imitate the style of 19th century Yellow Chartreuse.
Finally, there are the Velier selections from Luca Gargano, including several bottlings of Caroni and Foursquare. Rhum agricole is also showcased in all its diversity, with different editions of Bally, Trois Rivières, La Favorite and Saint James.
Composed primarily of a private collection, this auction pays tribute to a passionate whisky collector who recently passed away. His son explains,
“Year after year, bottle after bottle, encounter after encounter, this inveterate fan of whisky in all its diversity built a collection guided by passion. A passion [this collector] simply wanted to share. Today, the entire collection, from start to finish, will go under the hammer so it can be enjoyed by other enthusiasts in the vast world of whisky.”
We wish you all an excellent auction!
