As we head into the first auction of the year, we’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all the best for 2023 from everyone at Fine Spirits Auction!
And the year is already off to a bang, with a great selection of rare bottles and exciting firsts! This edition’s selection takes us on a journey around the globe, with outstanding bottlings from Japan, Scotland, France, the Caribbean and the US.
When it comes to Japan, the range of possibilities is as wide-ranging as it is unique. This medley of rare releases includes, for example, the Yamazaki Elephant 1993 Sherry Butt selected for La Maison du Whisky. We also see the return of the legendary Hanyu Card Series with a 1991 Jack of Hearts.
And Karuizawa pulls out all the stops with a 1975 from the Vintage Label range, as well as the Noh series and other more reserved age statements (12, 15 and 17 years).
In the world of Scotch whisky, Macallan is once again in the spotlight, with venerable vintages (1946, 1950), legendary ranges (Anniversary Malt, Sherry Wood, Replica) and more modern expressions such as the highly sought-after New York Edition. Springbank, another Scottish star, also makes a notable appearance with a stunning Millennium 35 Year Old.
This auction offers a superb reflection of the work of Scotland’s top independent bottlers, from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s Brora 1977 and Bowmore 1981 bottlings, to Gordon & MacPhail’s Linkwood 1959 and Miltonduff 1969, many of Signatory Vintage’s long-lost ranges such as Prestonfield and Dun Eideann, and of course Douglas Laing’s sleeping beauties Port Ellen and Rosebank.
Next we head to the United States, which has also brought its A-game in the form of the renowned Van Winkle range of 12, 13, 20 and 23 year olds, all under the hammer at this edition. Several Blanton’s single casks are also available, with vintages ranging from 2021 to 1999. And, finally, the Antique Collection makes an appearance with a 2014 edition of William Larue Weller.
France also takes centre-stage. Various excellent brandies are up for auction, including two Armagnacs from 1900 (Samalens and Goudoulin) and a Cuvée Richard from Hennessy.
But it’s Chartreuse that really dominates, with some 30 rare bottlings retracing the various eras and manufacturing sites of this much-loved liqueur. Despite their rarity, the Tarragona bottlings produced during the monks’ forced exile are the most prevalent in this first auction of the year.
Rhum agricole further cements its strong standing on the market, with bottlings from J.M. (1987,1988), Domaine de Courcelles (1948), Trois Rivière (1953), Bally, Domaine de Séverin and more.
Tribute is also paid to Italian bottler Velier’s outstanding rums. Velier’s reputation is already well-established and these days these bottlings tend to dominate the category. Expressions from the Demerara Collection available at this auction include UF30 27 Year Old 1985, Diamond and Uitvlugt 1996, reflections of the era in which Luca Gargano had direct access to the warehouses of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL).
There are also various bottlings from the Caroni distillery, including Velier’s numbered Releases (30th, 36th, 38th and 39th), the Employees range and versions that, although more classic, are just as popular, such as the 12, 15, 17 and 21 year olds.
Foursquare is also represented with the Destino, Triptych, Sassafras, Patrimonio and Principia batches. This being Velier, all were of course aged in a tropical climate.
Happy bidding!
