Whisky & Spirits Auction Highlights

WHISKY & SPIRITS AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS

WHISKY & SPIRITS AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS Lyon & Turnbull 33 Broughton Place EDINBURGH EH1 3RR

CONTACT EDINBURGH +44 (0) 131 557 8844 GLASGOW +44 (0) 141 333 1992 LONDON +44 (0) 207 930 9115 info@lyonandturnbull.com

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BUYER'S GUIDE This sale is subject to our Standard conditions of Sale (available at the back of every catalogue and on our website).

BUYER’S PREMIUM & OTHER CHARGES The buyer shall pay the hammer price together with a premium, at the rate of 15%.

VAT will be charged on the premium at the rate imposed by law (see our Conditions of Sale at the back of this catalogue).

ADDITIONAL VAT † VAT at the standard rate payable on the hammer price * 5% import VAT payable on the hammer price No VAT is payable on the hammer price or premium for books bought at auction.

DROIT DE SUITE § indicates works which may be subject to the Droit de Suite or Artist’s Resale Right, a royalty payment for all qualifying works of art. Under new legislation which came into effect on 1st January 2012, this applies to living artists and artists who have died in the last 70 years.

This royalty will be charged to the buyer on the hammer price and in addition to the buyer’s premium. It will not apply to works where the hammer price is less than €1,000 (euros). The charge for works of art sold at and above €1,000 (euros) and below €50,000 (euros) is 4%.

For items selling above €50,000 (euros), charges are calculated on a sliding scale.

More information on Droit de Suite is available at www.dacs.org.uk

REGISTRATION

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTIONS

All potential buyers must register prior to placing a bid. Registration information may be submitted in person at our registration desk, by email, by fax or on our website. Please note that all first time bidders at Lyon & Turnbull will be asked to supply the following documents in order to facilitate registration:

All item descriptions, dimensions and estimates are provided for guidance only. It is the buyer’s responsibility to inspect all lots prior to bidding to ensure that the condition is to their satisfaction.

If potential buyers are unable to inspect lots in person (public viewing times listed in every catalogue), our specialists will be happy to prepare condition reports and additional images. These are for guidance only and all lots are sold ‘as found’, as per our Conditions of Sale.

1 – Government issued photo ID (Passport/Driving licence) 2 – Proof of address (utility bill/bank statement).

We may, at our option, also ask you to provide a bank reference and/ or deposit. By registering for the sale, the buyer acknowledges that he or she has read, understood and accepted our Conditions of Sale (available at the back of every catalogue and on our website).

BIDDING & PAYMENT For information on bidding options see our Guide to Bidding & Payment at the back of the catalogue.

REMOVAL OF PURCHASES Responsibility for packing, shipping and insurance shall be exclusively that of the purchaser.

Please note that due to The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005: Collection of any purchases from our Whisky & Spirits auctions will not be permitted before 10am. All collections must be signed for by a person over the age of 18. We reserve the right to ask for ID from the person collecting.

Alcohols are catalogued as accurately as possible at the time of going to print.

However, purchasers must take into consideration the natural variations and conditions of cases, labels, ullages, corks and wines. Lyon & Turnbull are unable to accept returns.

IMPORT/EXPORT Prospective buyers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to; rhino horn, ivory, coral and tortoiseshell.

Accordingly, prospective buyers should familiarise themselves with all relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import lots to another country. It is the buyer’s sole responsibility to obtain any relevant export or import licence. The denial of any licence or any delay in obtaining licences shall neither justify the recession of any sale nor any delay in making full payment for the lot.

ENDANGERED SPECIES Please be aware that lots marked with the symbol Y contain material which may be subject to CITES regulations when exporting outside the EU. For more information visit http: // www.defra.gov. uk/ahvla-en/ imports-exports/cites

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MEET THE SPECIALISTS At Lyon & Turnbull we want to make buying at auction as easy and enjoyable as possible. Our specialist team are on hand to assist you, whether you are looking for something in particular for your home or collection, require more detailed information about the history or current condition of a lot, or just want to find out more about the auction process.

Colin Fraser

Olivia Ross

Consultant Specialist

Junior Specialist

colin.fraser@lyonandturnbull.com

olivia.ross@lyonandturnbull.com

AUCTION VENUE

Lyon & Turnbull, 33 Broughton Place York Place Tram Stop Waverley Station, Princes Street

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ENTERING 2020 THE INTERNATIONAL WHISKY MARKET As we enter 2020, the whisky market remains extremely buoyant, driven by strong demand both domestically and from international buyers. Across the collector’s market, we have seen some extraordinary prices realised for the rarest bottlings, and this is in part driven by the fact that traditional methods of whisky production have now been replaced by modern machinery. Soaring prices therefore illustrate there is certainly a battle to be played out for the relics and traditionally crafted bottles of this golden age of whisky production. Lyon & Turnbull successfully held a programme of Whisky & Spirits auctions in 2019 in which an interesting selection rare bottles went under the hammer, with some achieving new market records.

In our April 2019 auction, we were delighted to offer two such bottles. Bowmore White was distilled in 1964 and bottled in 2008 at 43 years old. The distillates from the 1950s and 1960s are believed by many to be the finest whisky that Bowmore has ever produced, but also represent some of the best whisky of any era. They have a seductive balance of tropical fruits infused with a subtle smoke, which is highly sought after by whisky connoisseurs and evident in the collective £27,600 achieved (inc. premium).

Prices for Macallan have underpinned the collector’s market for some time now, and as a result their vast share of the market remains strong. Last year we were pleased to offer a wide variety of Macallan bottles at a number of price points for collectors. At the top end of this scale, The Macallan 1949 Millennium decanter realised an impressive £32,200 (inc. premium) in December 2019. Originally released to celebrate the turning of the new millennium, this malt stands amongst the oldest vintages of The Macallan ever released and was exclusively matured in three Sherry butts. With an unusually peaty undertone and a refreshing citrus finish, this whisky, decanted at cask strength, is believed to be one of Macallan’s best sherried malts. Other notable bottles sold include a Fine & Rare 1970 at £11,500, two iconic Private Eye bottlings at £3,450 each, and a classic 1966 Anniversary Malt at £2,760 (all prices inc. premium).

Finally, in our Christmas Whisky & Spirits auction we were proud to showcase an impressive collection of bottlings from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

Collectively, the handful of very rare first editions from Glenfarclas (1.1) and Highland Park (4.1), marking the establishment of the organisation back in 1983, achieved over £19,500 (inc. premium). These bottles represent a period of change in the Scotch whisky industry: a time when the rich and complex flavours of young, cask strength whiskies were only beginning to be discovered – a true piece of collecting history.

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THE MACALLAN 1949 50 YEAR OLD DECANTER matured exclusively in Sherry butts, one of 900 bottled at cask strength in 1999, in Caithness crystal decanter, with lockable oak presentation case and certificate of authenticity 700ml/ 43%.

Sold for £32,200

Note: Originally released to celebrate the turning of the new millennium, this malt stands amongst the oldest vintages of The Macallan ever released and was exclusively matured in three Sherry butts. Although distilled four years after the end of the Second World War, malt whisky output in Scotland was still extremely low; traditional methods of production were employed, such as the use of coal-fired, which are now heated by steam at the Speyside distillery. As a result, The Macallan’s 50 and 60 year old releases are often considered rare artisanal products of their day.

The Macallan is arguably famed for its approach to the maturation of their oily, heavy new-make spirit, becoming the first distillery to design ‘bespoke’ casks. Specific trees are selected, predominantly in Northern Spain, followed by a decision on the length of drying time, cask seasoning and even the type of coopering involved.

From the few who have experienced the 1949 sherried malt, the flavour profile is said to be intensely rich and has a distinctive spicy nose, with hints of cloves, coriander and orange peel, reminiscent of a warm autumnal or winter spice. Unusually for Macallan, this Speyside malt has a peaty undertone, with further notes of dried fruits and dark chocolate. With a refreshing citrus finish, this whisky, decanted at cask strength, is believed to be one of Macallan’s best sherried malts

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THE MACALLAN 1937 75cl (26 2/3 fl.ozs)/ 70 proof

Sold for £2,760

THE MACALLAN 1958 matured in sherry casks 75cl (26 2/3 fl. ozs) / 80 proof

Sold for £2,760

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THE MACALLAN 1959 (1970S) matured in sherry casks 75cl (26 2/3 fl. ozs)/ 80 proof Note: For many years The Macallan was not bottled by the owners but instead by companies that offered bottling services. In the case of these two lots, by the Elgin whisky and spirits merchant Gordon & MacPhail, which was established in 1895 by James Gordon and John Alexander MacPhail who started a grocery and wine merchant business in Elgin on South Street.

We estimate that this and the next lot were bottled in the 1970s.

Sold for £2,530

THE MACALLAN 1964 SPECIAL SELECTION matured in sherry casks, with an associated oak presentation case 75cl / 43%

Sold for £2,185

THE MACALLAN 1975 18 YEAR OLD with carton 75cl/ 43% £1,600-1,800 Note: The Macallan brand is often described as the Rolls-Royce of whisky and the Macallan 18 is the Silver Shadow. It represents the both the essence of the distillery and exemplifies the luxury of whisky aged solely in sherry casks. Bottlings like this cemented the brands position as one of the most popular whiskies in the world and are now sought after by collectors and connoisseurs the world over. Tasting notes: Fresh and complex. Dried fruits, raisins combined with citrus fruit, oak wood and toffee. Mellow and smooth. Wisps of chocolate and subtle wood notes. Medium length and warm finish.

Sold for £2,070

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THE MACALLAN PRIVATE EYE cask number 1580, bonded 1961, bottle number 2212 of 5000, bottled in 1996 to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Private Eye Magazine 70cl/ 40% Note: Regarded by some as one of the most sought-after special editions by Macallan, the Private Eye bottling is known for its rich dark chocolate and fruity flavour profile - synonymous with sherried Macallan expressions from the 1960s. Celebrating 35 years of the renowned satirical publication, each bottle features a vibrant label, designed by the magazine’s illustrator Ralph Steadman. This vatting of 5000 bottles included a 1961 cask, marking the year Private Eye was founded.

Sold for £3,450

THE MACALLAN 1980 CASK STRENGTH matured in an Olorosso sherry butt, cask number 4063, with carton 50cl/ 59.3% This represents one of the oldest single cask Macallan bottlings released. It is the second in a series of six single cask bottlings which were only available to visitors to the distillery at the turn of the 20th century. An Oloroso sherry butt (#4063) was filled on the 6th March 1980 and bottled on the 11th December 2001. Tasting notes: Fill citrus orange, dark chocolate and raisin. Rich Spanish oak wood spices and wood smoke with hints of glazed cherries. Robust resin spice (clove and nutmeg) balanced with wood smoke and dried fruits.

Sold for £2,300

THE MACALLAN ROBERT BURNS SEMIQUINCENTENARY EDITION bottled in 2009 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, with wooden presentation case and booklet 70cl/ 46%

Sold for £3,220

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THE MACALLAN FINE AND RARE 1971 30 YEAR OLD matured in sherry cask number 7556, non chill-filtered, with oak presentation box 70cl / 55.9% Note: The Macallan Fine & Rare is the definitive collection of vintage age statement Macallan ever assembled.

The collection spans eight decades from the 1920s to the 1990s. A book was created to accompany the series ‘The Definitive Guide to Buying Vintage Macallan’ (Lot 48) which provides tasting notes for each bottle.

We have been fortunate to attend a series of Fine & Rare Tastings at the Macallan Distillery and can attest to the exceptional quality of the range.

Nose: Parma violets with light fruits and citrus orange Palate: Fruity and orangey with a light oiliness and malty cereal note Finish: Citrus orange and dried fruits.

No woody dryness. Aftertaste of heavily toasted oak wood. Medium length and vibrant.

Sold for £11,500

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THE MACALLAN FINE AND RARE MINIATURE 1937 32 YEAR OLD first bottled in 1969, re-bottled 2002, matured in sherry wood, with wooden presentation case 50ml/ 43% Note: The 1937 Macallan Fine & Rare is only better by the fabled 1926 for the oldest vintage in this now classic range. Distilled in a year which saw many important world events from the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (after the abdication and subsequent marriage of Edward VIII and American socialite Wallis Simpson) to the world premiere or Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs. In aviation not such a good year with the disappearance of Amelia Earhart and the destruction of the Hindenburg while attempting to land in New Jersey. A malt which has passed through over eight decades of world history and survives remarkably to continue even further or be enjoyed.

Sold for ÂŁ2,070

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THE MACALLAN 1979 18 YEAR OLD GRAN RESERVA matured in sherry casks, bottled in 1997, with associated vintage 1980 Gran Reserva presentation case 700ml/ 40%

Sold for ÂŁ2,185

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GLEN GORDON 1957 bottled by Glen Gordon Whisky Co. Ltd, Elgin, with carton 70cl/ 40% Note: One of Gordon & MacPhail’s ‘mystery’ malts, strongly rumoured to be Macallan, this 1957 vintage is one of the earlier expressions.

Sold for £805

GLEN AVON 1959 bottled in 2000 70cl/ 40% Note: One of Gordon & MacPhail’s ‘mystery’ malts, strongly rumoured to be Glenfarclas, this 1959 vintage is also a millennium bottling.

Sold for £667

PRIDE OF STRATHSPEY 1938 GORDON & MACPHAIL bottled by James Gordon & Co., Elgin 75cl/ 40% (70 proof)

Sold for £2,300

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GLENFIDDICH ‘SPECIAL’ SCOTCH WHISKY, CIRCA 1950 bottled by William Grant and Sons Ltd at the distillery No volume stated

Sold for £1,725

THE BALVENIE 1970 SINGLE CASK matured in sherry cask number 16191, bottled in 2007, bottle number 85 of 191, with wooden presentation case and certificate of authenticity 70cl/ 52.6%

Sold for £6,325

Note: The Vintage Cask range was produced

by Balvenie from 1996 to 2009 using stock from the 1950s to the 1970s. Most editions were in the region of thirty years old and above, representing a fossil record of the Balvenie stock over that time period. A single sherry cask #16191 was selected by Malt Master David Stewart, yielding 191 bottles, all of which were hand-filled at the distillery in 2007. A fabulous example of a whisky representing the heart of a distillery in the heart of the Speyside region.

MORTLACH 1949 GORDON & MACPHAIL’S bottled in 2001, with presentation case and certificate of authenticity 70cl/ 40%

£1,380

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DALMORE 1926 50 YEAR OLD in ceramic decanter, bottled at cask strength, with stopper and velvet presentation case No volume stated Note: Dalmore was founded in 1839 by Alexander Matheson, a partner in Jardine Matheson the trading organisation which acquired the East India Company. It takes its name from the Gaelic for ‘The Big Field’, Dail (Scottish Gaelic - field) mÛr (Scottish Gaelic - big). In the 19th and early 20th century, many distilleries were destroyed or badly damaged through fire breaking out. Dalmore suffered a more dramatic fate. In 1917 the British Royal Navy was using the Cromarty Firth as a site for the production of deep-sea mines and in 1920 much the distillery was almost completely destroyed by fire as a result of a mine detonation. The distillery returned to production in 1922.

It is rare to find a whisky from the 1920s of such age bottled at cask strength. Given that Dalmore has a reputation for maturing exceptionally well resulting in both balance and layers of complexity, we hope that there is much to discover in this whisky.

Sold for £14,950

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ROYAL BRACKLA 1924 60 YEAR OLD bottle number 9 of 62, bottled to commemorate the reopening of the distillery in 1991 75cl / 40%

Sold for £9,200

Note: Founded in 1812 by Captain William Fraser of Brackla House on the estate of Cawdor Castle, Brackla Distillery became the first distillery to be granted a Royal Warrant after its selection by King William IV to be his whisky at the Royal Court in 1833. This seal of royal approval led to Royal Brackla being known as ‘The King’s Own Whisky’. The Morning Chronicle reported on the 20 January 1835 that ‘His Majesty having been pleased to distinguish this ‘by his Royal Command to supply his establishment’ has placed this whisky first on the List of British Spirits, and when known should in truth be termed ‘The Drink Divine’. The royal approval continued with Queen Victoria having renewed Brackla’s Royal Warrant in 1838. Royal Brackla is also notable for being one of the malts from which Andrew Usher created the first blended whisky in the 1860s.

Usher was agent for Royal Brackla and became a director in 1887.

The Scotch Whisky Industry experienced a major slump during the 1980s resulting in the closure of a number of distilleries.

The doors of Royal Brackla were locked from 1985 to 1991 and it is due to this period in the distilleries history that this bottle exists. A cask was discovered by chance in 1984 after it lay undisturbed for 60 years and was promptly bottled for ‘a special occasion’. That turned out to be two occasions. Sixty bottles were produced to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Emperor Hirohito’s accession to the throne in 1986 and a further sixty-two bottles to celebrate the reopening of the distillery in 1991. We can only image what flavours and aromas would emanate from a glass of this whisky, but surely it will be fit for a King & Queen.

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GLENDRONACH 26 YEAR OLD - TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF LINKS COMMEMORATIVE BOTTLE SIGNED BY PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, DONALD J. TRUMP number 251 of 504, with signed presentation case and note of authenticity 700ml/ 53.3%

Sold for £2,472

Note: Originally bottled in 2012 to celebrate the opening of the Trump International Golf Course at Menie Estate, Aberdeenshire. Limited to only 504 bottles, these were exclusively gifted to guests invited to play across the opening week.

CLYNELISH 1972 24 YEAR OLD - RARE MALTS bottle number 4337 70cl/ 61.3%

Sold for £989

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WHITE BOWMORE 1964 43 YEAR OLD numbered 171 & 172 of 732, bottled in 2008, with presentation case Note: Quite simply put, one of the best whiskies ever made.

In 1964, six casks previously used to mature bourbon were filled at the Bowmore distillery and laid to rest for 43 years. When they emerged they filled 732 bottles. The chosen warehouse was the distilleries famous No 1 vaults, which is said to have a unique microclimate with one of the walls forming part of the town’s sea wall and it is also below sea level.

The distillates from the 1950s and 1960s are the finest that Bowmore has ever produced, but also represent some of the best whisky in the world of any era. They have a seductive balance of tropical fruits infused with a subtle smoke, which is highly sought after by whisky connoisseurs.

Bowmore White is the second in the series of a trio of bottles from 1964. The first edition was Bowmore Black, matured in Oloroso sherry casks and bottled in 2007, and Bowmore Gold, matured in three bourbon and one oloroso sherry cask and bottled in 2009.

The official tasting notes are ‘The colour is golden syrup, with amazing aromas of Gallia melon, mango and papaya. On the palate, there are hints of mixed exotic fruits, vanilla and maple syrup with just a trace of Bowmore peat smoke. The finish is surprisingly clean and incredibly long.’

Sold for £27,600

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BUNNAHABHAIN 1968 AULD ACQUAINTANCE HOGMANAY EDITION filled on 31 December 1968, one of 2002 bottles, with carton 70cl/ 43.8% Note: Hogmanay is a Scottish festival held on the 31st December and marks the arrival of the New Year.

This bottle was quite fittingly distilled on Hogmanay 1968 and bottled in 2002, with 2002 bottles also being produced. This is an iconic release from the Islay distillery and is considered to be one of the finest examples of sherry matured whisky from the distillery. A refined and elegant old Bunnahabhain.

Sold for £1,495

BOWMORE 2000 30 YEAR OLD YEAR OF THE DRAGON EDITION in ceramic bottle, with presentation case 75cl/ 43%

Sold for £2,070

BUNNAHABHAIN 1966 35 YEAR OLD cask number 4379, one of 401 bottles, with carton 70cl/ 46.1%

Sold for £805

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PORT ELLEN 1978 22 YEAR OLD RARE MALTS SELECTION limited edition, bottle number 4401, with carton 70cl / 60.5%

Sold for £862

LAPHROAIG 30 YEAR OLD with wooden presentation case 70cl/ 43%

Sold for £920

TALISKER 1973 28 YEAR OLD bottled exclusively for Oddbins, number 65 of 100, cask number 4633, with presentation case 70cl/ 43.3%

Sold for £1,995

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HIGHLAND PARK 1967 40 YEAR OLD - JOHN SCOTT’S cask number 6687, bottled in 2007, number 25 of 168 bottles, non-chill filtered 70cl/ 47.1%

Sold for £2,185

HIGHLAND PARK 1967 40 YEAR OLD - JOHN SCOTT’S cask number 6687, bottled in 2007, number 18 of 168 bottles, non-chill filtered 70cl/ 47.1%

Sold for £2,300

HIGHLAND PARK 1967 42 YEAR OLD - JOHN SCOTT’S matured in a sherry cask, cask number 6282, bottled in 2009, number 7 of 190 bottles, nonchill filtered 70cl/ 50.3%

Sold for £1,840

HIGHLAND PARK 1968 34 YEAR OLD - JOHN SCOTT’S cask number 9535, bottled in 2003, number 15 of 102 bottles, non-chill filtered 70cl/ 40%

Sold for £1,035

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HIGHLAND PARK BICENTENARY VINTAGE 1977 RESERVE JAPANESE EDITION

Note: The 200th anniversary of the founding of Highland Park Distillery was commemorated in 1998 with the launch of a twenty-one year old Bicentenary edition from casks laid down in 1977. The leading whisky critic at the time rated it 9.5 out of 10, it all sold out, much of it drunk and that was that.

bottled in 1998, re-released in 2008, one of 690 bottles, neck labelled no. 00762, with presentation case and booklet

Over a decade later 690 bottles were found to much surprise and delight in a Japanese warehouse. The bottles were returned to Scotland and re-released to the market. Neck labelled no. 00762, with presentation case and booklet.

70cl/ 40%

Sold for £632

Tasting notes: Polished oak and leather upholstery.

Herbal. Buttery. Tangerine peel. Dark cherry flavours interspersed in black chocolate. Complexity and length. Long development of flavours on the finish including violets.

HIGHLAND PARK THE DRAGON 1961 matured in a single cask, bottled

by S. & J. D. Robertson Group Ltd, Orkney, with presentation case 70cl/ 48.1%

Sold for £920

HIGHLAND PARK THE DRAGON 1965 matured in a single cask, bottled by S. & J. D. Robertson Group Ltd, Orkney 70cl/ No ABV stated

Sold for £920

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HIGHLAND PARK REBUS 20 YEAR OLD - SIGNED BY IAN RANKIN bottled to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Inspector John Rebus, with presentation case signed and doodled by Ian Rankin, the bottle and certificate of authenticity also signed by the author, 700ml/ 44.7%; together with HIGHLAND PARK REBUS 20 YEAR OLD CASK END, converted into a glazed table with polished oak legs, the top signed by Ian Rankin, 63cm diameter, 78cm high Note: This rare bottle of Highland Park 20 year old is one of only 150 produced by the Orcadian distillery in 2007 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Ian Rankin’s famous detective Inspector Rebus.

The cask was chosen personally by Ian Rankin on a visit to Highland Park distillery.

Unusually, this bottle is not only signed and ‘doodled’ on the presentation box, but additionally features the author’s signature on the certificate and bottle itself.

Sold for £1,265

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ROSEBANK 1981 20 YEAR OLD - RARE MALTS bottled in 2002, number 5243, with carton 70cl/ 62.3% Note: Named after the abundance of roses which grew along the banks of the Forth and Clyde canal, Rosebank was once described by Jim Murray in 2007 as one of the ‘top ten distilleries in the world’. The triple-distilled expressions were full-bodied, floral and aromatic and still sought-after today. Recent official bottlings include the Rare Malts range by Diageo and the Flora & Fauna series, which was discontinued in 2006. Mothballed in 1993, Rosebank is now set to reopen in 2020 after a major refubishment by Ian Macleod Distillers whose reputation with Glengoyne and Tamdhu gives Rosebank enthusiasts great hopes for the future.

Sold for £598

ST. MAGDALENE/ LINLITHGOW 1979 19 YEAR OLD - RARE MALTS bottled in 1998, number 1630, with carton 70cl/ 63.80% Built by Sebastian Henderson in the mid-1800s, St. Magdalene operated for over 200 years before its closure in 1983. With a capacity of 1 million litres per annum, the traditional coal-fired stills and naturally sourced water from the Union Canal produced a distinctively floral lowland malt, characterised by smoky undertones. As the majority of production went into blending, no official bottlings were released until the 1990s. Only two such bottlings were issued, one as part of Diageo’s Rare Malts series, the other one of Diageo’s special releases in 2004 marking a revived interest in this ‘lost’ distillery.

Sold for £862

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GLENFARCLAS 1975 8 YEAR OLD 1.1 - THE SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY

HIGHLAND PARK 1974 10 YEAR OLD 4.1 - THE SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY

bottled in 1983

bottled in 1984

75cl/ 94.5 proof/ 54%

75cl/ 105.3 proof/ 60.2%

Note: Few could have imagined how far The Scotch Malt Whisky Society would have come since its beginnings in 1983. Now with 26,000 members worldwide and arguably the largest independent bottler in the world, their reputation for fine single cask malt whisky is unparalleled. This reputation started with this iconic bottling 1.1, to those in the know, an 8 year old heavily sherried Glenfarclas. Now in 2019, they are currently releasing their 212th bottling from the distillery.

Note: By 1984, following on from successful bottlings in 1983, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society released this, it’s first Highland Park. One of the mainstays of the society’s bottlings, with over 250 expressions from the distillery.

Collection of five bottles sold for £11,960

Collection of six bottles sold for £7,590

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PORT ELLEN 1983 43.7 - THE SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY bottled in 1994, with carton 70cl/ 60.8% (106.4 proof)

Sold for £1,610

GLEN MHOR 1978 57.2 - THE SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY bottled in 1990, with carton 75cl/ 60.9% ( 106.6 proof)

Sold for £414

YOICHI 1986 16 YEAR OLD 116.1 THE SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY FIRST EDITION with carton 70cl / 56.6% (99 proof) Note: This is the first bottling of Yoichi from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society which was established in Edinburgh in 1983.

Sold for £1,955

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COLLECTION OF MANAGERS DRAMS FOREGROUND: OBAN 16 YEAR OLD BICENTENARY EDITION matured in sherry casks 70cl/ 64%

Collection sold for £5,500

Note: The Manager’s Dram series was started in the late 1980s by United Distillers (now Diageo). About once per year, one of the distillery managers would select a cask of whisky to bottle at cask strength and these were only available to employees of the company. As such it is a highly collectable range and has led to some iconic bottles appearing on the market.

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THE SHAMROCK WHISKEY (1910S) produced by Kirker Greer & Co. Ltd, Belfast No volume stated Note: The Shamrock Whiskey was produced by Kirker Greer & Co. Ltd, a Belfast-based firm formed from the merger of the Kirker and Greer families, both whiskey blenders and merchants. In 1886 the company became one of the founders of the Connswater Distillery in Belfast, together with Mitchell & Co., Ltd., and a Belfast Distiller, James Wilson & Son. Connswater was closed in 1929. As of 1888 Kirker, Greer & Co were selling both “Old Lochdhu Whiskey” from Glasgow and “The Shamrock Whiskey” from Belfast (in 1888).

William Greer was a member of the family and moved to Glasgow in 1893, becoming a leading wine and spirits merchant and like many of his peers started blending whiskey for both home markets and export. It is highly likely that whiskey from Connswater Distillery was used to produce Shamrock.

The bottom of the bottle features a labelled marked ‘Veritor’, which was a brand that during the early 1910s marketed the Shamrock along with three other Irish whiskies; Mitchell’s Holly, Corbett’s 3 star and Tyrconnel 3 star.

In an advert published on July 1 1911 it reads, ‘All branded with the Veritor label - the label which is the guarantee of the highest standard of quality in Irish Whiskey…Unless you can see the Veritor label you cannot be sure that you are getting Irelands best.’

We have not identified any other bottles of Shamrock from this era for sale in recent years. The bottle has a driven cork common in that period and the glass contains imperfections that were also typical prior to improvements in glass manufacture in the 1920s, meaning this is likely one of the earliest bottles of Irish whiskey to survive.

Sold for £3,220

WHITE HORSE 1948 the old blend of Scotch Whisky of the White Horse Cellar, from the original recipe, bottle number 658035 No volume stated/ 70 proof

Sold for £391

Note: Often described as the golden age of blending, this 1940s White Horse is known to include a high percentage of Lagavulin single malt. It is also possible that this bottling includes whisky from the fabled Malt Mill Distillery which is located on the same site as Lagavulin, until they absorbed production 1962.

JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL - 200TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION in Baccarat crystal decanter with stopper, stamped maker’s marks, bottled to celebrate the birth of Johnnie Walker in 1805, with leather presentation case and booklet 70cl/ 60.5% Provenance: Private collection of G. S. May Esquire

Sold for £1,610

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WHISKY & SPIRITS AUCTIONS IN APRIL AUGUST & DECEMBER To discuss consigning bottles, casks or collections to these auctions, please call or email a specialist to arrange a free, no-obligation valuation

Colin Fraser Consultant Specialist 0131 557 8844 colin.fraser@lyonandturnbull.com

Olivia Ross Junior Specialist 0131 557 8844 olivia.ross@lyonandturnbull.com

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