1993 vintage single cask from Skye

27 Year Old Talisker

£750.00

Talisker 27 Year Old 1993 vintage Island single malt Scotch whisky. Single first fill sherry butt distilled December 1993, bottled January 2021 by Hart Brothers.

TALISKER SINGLE MALT WHISKY

Brothers Hugh and Keneth MacAskill Talisker Distillery was established at Carbost on the Isle of Skye off the west coast of Scotland in 1830 with construction commencing the following year. Soaking up its own reflection from Loch Harport one day yet fending off North Atlantic gales the next. Talisker is an Islands malt whisky distillery equipped with five stills and has retained its traditional five round wooden worm tubs. There is an excellent range of official bottlings, including Talisker 10 Year Old and Distillers Edition supplemented by independent bottlings in the Secret Stills and Old Malt Cask ranges.

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 370: Craigellachie 12 Year Old 1971 Gordon & Macphail

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky vlogger, tries a golden oldie. The oldest bottler in Scotland is Gordon & Macphail. They celebrate 125 years in 2020. The Connoisseurs Choice is one of their oldest and most popular ranges that has undergone quite some changes in looks over the years. Mark is trying an older one today: a 12 years old Craigellachie from 1971, bottled early 1980s. The label still proclaims White Horse Distillers as proprietors. Peter Mackie was one of the founders after all. This bottle is totally gone nowadays, though.

https://youtu.be/zKp1pFMMbzo

BOWMORE® SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY INTRODUCES ITS “TIMELESS SERIES” AND REFRAMES THE LEGACY OF TIME

 Two Exclusive New Single Malts – Bowmore® Timeless 27 Year Old and Bowmore® Timeless 31 Year Old – Inspire a Captivating Collaboration with Award-winning Filmmaker Thomas Van

Islay, Scotland (February 22, 2021) – Bowmore® Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky is pleased to unveil the Bowmore Timeless Series, which will feature masterpieces of whisky beautifully crafted and shaped by time. This month, Bowmore introduces two new additions to this older age range of whiskies: Bowmore Timeless 27 Year Old (introduced worldwide) and Bowmore Timeless 31 Year Old (exclusive to Global Travel Retail). Each bottling is a limited edition of just 3,000 bottles.

For more than 240 years, the Bowmore Distillery has been capturing the essence of Islay from the shores of its remote island home. Shaped by centuries of skill and tradition, Bowmore’s single malt harnesses the power of this time in every single drop, defined by the past and to be savored in the present. The Bowmore Timeless Series reflects this legacy and will celebrate the timeless creations of Bowmore. This combination of patience, dedication and unwavering attention to detail results in the most sophisticated and coveted of single malts that reflect Bowmore’s signature taste – a perfect balance of smoke, exotic fruit and sea salt.

Ron Welsh, Bowmore Master Blender, says, “For the Bowmore Timeless Series, the key is the careful selection of the right casks at the right time.  This enables us to determine when the spirit has reached its peak or if it should be left longer to develop its character further. This careful balance is vital to ensuring the optimal character of our whiskies, promising exceptional flavor delivery.”

To celebrate the launch of Bowmore Timeless Series, Bowmore has collaborated with independent French film director and artist, Thomas Vanz, to pay homage to the artistic craft of creating Bowmore’s iconic whiskies. Vanz has produced a short film that illustrates the power of time as expressed in the evolution of whisky. The immersive and abstract film sparks intrigue and interest in this Series, while telling the story of Bowmore more broadly. The film is a journey from the beginning of time itself, unfolding moments of cosmic beauty within the creation of our timeless single malt whisky.

Commenting on the collaboration, Vanz said: “The artistry involved in the whisky making process is fascinating and provided me with rich and vivid inspiration to create my own unique interpretation.  Through my work, I focused on capturing a galaxy of beautiful chemical reactions to represent the whisky-making process, which is made up of complex movement and colors. This is my interpretation of the Bowmore universe, from where it begins to the final character.  To collaborate with a single malt with such a remarkable legacy and from an awe-inspiring place is a first for me, and I relished the opportunity to explore Bowmore in my own way.” 

Bowmore Timeless 27 Year Old

Matured in Sherry and ex-Bourbon casks for 15 years before being carefully moved into first-fill Oloroso butts for a further 12 years, Bowmore Timeless 27 Year Old is bottled at cask strength. With the distinctive Bowmore character, this single malt offers up fruity flavor, combined with rich sherry and a nod to fresh leather, tobacco and beeswax. 

Color:      Auburn

Nose:      Fruity cooked plums and prune jam. Corinth raisins and sultana notes with a strong Oloroso influence. Toffee and maple syrup, licorice, grilled orange peel and smoked seaweed.

Taste:      Sweet with chestnut honey and strong bee’s wax, fresh leather and Montecristo cigar tobacco, roasted coffee beans and dark chocolate with a hint of oak tannins.

Finish:     Long with scented burnt wood notes, dry fruits and a touch of frankincense 

SRP:         $1,525 USD

ABV:        52.7%

Bowmore Timeless 31 Year Old

Exclusive to Global Travel Retail, Bowmore Timeless 31 Year Old has been nurtured in ex-Bourbon casks, selected at their peak, for 29 years. This was then followed by two years in Spanish Oak Matusalem Sherry seasoned butts to ‘finish’ and enhance the flavors; defined by floral notes, with honey and vanilla sweetness and a touch of peppermint.

Color:    Deep gold

Nose:    The floral scent of lilies of the valley, gardenia, freesia and a hint of Jasmine, with an almond and vanilla character, acacia honey sweetness, light dry grass and a touch of peppermint

Taste:    Floral and delicate with sweet notes of magnolia, lilac and sweet pea flowers combined with creamy cookie dough and a hint of salted seaweed

Finish:   Sweet and subtle with chalky mouthfeel and acacia honey and mint candy notes. 

SRP:       $2,100 USD

ABV:      45.4%

The Bowmore Timeless Series is housed in a distinctive black box, inspired by the classic hourglass shape. Inside, the bottle sits alongside an hourglass, which once turned allows nature’s gravity to release the grains of sand into the base of the hourglass giving three precious minutes to enjoy the nose of this beautifully balanced masterpiece that has taken decades to perfect.

Explore the world of Bowmore; become immersed in the Timeless Series and truly connect with artist Thomas Vanz by visiting https://bowmore-experience.com/ 

www.bowmore.com

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ABOUT BOWMORE®

Founded in 1779, Bowmore® is the oldest distillery on Islay.  Our maturation warehouse is the oldest in the world and our handcrafted single malt whisky is defined by time and inspired by its home place.

Time is defining at Bowmore® and we tirelessly harness the power of time to shape our whiskies. Our distillery’s adherence to traditional production methods helps to shape the character of our fruity and smoky single malts. Today, we are amongst one of a few distilleries which still produces its own floor malted barley, hand-turned by a traditional wooden malt shovel and hand drawn machinery.  Water for the whiskies is specially drawn from the Laggan River. Bowmore® Distillery’s proximity to the sea is also vital in determining the final character of its spirit and gives a hint of sea air to the character. The legendary Bowmore® No. 1 Vaults, one of the world’s oldest maturation warehouses, is where most of the whiskies spend their long lives resting quietly in the cool, dark, damp cellars below sea level, oblivious to the waves thrashing the vault’s sea-facing wall. Matured in oak casks, previously used for bourbon, sherry or claret, over time developing rich and mellow flavors until the expertise of our whisky makers deems them ready for bottling.  It is this combination of peat, barley, sea breeze, water, wood, people and tradition that makes Bowmore the exceptional single malt it is today.

Time is marked on each and every bottle of Bowmore, proudly and boldly as a marker of where and when each one’s journey began.  This is our story of time. This is Bowmore; the Art of Time since 1779.

ABOUT THOMAS VANZ

Born in 1991, Thomas Vanz is a French director who started making films in 2014, telling tales of the Cosmos’s History by producing only practical FX with inks, pigments and many other chemical products. Focused on the macroscopic aspect, he tries first to illustrate a Supernova, blending art and science with his first short “Novae” in 2016, the film is awarded by the quantum festival first prize. In 2017, his second film “Intra” goes further by telling the infernal journey of a fall into a black hole, with a real visualization of what a spinning black hole could look like and an aesthetic vision of the white hole theory. In the meanwhile, he directed “Bright Side,” the second clip of the talented composer Darius, for his new album “Utopia”, focusing this time about what the birth of the light would look like, and how brightness is defeating the night in the cosmos. In 2019, Atelier Des Lumières, first immersive museum based in Paris, asked him to create a unique piece in a 270° format called “Verse,” broadcasted for one year to thousands of visitors.

ABOUT BEAM SUNTORY

As a world leader in premium spirits, Beam Suntory inspires human connections. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands, Suntory whisky Kakubin and Courvoisier cognac, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek, Basil Hayden’s and Legent bourbon; Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki and Toki Japanese whisky; Teacher’s, Laphroaig and Bowmore Scotch whisky; Canadian Club whisky; Hornitos and Sauza tequila; EFFEN, Haku and Pinnacle vodka; Sipsmith and Roku gin; and On The Rocks Premium Cocktails.  Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and vision of Growing for Good.  Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan.  For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.

GreatDrams wins Small Business of 2020 competition and launches exclusive subscription service

GreatDrams has been named a winner in the Lloyds Bank Small Business of 2020 awards, which celebrate small and local businesses across the UK and their inspiring energy and resilience in meeting the challenges of 2020.

Almost 900 businesses up and down the country were nominated by their local communities and 24 winners were picked based on how creatively and quickly they adapted to events since March, and how they went over and above expectations.

Gareth Oakley, Managing Director of Business Banking at Lloyds Banking Group, said: “GreatDrams is creating a premium-quality product in the great tradition of Scottish whisky making.

“But Greg and Kirsty are also using modern technology in a really creative way to create new markets and share the infectious passion they have for whisky. It’s a business with exciting international potential and this award is well deserved.”

With our virtual tastings now being one of the most important and biggest things we do, it made sense to answer customer requests for something special and unique that builds on our range in a very different way, so we put together the GreatDrams Whisky Subscription, delivering bottles only available to subscribers every two months, with options for everyone.

“We have been blown away by the popularity of our virtual whisky tastings – both the public ones and the private ones where we host anything from corporate events to birthdays and even whisky clubs looking to get together virtually for a few drams. I have truly loved how our business has evolved and grown over the last year against the odds – who knew we would quadruple the amount of tastings we are doing… without leaving the house!” – Greg Dillon, co-founder of GreatDrams.

Key details:

• These bottles cannot be bought outside of this subscription; not on our store, not in shops, any surplus is made available to subscribers in case they want to top up their cabinets.
• Each release costs two month’s payments and are dispatched every two months
• You can stop your subscription at any time
• Private virtual tastings take place a week after each release is dispatched to give the post enough time to deliver

Its all very simple:

We utilise our knowledge, experience, skill and network to source members of The GreatDrams Subscription exclusive whisky bottlings from casks of ours that you simply cannot find anywhere else.

Each is selected by Greg & Kirsty for a variety of reasons; interesting flavour profile, unique cask maturation, interesting back story, rare distillery and many more. Our reasoning and journey to selecting each cask will be communicated with each bottle you receive.

Each subscription level includes a virtual whisky tasting for all subscribers every two months.

“Starting at £30 per month for our Bronze package, and topping out at  £75 per month for the Gold package, each with a bi-monthly private virtual tasting, there is something for everyone with bottles that are not ever made publicly available making it extra special. Our customers have asked for access to even more exclusive bottlings and over the last few months we have been busy putting together something really cool that we think they will love” – Kirsty Dillon, co-founder of GreatDrams.

GreatDrams has also launched three new single casks too, one full term sherry matured single cask single malt, one 9-month sherry cask finish and one heavily peated Islay.

Tamdhu 8 Year Old sherry cask matured single cask single malt 

Tamdhu, now one of the industry’s gems, has had a tumultuous past having been shut for 20 years between 1927 and 1947 as well as being earmarked for decommissioning in 2010 before being sold to its current owners who have built it up again to be an unsung hero of the whisky industry. This release has been matured in a single sherry cask, giving it those lovely winter fruit and spice notes along with notes of apple and honey from the distillery character too.

Benrinnes 9 Year Old, 9 month first fill Oloroso sherry cask finish 

A rather meaty whisky this one, with a thick, creamy mouthfeel owing to the wormtubs used in the process increasing the copper contact with the spirit. This was matured initially in a second fill Oloroso sherry cask for over eight years then finished for nine months in a first fill Pedro Ximénez cask to amp up the spiciness and the deep, dark winter fruity notes too.

Islay 7 Year Old single cask single malt 

We have always wanted to bottle an Islay whisky, and our awesome customers have been pestering us to do so for a long time… finally it is here! A heavily peated whisky from the mystical island of Islay, matured in First Fill Bourbon Barrel and laden with beautifully balanced, classic Islay peated whisky notes as well as lovely soothing vanilla and citrus fruit notes along with cinnamon and warming spice notes too.

In addition to new releases, GreatDrams will continue to take bookings for private virtual whisky and gin tastings

To get in touch and talk whisky contact info@greatdrams.com or to buy limited edition whisky www.greatdrams.com/whisky-shop

ABOUT GreatDrams

www.GreatDrams.com
www.twitter.com/GreatDrams
www.Instagram.com/GreatDramsGreg
www.Facebook.com/GreatDrams

GreatDrams is all about raising spirits

Award-winning from our first dram, we will introduce whisky drinkers to their next favourite. GreatDrams is a family business bringing great quality, limited edition whiskies and whiskeys to the people, all at a fair price. Never repeating our products, and never compromising on flavour.

We are experts in finding incredible tasting rare casks of whisky.

GreatDrams was launched with the aim to make great whisky more approachable & available.

With eighteen awards under our belts, we have a proven track record for producing great tasting whiskies that are recognised and awarded by both consumer and industry judging panels… that sell out every single time as well, which tells us all we need to know.

Some recent highlights:

2021 – to Feb 2021
Winner of Lloyds Small Business of the Year (national award)
Winner of the People’s Choice Spirits Awards
Liquid Gold Award in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible

2020
Greater Manchester Business of the Year 2020
Gold & Double Gold at the UK Great Taste Awards
Silver at the Independent Bottlers Challenge
Bronze at the Scottish Whisky Awards

From Thursday 11th – Sunday 21st March, treasured Highland whiskies will go under the hammer at The Whisky Shop Auctions (www.whiskyshop.com/auctions).⠀⠀

Bottling deadline: Thursday 4th March  ⠀

Want to sell your bottle with us? From Monday 1st March, the TWSA team will be on the road from London to Glasgow (and everywhere in between!) to pick up your bottles from your doorstep. It can all be carried out contact-free and we’ll take care of the cost.⠀

Not selling a Highland whisky? No problem! Our auctions are rolling and we can arrange your bottle to go live at another date.

REMINDER: we’re currently offering 0% Sellers Commission.

⠀To find out more or book your free collection:⠀

✉️ Email auctions@whiskyshop.com⠀

📞 Phone +44(0)141 427 2950

SAVE UP TO 29% ON
GAME OF THRONES SINGLE MALT WHISKIES

With the news that George R.R. Martin is adapting another sci-fi novel for TV (Roadmarks, by Roger Zelazny, in case you wondered), now seems like an excellent time to visit the whiskies created to tie in with his previous smash, Game of Thrones.

The Game of Thrones range of single malts is a collection of whiskies from some of Scotland’s best-known distilleries – including Lagavulin, Oban and Mortlach – at great prices. In our sale you can even pick up a batch-strength Clynelish, bottled at 51.2%, for less than £40.

So whether you’re on your fifth lockdown GoT rewatch, or just looking for an opportunity to try something new – perhaps even from a distillery you’re not familiar with – the Game of Thrones whiskies are well worth a look.

SHOP THE RANGE

A rare opportunity has arisen to purchase a cask of Shelter Point whisky aged exclusively in ex-Islay barrels from the world-famous distillery the was originally founded by John Macdougall in 1815 (Hint: Its name starts with an A and ends with a _). We know this is on the heels of our “The 100” Cask offering but this was a once in a lifetime opportunity that we could not pass up. These 200 litre American oak casks will be filled with our award-winning Single Malt and aged in our oceanside warehouse. Maturation will take place entirely at Shelter Point and when the cask owner decides that the whisky is ready, it will be bottled on site. We are very excited to offer our fans this opportunity following on from the phenomenal success of our ex-Islay finished Smoke Point whisky. For more information, or to apply for this rare cask offering, please email Distillery Manager Jacob Wiebe at jacob@shelterpoint.ca

This year’s Fèis Ìle may be cancelled but Islay lovers can still get their hands on Bunnahabhain’s 2021 festival bottling – a sensational 17-year-old Madeira cask finish – plus an exceptional new release from the remote Islay distillery that has spent three decades in cask.

Bunnahabhain 17 Year Old 
Feis Ile 2020
£275.00

Bunnahabhain
30 Year Old
£500.00

Whisky Wednesday will return next week.

Legendary Pop Artist Sir Peter Blake Unveils New Artwork for

Label of One of the World’s Rarest Whiskies

 One-of-a-Kind original bottle from The Macallan’s Newly Launched

Anecdotes of Ages Collection

Ushers in Sotheby’s 2021 Wines & Spirits Season in New York,

With Proceeds Benefitting the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum’s

Diversity, Equity, Access & Inclusion Initiatives

NEW YORK, 17 February 2021 – For collectors of rare whisky, the mention of The Macallan in the same breath as the name Sir Peter Blake has for many decades proved an irresistible combination. Next month, Sotheby’s is set to offer a one-of-a-kind original bottle of 1967 whisky from The Macallan’s newly launched Anecdotes of Ages Collection, a limited-release whisky and art collection created in collaboration with the renowned pop artist.

Estimated at $125,000-750,000, the extraordinary multi-component lot, including a print donated by Sir Peter as well as a bespoke VIP experience with The Macallan, will lead Sotheby’s first dedicated spirits sale in New York on 13 March. All of The Macallan’s proceeds from the sale will benefit the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Support from The Macallan will advance efforts underway at the Guggenheim to increase free access and develop engagement with a variety of audiences, in alignment with the museum’s diversity, equity, access and inclusion initiatives.

The March auction offers collectors the first and only opportunity to acquire this original bottle from the highly anticipated release. Celebrating the legacy and history of Sir Peter Blake and The Macallan, the Anecdotes of Ages Collection comprises 13 unique bottles of exceptional 1967 whisky, selected for its classic yet distinctly colorful character as well as the year’s significance within Blake’s oeuvre. Of this group, the A New Era of Advertising bottle will be auctioned by Sotheby’s, while the 13th original bottle will be kept in The Macallan archive, leaving just 11 original bottles available for purchase. Each bottle in the collection features its own distinctly original collage art on the label inspired by the brand’s legacy and the unique stories detailing its history and community, and the natural landscape of The Macallan Estate.

Jamie Ritchie, Worldwide Head of Sotheby’s Wine, said: “In recent years, we have seen significant growth in the enjoyment and collecting of rare whisky around the world, most notably from a new group of younger collectors. So, it is very special that we launch our 2021 season with Sotheby’s first dedicated live spirits sale in New York highlighted by this unique release from The Macallan that will appeal to whisky enthusiasts, art lovers, and philanthropists. We are also delighted that this unique bottle has been donated to The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum with proceeds supporting diverse audience engagement and free access at the Guggenheim Museum. As the spirits market continues to grow, we look forward to engaging an expanding pool of collectors with distinguished offerings, such as standalone bottles direct from The Macallan or private collections, which illustrates the breadth and diversity of the spirits market.”

Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s Spirits Specialist, commented: “We are delighted to launch our spring auction season with another partnership between Sotheby’s Wine and The Macallan Distillery. This exclusive bottle from The Macallan’s Anecdotes of Ages series, designed by Sir Peter Blake, represents the age, quality and creative flare that the world’s leading spirits collectors look for in ultra-rare whiskies. We are also very excited to offer the Bo Johnston collection of over 500 whiskies comprising an unparalleled selection of old Cadenhead dumpy bottlings alongside an array of Scotch whiskies imported into the US in the 1970s and 80s, many of which have never appeared at auction.”

“I am deeply inspired by the incredible legacy of The Macallan, and its emphasis on family, tradition, and the natural world,” said Sir Peter Blake. “Each collage is inspired by The Macallan history and heritage, one that respects time and craft, two essential components of my own creative process. I meticulously worked on each collage, pulling from The Macallan Estate’s rich legacy to complete a collection that is a celebration of art and whisky.”

“This exceptional 1967 whisky was chosen for its classic yet distinctively colorful character, which is reminiscent of Sir Peter Blake’s work of the same year,” said Sarah Burgess, The Macallan Lead Whisky Maker. “With notes of oak and fig leading to a burst of hazelnut and strawberry, this is a truly special whisky that finishes with complex flavors of chocolate and lightly spiced peach. It is in many ways, its own work of art.”

Sir Peter’s design for the A New Era of Advertising bottle (pictured above) celebrates the people in The Macallan’s history who were instrumental in broadening the distilleries reach beyond the local borders on Speyside onto a global stage.  In the 1930s, a small stamp began appearing on letters sent by the distillery, bearing the slogan: “Whisky! Open a bottle of MACALLAN to-night”. Many years later, in 1978, the appointment of The Macallan’s first Marketing Director, Hugh Mitcalfe, ushered in a new era of advertising – one that would change the way The Macallan communicated with its consumers. Through a collection of memorable advertising campaigns, Mitcalfe and his team began building a brand with personality and purpose, generating much interest and excitement. The Macallan’s obsession with quality led to many creative partnerships. This included the introduction of bottle artwork, which featured art director David Holmes’ watercolor of Easter Elchies House – the spiritual home of the brand – and the surrounding countryside, also incorporated into the specially designed label.

Marking the third collaboration between Sir Peter Blake and the celebrated whisky brand, each of the 13 original Anecdotes of Ages bottles are hand-blown with an oak stopper, and feature a label signed by Sir Peter, accompanied by a leather-bound book showcasing all 13 label artworks and corresponding stories as well as a certificate of authenticity. For this collection, each bottle of whisky was carefully selected and the labels that Sir Peter created were designed to resonate with Macallan collectors and art enthusiasts alike.

In addition to the special bottle, the successful bidder will also experience a two-day one-night exclusive hosted experience at the Macallan Estate for two people and a 3D collage donated by Sir Peter Blake.

The Anecdotes of Ages Collection also marks the first collaboration between The Macallan and the Guggenheim Museum in New York, prompted by The Macallan’s wish to join forces with the museum as their charity partner. Opening on 17 February, The Macallan Anecdotes of Ages Virtual Art Exhibit will allow lovers of art and whisky from around the world to digitally explore the Anecdotes of Ages Collection. The exhibit consists of three galleries and provides a 360 virtual environment in which attendees will journey through Sir Peter Blake’s studio and learn about his pioneering, signature pop art and collage style. Visitors will also explore the Anecdotes of Ages gallery, showcasing the inspiration behind each of the artworks created by Sir Peter to tell the story of the 13 bottles, before the world reveal of the bottles with Sir Peter Blake’s handcrafted and original label artwork.

The appearance of the A New Era of Advertising bottle arrives on the heels of Sotheby’s Wine’s tremendous results for spirits in 2020. Spirits totaled $18 million last year, accounting for 20% of Sotheby’s wine and spirits annual auction sales, compared to less than 2% just five years prior. This marked increase in demand was underscored by two top prices in 2020: The Macallan Red Collection, which sold for $977,496 in October, and The Macallan in Lalique Six Pillars Collection which achieved $507,819 last March. In addition, Sotheby’s Wine set the world record for any wine or spirit sold at auction, as well as any private whisky collection, when The Macallan Fine & Rare 60 Year Old achieved $1.9 million during The Ultimate Whisky Collection sale in October 2019.

ADDITIONAL SALE HIGHLIGHTS

The March sale also features The Bo Johnston Collection, a vast ensemble of Single Malt Scotch Whisky accrued in the 1980s by the late South Carolina collector. Many of the US import bottles from Johnston’s collection have never before appeared at auction, presenting collectors with a special opportunity to acquire these seldom seen whiskies. Johnston’s voracious appetite for whisky led him to visit numerous distilleries in Scotland during the 1980s, and the wide range of bottles on offer encapsulates his breadth of knowledge of Scotch Whisky.

Featuring 550 bottles with a combined low estimate of $450,000, the collection is characterized by its extensive selection from Scotland’s most prolific independent bottlers, including 184 Cadenhead’s dumpy bottlings distilled in the 1950s and 1960s, and 197 Gordon & MacPhail bottles largely comprised of 1950s and 1960s vintages from their Connoisseur’s Choice range.

In addition, US import Laphroaigs distinguishes some of the most iconic bottles within this group, with 11 bottles of Laphroaig 10 Julius Wile import, bottled in the late 1970s, 12 bottles of Laphroaig 12 Prime Malt #1, and 2 bottles of the markedly rare Laphroaig 21 Prime Malt #21.

A bottle of The Macallan 50 Year Old Anniversary Malt 1928 rounds out the collection. Originally released at just £50 in 1983, it is one of only 500 bottles produced by the famed distillery.

There will be a window for online advance bidding ahead of the live auction on 13 March.