Sotheby’s The Rare American Whiskey Selection Sells for 15x Pre-Sale Estimate, Realizing $187,245 (£150,000)

The Rare American Whiskey Selection – the unique set of five prototype bottles originally produced as the prototypes for a shelved United Distillers collectible American Whiskey project in 1997 – has sold for $187,245 (£150,000). Three determined bidders battled it out, driving the final sale price to an amount 15x the pre-sale low estimate (£10,000-100,000). Representing the rarest American whiskey ever seen at auction, the set was acquired – perhaps unsurprisingly – by an American private collector.

Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s Head of Whisky & Spirits, North America and EMEA, said: “This result establishes not only a record price for American whiskey sold at Sotheby’s but it also stands as yet another benchmark in the auction market for collectible US bottles. This is a truly unique collection, the rarest lot of its kind ever to have been offered for sale – the only set in existence and a historic record that glimpses into the potential alternative reality of American whiskey making.”

The bottles were offered as part of a 14-lot sale of the Finest Scotch & The Rarest American Whiskey, which was 100% sold, achieving an overall total close to $975,900 (£781,780) and with almost two-thirds of the lots selling for prices above their high estimates.

Leading the sale in terms of value was The Macallan In Lalique Six Pillars Collection, which made $624,150 (£500,000).

We’re dramming…

Life takes time here in Harris, and we’ve applied this ethos to the making of our first, historic single malt whisky.

The official ‘recipe’ for The Hearach has been decided, our chosen ratio of spirits drawn from a variety of cask types which will now be blended and ‘married’ together to create the final dram.

We continue to distil, sample, and commit batches of our spirit to casks each week before sending them just a mile or so down the road to begin maturation by the shores of Ardhasaig.

These are exciting times for all of us here in Harris as the clock ticks towards the day we can share our work with the world…

Learn More About ‘The Hearach’

Balblair 1997 25 YO Single Cask

UK Exclusive Bottling

One of only 163 bottles produced.

Distilled: 1997

Bottled: 25th January 2023
Cask Type: Refill Bourbon Barrel

£210.00 >

Rich red apple aromas complement fragrant floral influences and dried banana. Tropical fruit flavours combine with peanuts and lemon peel. A medium-bodied finish with citrus zest and mature oak. Bottled by Gordon & MacPhail

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 486: D.R.K.N.S.S. Batch 2 Asta Morris

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, tries something sinister… Last year he tasted the first batch of D.R.K.N.S.S. – or Darkness for short – from Asta Morris. That was a sherry-aged Lowlander, 465 bottles strong. However, this second batch, which has just been released, is a Highland malt. Obviously also matured on a sherry cask and the release this time is no less than 601 bottles strong.

https://youtu.be/yLLtnAwJg1A

27 Year Old Whisky Distilled at the Macallan Distillery Celebrates Charles III’s Coronation

The whisky also honours the work of legendary Macallan designer and marketer David Holmes.

May 2023: To celebrate the upcoming coronation of King Charles III, independent bottler and whisky broker Mark Littler is releasing the 27 Year Old Coronation Reserve, a luscious and luxurious 27 year old whisky distilled at the Macallan distillery. Only 90 bottles will be available for purchase exclusively on the Mark Littler Ltd website for £2,599 and can be shipped worldwide.

Matured in a single ex-bourbon cask, the whisky is bottled at its natural strength of 41% ABV in a Glencairn Crystal Reserve decanter and is fitted inside a handmade royal blue box embossed with King Charles III’s cypher, a perfect fit for the coronation.

The creation of the 27 Year Old Coronation Reserve begins with legendary Macallan designer and marketer David Holmes. He was the co-creator of iconic Macallan whiskies including the Peter Blake 1926 60 Year Old, which is now one of the most expensive whisky bottles in the world, as well as all previous Macallan whiskies celebrating royal family milestones. He also masterminded wildly successful advertising campaigns across the 1970s-1990s which helped establish Macallan as a globally-recognised luxury single malt. These marketing campaigns are now being honoured in the Archival (Folio) Series.

Several years ago, Holmes drew a rough draft for a label made for a future hypothetical whisky bottle celebrating King Charles III’s coronation. Though he passed away in 2018, his son and frequent collaborator Toby completed the label that now graces this bottle.

For connoisseurs and collectors, this marks the 27 Year Old Coronation Reserve as a spiritual heir of previous official releases from Macallan tied to the royal family.

An avid collector of Macallan deeply interested in the distillery’s history, Littler is excited about what this whisky represents:

“David Holmes and his partner-in-crime Nick Salaman were arguably responsible for making Macallan instantly recognisable around the world, they made consumers realise how good the distillery’s whisky is” he commented.

“We’re honoured that Toby was willing to collaborate with us on a world-class whisky that also honours his father David, Macallan’s legacy, and the coronation itself.”

Toby is similarly enthusiastic: “It’s been a fantastic experience to be able to revisit my father’s work. It meant a lot to me personally and professionally to help create a whisky that is a fitting tribute to both him and King Charles III.”

Tasting notes by Phil Dwyer from Whisky Wednesday

Colour – Blonde

Nose – Lemon meringue, marzipan, malty biscuits, malting floor. Soft caramel and toffee. A soft saltiness to counter all of the sweetness, fresh pine wood, and pineapple.

Taste – More creaminess and fresh lemon zest. The barley notes are wonderful and quite a contrast from regular Macallan style. A biscuit note runs through the whole development, accompanied by these gentle sweet notes of brown sugar, coconut, banana, and pineapple.

Finish – More fresh barley and malty creaminess. A very gentle and easy drinking Macallan that is the epitome of what ex-American oak Macallan is all about. Loads of sweet, creaminess with a long but gentle finish.

Notes

Retail listing click HERE

For further information or to request interviews with Mark Littler or Toby Holmes, contact Hannah Thompson at pr@marklittler.com

In depth video about the release click HERE

About Mark Littler Ltd

Website: https://shop.marklittler.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkLittler

Mark Littler is an independent whisky broker, market analyst and consultant with over a decade of experience in the industry. Each week he publishes new videos on his YouTube channel about topics such as cask investment fraud (and how to avoid it), the history of distilleries and bottles, debunking whisky investment myths and much more. For more information visit www.marklittler.com

Jack Daniel’s Introduces New 12-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey in Its Annual Aged Series Release

Jack Daniel’s 12-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey and 10-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey Batch 2 available in limited quantities across the US beginning in March 2023

Lynchburg, Tennessee (March 14, 2023) – The Jack Daniel Distillery today announced the release of its new 12-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey along with Batch 2 of its 10-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey. The limited whiskeys are the latest in Jack Daniel’s Aged Series, an annual release of age-stated expressions that celebrate the brand’s heritage.

“The Jack Daniel Distillery is one of the most complete whiskey distilleries in the world, and we’re fortunate to have a deep history to draw inspiration from and craft premium whiskeys in a way that stays true to our heritage of quality and innovation,” said Chris Fletcher, Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller. “We released our first age-stated whiskey since the early 1900s in this series about a year ago and were thrilled with the overwhelmingly positive response. We know there is a lot of excitement for our Aged Series, and we can’t wait to share Batch 2 of our 10-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey along with the first release of our 12-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey.”

Jack Daniel’s 12-Year-Old has sweet and creamy notes of pipe tobacco, seasoned oak, and butterscotch. Jack Daniel’s 10-Year-Old Batch 2 is oak forward with layers of dark fruit and bittersweet cocoa.

Jack Daniel’s 12-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey is offered at 107 proof (53.5% abv) and Jack Daniel’s 10-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey Batch 2 at 97 proof (48.5% abv). They will be available in the United States beginning in March in 700 mL bottles for suggested retail prices of $80 and $70, respectively.

Grain bills for both expressions are 80% corn, 12% malted barley, and 8% rye and charcoal mellowed before aging in new, toasted and charred American white oak barrels. Visit www.jackdaniels.com for more information.

About Jack Daniel’s

Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery is the first registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel’s is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Double Mellowed Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye, Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select and Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails. Today, Jack Daniel’s is a true global icon found in more than 170 countries around the world and is the most valuable spirits brand in the world as recognized by Interbrand.

Please Drink Responsibly.

Jack Daniel’s 12-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey, 53.5% alc. by vol. and Jack Daniel’s-10-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey, 48.5% alc. by vol. Jack Daniel Distillery, Lynchburg, Tennessee. JACK DANIEL’S is a registered trademark. ©2023 Jack Daniel’s. All rights reserved.

Highland Park Releases Oldest Whisky Ever

Orkney-based distillery, Highland Park, has unveiled its new 54 Year Old single malt Scotch Whisky, the oldest release from Highland Park to date, ahead of the distillery’s 225th Anniversary.

The especially rare release will be available from specialist outlets globally from mid-February 2023. Only 225 bottles have been created, by Highland Park Master Whisky Maker, Gordon Motion.

Originally laid down in 1968, 4 refill butts and 6 refill hogsheads were combined in February 2008 and refilled into first fill European sherry butts, where the whisky continued to mature. The final 14 years of maturation (since 2008) in ex-sherry casks has imparted an additional deep, rich, natural colour and wonderful intensity to the whisky which was bottled at 54 years of age.

Gordon Motion, Highland Park Master Whisky Maker, said: “This exceptionally rare 54 Year Old single malt Scotch Whisky has been nurtured through careful maturation and harmonisation. Representing a quarter of Highland Park’s life, we felt it was a fitting way to mark our 225th anniversary; born and crafted in the heart of Orkney.”

The Highland Park 54 Year Old consists of a bespoke embossed bottle containing the 54 Year Old whisky, a beautiful presentation box crafted from the finest Scottish oak wood, and an invitation for the buyer to attend a once-in-a-lifetime experience in Orkney.

Designed by award-winning craftsperson and designer, John Galvin, the box is sculpted to represent the cliffs of Yesnaby in Orkney. Each piece of wood was hand-blasted, and every box is unique with variations in colour. Revealing the glass inside, Michael Rudak, Senior Designer, Stoelzle Flaconnage, created the stunning bottle housing this rare, limited edition 54 Year Old liquid. Every detail of the bottle has been considered, for example, the conical ‘push’ at the base is a nod to the mash tuns at the distillery. The textural design was inspired by the old red sandstone at the Yesnaby Cliffs and by the idea of that surge of molten lava erupting from the seabed, slowing down as it formed Orkney’s islands.

The new Highland Park 54 Year Old will be available from specialist retailers globally from mid-February 2023. To find out more about Highland Park visit: www.highlandparkwhisky.com

K&L Exclusive: Exceptional Pricing on a Rare, Old Speysider
1995 Glenburgie 27 Year Old “Redacted Bros.” (Thompson/Dornoch) Single Refill Hogshead Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
(Pre-Arrival) ($200.00)

Our spirits buyers have just secured what can only be described as a treasure trove of singular K&L Exclusive Casks from Redacted Bros., one of our all-time favorite independent bottlers. This stunning, old specimen from Glenburgie offers everything Scotch aficionados are looking for from a name we rarely see on the independent market, and it can be had for a fraction of what you’d pay for any other single malt approaching 30 years in age.

1995 Glenburgie 27 Year Old “Redacted Bros.” (Thompson/Dornoch) Single Refill Hogshead Cask Strength Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) (Pre-Arrival) ($200.00)

K&L Notes: This gorgeous barrel of ‘Burgie was hand-selected by the brothers Thompson for us and bottled without chill-filtration at a natural cask strength of 53% ABV. Aged for nearly three decades in a high-quality refill hogshead, these old Glenburgies have incredible fruit character and tons of depth. A sister cask was bottled for the European market at slightly lower proof and has been well received. The awesome retro cartoon label is not the best reason to buy this awesome cask, but it’s a darn good one. Rich and fruity with hints of herbal and sugar character, few old Speysiders will beat this excellent cask if you’re looking for the fruit-driven malt that the ‘Burgie does so well.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Murray McDavid Ledaig 2001 21 Year Old Margaux Wine Cask UK Exclusive

A special bottling from Tobermory distillery released as part of Murray McDavid’s premium Mission Gold series. This heavily-peated Ledaig was matured for 21 years, including three-year finish in an exceptional Margaux wine cask. One of only 186 bottles at a cask strength of 57.4% abv.

£190.00
BUY NOW

An independent bottling from Tobermory distillery released by Murray McDavid as part of their premium Mission Gold series. This heavily-peated Ledaig expression hails from the Isle of Mull, and was matured for an impressive 21 years – including a finish of three years in an exceptional Margaux wine cask. One of only 186 bottles, and decanted at a cask strength of 57.4% abv.

On the nose we find smoky floral notes, with hints of sweet strawberries. The palate is full of maritime peat, woody smoke and hints of toffee apple, which lead to an oily finish of oak spice and fresh flowers.

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 485: Port Ellen 19 Year Old 1982 Old Malt Cask

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, tries a legendary malt. His friend Hans recently celebrated his 60th birthday and presented Mark and friends with a line-up of closed distilleries. The grand finale was this 19 years old Port Ellen from 1982 in the Old Malt Cask series. It was outstanding, so Mark could not resist the urge to make a Rambling with this beauty.