Our October 2024 collection schedule has now been finalised. Please click HERE to see the list of dates, locations and to register your interest in the collection service.

We can collect lots for up to three auctions.

The deadline for collection requests is 12noon on Monday 14th October 2024.

Home collections are available for those customers sending 10+ bottles or bottles to the value of £1000. Lots can be split over the next three auctions.

Unfortunately this service is not available in London or to those customer who live within 10 miles of a collection point. Although we do have four collection points in London.

Collections are limited and offered on a first come first served basis.

It is essential that a submission sheet is completed, you can find the link to do so under the selling section on your ‘My SWA’ page.

It would be appreciated if bottles could be packed for uplift with your name clearly marked on the front of the box.

A winner in our auction? We are now offering a delivery service to customers who are dropping bottles off for a future auction. This service is charged at £12 (inc VAT), optional loss and breakage cover is available.

Submission Form & Label

Isle of Arran
26 Year Old

70cl | 51.9% ABV

Distilled at Arran in 1997, the spirit was matured in a single refill sherry butt for 26 years. There are notes of BBQ’d pineapple and lemon tart.

Nose: Caramel and vanilla’d oak

Palate: Malt, apples and BBQ’d pineapple

Finish: Lemon tart, barley and sea breeze

£433.95

Add To Basket

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 541: Shinshu Mars Komagatake & Tsunuki: 2 single casks

Mark Dermul, Belgian whiskyblogger, tries two very different Japanese single cask releases. Hombo Shuzo Co is one of the oldest in Japan, buying and selling whisky since 1949. Currently, they also own two distilleries: Komagatake in the north and Tsunuki in the south of Japan. What sets them apart is the terroir, making for a rather ‘Speyside style’ whisky being produced at Komagatake, while at Tsunuki the style is more ‘highland’ and a touch maritime. Today, Mark puts two very different single casks head-to-head, both bottled at cask strength.

https://youtu.be/ChU8I6TcADM

BONHAMS SKINNER PRESENTS A HISTORY-SPANNING RARE SPIRITS SALE

View Catalogue

A bottle of Glenlivet Generations 80-Year-Old bottled by Gordon & MacPhail,

 estimated at $44,000 – 55,000.

Boston – Barrels of History: Pre-Prohibition to Today – Bonhams Skinner’s latest offering of rare and fine spirits – will present over 300 lots from master distilleries, online from October 4 – 16. The quality on offer is showcased by an ultra-rare and ultra-aged Glenlivet Generations 80-Year-Old bottled by Gordon & MacPhail, estimated at $44,000 – 55,000. Distilled in 1940, this bottle transports one to another time and place when George Urquhart, a champion of single malts, felt the spark of innovation and decided to lay a barrel down for extended ageing. The dark amber color marks its journey through eight decades in barrel.

The sale will also present a breathtaking array of pre-Prohibition bottlings in excellent condition and a rare of opportunity to taste history offered at a scope seldom seen. Further expressions of American Whiskey through the 20th century make up the backbone of this sale with pioneering names such as Willet, Weller and Van Winkle in great supply. A highlight of these bottles is a Willett Bourbon 23 Years Old, estimated at $8,000 – 12,000, as well as a Pappy Van Winkle 20 Years Old, estimated at $2,000 – 2,600.

Additional sale highlights include:

• A bottle of Bowmore Black Bowmore, 1964, estimated at $10,000 – 15,000.
• A bottle of Macallan El Celler De Can Roca Distil Your World New York Edition, estimated at $8,000 – 10,000.
• A bottle of AH Hirsch 16 Years Old Blue Wax, 1974, estimated at $6,000 – 8,000.

Over 50 lots of well-kept whiskey from the prolific collection of Josh Raynolds (1962-2023), renowned international wine critic and passionate curator of both wine and spirits, will also be offered in the sale. The current offering is headlined by a bottle of E.H. Taylor Warehouse C Tornado Surviving, estimated at $4,000 – 5,000.

Additional highlights of the collection include:

• 3 bottles of Van Winkle Special Reserve Lot “B” 12 Years Old, estimated at $2,400 – 3,200.
• 3 bottles of Stagg Jr. Batch 4, 2015, estimated at $1,300 – 1,700.
• 4 bottles of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch A215, estimated at $1,000 – 1,400.

About The Bonhams Network

Bonhams is a global network of auction houses, with the largest number of international salerooms, offering the widest range of collecting categories and selling at all price points. Bonhams is recognised for its bespoke service, and a dedication to local market relationships, enhanced by a global platform. With 14 salerooms, Bonhams presents over 1,000 sales annually, across more than 60 specialist categories, including fine art, collectables, luxury, wine & spirits, and collector cars.

Founded in 1793, Bonhams has representatives in more than 30 countries and operates flagship salerooms in London, New York, Paris, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong. In 2022, Bonhams added four international auction houses to its network: Bukowskis, Stockholm; Bruun Rasmussen, Copenhagen; Cornette de Saint Cyr, Paris and Brussels; and Skinner, Massachusetts. The success of Bonhams’ global strategy is a result of recognising the shift in growing intercontinental buying and increased digital engagement.
Recent important auctions and landmark single-owner collections, include the white glove sales of Sir Michael Caine: The Personal Collection, Alain Delon: Sixty Years of Passion; Sir Roger Moore: The Personal Collection; Personal Property of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and The Robert & Jean-Pierre Rousset Collection of Asian Art: A Century of Collecting. Other notable single-owner sales included The Estate of Barbara Walters: American Icon; The Alan and Simone Hartman Collection; The Crown Auction: Props and Costumes and The Claude de Marteau Collection.

Top lots for 2023 include 1967 Ferrari 412P Berlinetta, Sold at Quail Lodge, US for US$30,255,000. Tipu Sultan’s Bedchamber Sword (sold in London for £14m – a world record for both an Islamic and an Indian object); Paul Signac (1863-1935), Sisteron, 1902. Sold for US$8,580,000 (estimate US$4-6 million), and Claude Monet (1840-1926), La Seine près de Giverny, 1888. Sold for US$6,352,500 (estimate US$4-6m), both from the Alan and Simone Hartman Collection; A Gilt Copper Alloy figure of Virupaksha, Central Tibet, Densatil Monastery, Early 15th century. Sold for HK$37.9m (£4,060,326) in Hong Kong. Yoshitomo Nara (born 1959) Three Stars. Sold for HK$36,754,000 (£3,930,914), also in Hong Kong.

More information and highlights can be found here.

For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com

Our 160th auction is now live, and we have a tremendous collection of whiskies on offer from every region, not to mention wines, tequilas, bourbons or anything else that takes your fancy.  With over 7000 bottles in this month, we’re sure you’ll find something to ease the burden as the nights draw in, so without further ado here are a few of the amazing drams on offer this month.

Karuizawa 30 Year Old Samurai Cask #7843

One of ten amazing casks which were bottled in 2014 and 2015, each with a different Samurai depicted on the label, this is the Karuizawa 30 Year Old Samurai Cask #7843.  Aged for a whopping three decades in a single Sherry Butt this formidable dram has somehow retained an ABV of 58.3%.  A rare dram indeed from Japan’s most coveted silent distillery this is one of only 458 bottles released.

St. Magdalene 25 Year Old Cadenhead’s 75cl Circa 1980’s

From a silent Japanese distillery to a silent Scottish one, this is the St. Magdalene 25 Year Old Cadenhead’s 75cl Circa 1980’s.  Named for the leper colony which once stood on the site St. Magdalene distillery produced whisky in a lowland style until its untimely demise in the ‘Great Cull’ of 1983.  This tremendous whisky was probably distilled at some point in the late 50’s or early 60’s and was bottled in the 1980’s by famed Scottish indie bottler Cadenhead’s.

Springbank 1965 26 Year Old 

Next up we have another Scotch whisky distilled in the 1960’s though this time from Campbeltown, this beauty is the Springbank 1965 26 Year Old.  By most people’s reckoning Springbank is one of the finest distilleries in Scotland whose distinct medium peated, two and a half times distilled spirit produces a robust and complex dram admired the world over.  This a well-aged 1965 vintage and is sure to be a must-have for any serious Springbank collectors out there.

Bowmore Black 1964 42 Year Old 75cl

From the idyllic Mull of Kintyre to the ragged charm of Islay, this special dram is the Bowmore Black 1964 42 Year Old 75cl.  First of the fabled Trilogy of the 1964 Bowmore’s. The oldest release of the Black Bowmore was distilled on the 5^th November 1964 and matured within five Oloroso sherry casks. Only 827 bottles were released 42 years later.  This dram is the absolute definition of a sherry bomb, hence the black of the title, and is surely one of the most sought-after drams Bowmore has ever produced.

Heritage Distilling Co. American Single Casks 

Finally, we have another couple of UK exclusives from American Single Casks, both from Heritage Distilling Co. an American craft distillery based in Gig Harbor, Washington.  Both bottles are number 1 in their respective runs, and both are only available in the UK and Europe right here at Scotch Whisky Auctions.  The 2015 6 Year Old is 100% Rye and was recently reviewed by Serge Valentin at whiskyfun.com where it received a mightily impressive 91 points!  The 2018 5 Year Old was produced using heavily roasted chocolate malted barley, most often used in brewing dark beers and looks particularly delicious.

As well as these two new releases we are also selling 50 bottles each from the first two casks from last month as a buy-it-now here and here, so if you missed out last month here is your chance to snap one up before they are all gone.

As always, we have a wide range of high-quality drams available at all price points, so now is the time to delve into this month’s offerings and start building that watchlist.  Best of luck to everyone in the auction, and as always………..don’t lose your bottle.

Glen Scotia unveils the second expression from its Icons of Campbeltown series which will take fans on a mystical adventure through the wee toon’s past

Glen Scotia has revealed the second expression in its Icons of Campbeltown collection, which was unveiled last year in homage to the rich heritage of the town the distillery calls home.

Icons of Campbeltown: Release No.2 is part of a five-part limited-edition annual series that has been inspired by etchings found on the town’s famous Market Cross, a significant and historic meeting point for community get-togethers and storytelling.

The 14th-century cross is awash with stone carvings, created by unknown hands, including saints, beasts, heroes and their foes, all of which are said to capture tales of Campbeltown’s past.  Each placement tells a fascinating story of the prevailing spirit of the place affectionally known as the ‘wee toon’.

Amongst the etchings is a visualisation of Saint Michael – the Archangel associated with courage and protection – who, backed by an army of supporters, heroically slayed a fire-breathing dragon with his spear. This legend remains confined to the history books but draws similarities to real events which have occurred in Campbeltown during its illustrious past, with many fires recorded at one of the hundreds of distilleries that gave the town its name of ‘Victorian Whisky Capital of the World’.

These fires devastated once-thriving whisky operations, much like the impact of a fire-breathing dragon, but it was the spirit of the Campbeltown community which saw the town thrive and Release No. 2 pays homage to this.

The 14 Year Old medium-peated single malt (56.8% ABV, £98) has been masterfully produced by Master Blender, Michael Henry.  Laid down in American oak, Michael decided upon a six-month finish in Barolo red wine casks, resulting in a decadently smoky liquid, complemented by red candied fruits and berries, followed by a long, dry finish. There is a subtle maritime salinity throughout, nodding to Glen Scotia’s signature style.

Glen Scotia has collaborated with illustrator, Joel Holtzman, the master behind several characters for LucasFilm, Marvel and Disney, to create a series of stunning new pack designs for the Icons collection. Packaging combines fiery tones of amber, orange and yellow which complement the rich liquid colour and transport audiences into a vivid scene of the dragon climbing the market cross.

Michael Henry, Master Blender at Loch Lomond Group, owners of Glen Scotia, said: “The Icons of Campbeltown collection provides rich inspiration for our choice of liquid with each release. The coastal character and full-bodied mouthfeel are part of Glen Scotia’s signature character. We have chosen to finish in Barolo Red Wine casks bringing delicious red berry fruits to complement Glen Scotia’s distillery character. The swirling smoke and rich red colour are evocative of the fire-breathing dragon slayed by Saint Michael on the Campbeltown Cross.”

Iain McAlister, Distillery Manager and Master Distiller at Glen Scotia, added: “Hard times have a way of pulling our distilling community together, much like on December 17th 1899, when Glen Scotia, along with heroic townspeople, fought a fierce blaze at Dalintober distillery and saved it from an early fate. You will find no living saints or dragon slayers in the town now, just a wonderful community that endures against the odds by its prevailing spirit of unity, and this is what our latest Icons of Campbeltown release celebrates.”

Icons of Campbeltown: Release No.2 is now available from the Glen Scotia website and select specialist retailers in the UK, USA, Europe, Australia, Canada, Asia, China and EMEA (Middle East/South Africa)

Tasting notes:

• Nose: Ocean spray, red berries, peat smoke
• Palate: Melted brown sugar, raspberry, cranberry, apple, vanilla
• Finish: Long, red cherries and swirling peat smoke

About Glen Scotia 

Distiller Glen Scotia has been producing single malt whisky in Campbeltown since 1832 and is one of three surviving distilleries in Campbeltown.  Producing peated and non-peated whiskies, the distillery still maintains much of its original design, including the stillroom and the dunnage warehouse dating from the 1830s. To this day, the distillery team follow in the footsteps of their founders, using traditional methods, carefully creating the subtly maritime Campbeltown style the brand has become world-famous for.

Recognition of Glen Scotia’s style and craftsmanship continues to be acknowledged globally.

• In 2021, Glen Scotia’s 25-Year-Old single malt was awarded ‘Best in Show Whisky’ at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Over 3,800 entries across thirty-one categories were judged with Glen Scotia being awarded the overall winner across all countries and styles. Only seven months later, Glen Scotia was also named Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year at the Scottish Whisky Awards 2021.
• In 2022, Glen Scotia’s Victoriana won ‘Best in Class’ in the Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch – No Age Statement category at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
• In 2023, Glen Scotia won ‘Best Single Cask Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards for a single cask bottling distilled in 2009 and aged for 13 years exclusively in a first-fill bourbon barrel.

Later that same year, Glen Scotia’s 25 Year Old won a coveted Platinum award at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023, which is awarded to the very few entries that receive a Double Gold medal for three consecutive years at the prestigious global even

Finalists Announced
in the 6th Annual
Scottish Whisky Awards

We’re excited to share the news that the 6th annual Scottish Whisky Awards has revealed its finalists! This year, 40 distilleries and 164 exceptional Scotch whiskies have made the cut after a rigorous judging process. The competition, which featured a comprehensive blind tasting of over 1,200 whisky samples, showcased some of the best craftsmanship in the industry.

The results highlight the finalists across 11 taste categories and 6 business categories, solidifying the Scottish Whisky Awards as the premier event for whisky excellence in Scotland.

Read More

2024 Finalists

Join the celebrations for the 6th Annual Scottish Whisky Awards on Thursday 28th November 2024 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central. Book your Scottish Whisky Awards tickets below to celebrate the very best of Scotch Whisky.

Book Your Tickets

Morrison Distillers

Mac-Talla Lighthouse Edition 2024

ABV: 54% 70 cL

Jura 21 Year Old Tide

The oldest expression in Jura’s Signature Series, this Island single malt whisky is part of a twinset of 21-year-olds Time & Tide. While Time is exclusive to Global Travel Retail, you can get your hands on Tide without jetting off. The oldest expression in Jura’s Signature Series, this Island single malt whisky is part of a twinset of 21-year-olds Time & Tide. While Time is exclusive to Global Travel Retail, you can get your hands on Tide without jetting off. Aged in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels and transferred to virgin American white oak casks for finishing, this expression is a sweet and smoky dream.

£160.00

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Bowmore 5 Year Old TyndrumWhisky Exclusive

One of two brand new exclusives featuring labels illustrated by Mark, one of our Whisky Team Members and our designer, who many of you will probably have spoken with online at some point. This release was distilled at Bowmore Distillery and has been matured for 5 years in an ex-bourbon cask. only 150 bottles have been produced. One of only 150 bottled produced from an ex-bourbon cask. This dram has notes of vanilla, tropical fruits and gentle peat smoke.

£78.50

TyndrumWhisky.com
The Green Welly Stop
Tyndrumwhisky, Tyndrum
Crianlarich, Perthshire FK20 8RY
United Kingdom