Glengoyne 2007 16YO Merchant’s Choice

You may remember the year 2009 (it seems like an eternity ago). Scottish Retailers did a Single Cask Glengoyne well… we’ve done it again! Exclusively selected by Scottish Merchant’s, TyndrumWhisky, Royal Mile Whiskies, The Good Spirits Co, Luvians, Robbies Drams and T B Watson and bottled by Glengoyne Distillery – matured in an exquisite first fill American oak sherry cask. This spirit has been distilled in the slowest stills in Scotland and epitomises the Glengoyne way.

Distilled: 26th April 2007
Bottled August 2023
Cask No: 971
One of only 207 bottles from a single cask.

Tasting notes:

Colour: Rich mahogany

Nose: On the nose you’re met with sticky toffee pudding, honeycomb, ripe banana and a hint of spice.

Palate: To taste expect a mouthful of warming spice alongside sweet prunes, dates and a hint of ristretto coffee.

We apologise in advance, it’s sold out already!

ralfy review 1002 – Union Single Malt (Brazil) 5yo @56.9%vol:

A Rare Opportunity: Loch Dhu & 1920s Macallan Samples Available Now 

Mark Littler Ltd is selling 10ml drams of Macallan-Glenlivet 22 Year Old Whisky Liqueur distilled in the 1920s, as well as drams of the infamous Loch Dhu 10 Year Old The Black Whisky. 

The opportunity to try rare and expensive whiskies is increasingly scarce, thanks to the rising prices and increasing rarity of prized whiskies. However, much to the excitement of whisky lovers, Mark Littler Limited has bottled 10ml drams of two rare whiskies for you to taste in what could be a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Macallan-Glenlivet 22 Year Old Whisky Liqueur 10ml Dram – £100 

This Macallan-Glenlivet 22 Year Old Whisky Liqueur was distilled in the 1920s and bottled in the 1940s by Row & Company Distillers Ltd for export to the USA. The importation into the USA followed the Prohibition, the Wall Street Crash, the Great Depression, and World War II.

The whisky-making process at Macallan, as well as the barley varieties used, would have been very different in the 1920s. This is one of the oldest bottles of Macallan on the market, and so is one of the only chances to sample authentic 1920s Macallan, distilled in the same era as the iconic Macallan 1926 60 Year Old.

The Macallan-Glenlivet 22 Year Old Whisky Liqueur was tasted and reviewed by Angus MacRaild at WhiskyFun, who awarded the whisky an astonishing 93 points. The tasting notes, also drawn up by Angus, feature notes of bitter marmalade, crystalised ginger, and fir on the nose. On the palette, drying peat smoke, cocktail bitters, and eucalyptus. The finish is long with notes of crystalised honey, saltiness, and old-school sherry.

Each dram comes with a tasting note card showcasing Angus’s tasting notes so that you can drink along with one of the experts. Can you pick out the flavours in this dram?

Only 30 of these drams are available. Don’t miss out! 

Loch Dhu 10 Year Old The Black Whisky 10ml Dram – £15  

The Loch Dhu 10 Year Old The Black Whisky is one of the most polarising and controversial whiskies on the market. The whisky was created in the late 1990s and was something of a marketing gimmick on the part of Mannochmore.

The deep black colour is produced by a very high amount of spirit caramel, which itself is a very controversial topic in the whisky industry. Spirit caramel, or E150a, is the only additive legally allowed in Scotch whisky. It is most often used to create colour consistency and brand familiarity both in blends and in single malts and, in small quantities, it does not affect the taste or mouthfeel of a whisky (or does it?).

Whilst some hail the Loch Dhu as a sweet and smooth whisky, some describe it as a car crash with an overwhelming taste of burnt caramel. Serge Valentin of WhiskyFun gave the whisky 49 points, describing the palate as “catastrophic”.

The question is: just how bad is it? Is the Loch Dhu 10 Year Old The Black Whisky the worst whisky in the world? Or do you find it palatable? There is only one way to find out.

Each Loch Dhu 10 Year Old The Black Whisky dram comes with a postcard showing Serge Valentin’s tasting notes so that you can drink along. They also come with complimentary Tic Tacs just in case you think Serge is right!

The Loch Dhu 10 Year Old The Black Whisky 10ml Dram is available now on the Mark Littler Shop. Perfect for satisfying your own curiosity or perhaps a great secret Santa gift for that one relative or colleague…

About Mark Littler Limited

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 marklitter.com.

Email: whisky@marklittler.com

Telephone: 01260 218 718

Rare cask from Scotland’s oldest independent, family-owned distillery to go under the hammer 

Springbank 1997 expected to exceed £100k at auction

The 12th Auction Your Cask will go live on 21st November 2023 featuring an old and rare Springbank 1997 bourbon barrel with a reserve of £100k.

Established in 1828, Springbank stands as Scotland’s oldest independent, family-owned distillery. Priding itself on traditional production methods that have been passed down from one generation to the next, the distillery continues to set the standards for unique and highly-sought after whiskies.

From its humble beginnings on the site of Archibald Mitchell’s illicit still, Springbank is now extremely sought-after and one of the most prominent whiskies produced out of Campbeltown and one of only three distilleries operating in the area.

Springbank prides itself on producing a single malt that is made entirely in-house which are lightly peated in their kiln and distilled 2.5 times.

Spirits master and Keeper of the Quaich, Colin Hampden-White, has tasted the 26 Year Old Springbank and describes it as absolutely delicious.

“A very good example of Springbank with all the salinity one would expect with rich fruits, some floral notes and the ever expressive saline, sea breeze Springbank is so well known for. Complex and balanced, this is an unctuous whisky with Campbeltown character,” says Colin who adds: “On the nose there were notes of rich honey, honeysuckle and fresh vanilla pods, apricot and some cooked red apple. On the palate, the spirit is clean and complex with both fresh orchard fruit and caramelised pears. Clear honey and cherry blossom give lighter notes and all spice sits in the background giving great balance.”

Colin concludes: “The spice and smoke persist all the way through the finish and are joined by waves of honey and pastry. Touches of chocolate and golden syrup come and go as do some summer fruits. The end is still juicy, and smoky, oaky and rich.”

Going from strength to strength

The upcoming event follows on from Auction Your Cask’s most successful sale to date in September where 284 people registered to bid, 183 bids were placed, 22 cask samples were sent out and a total of 13 lots were sold.

Other highlights of the next auction, which will run until 8pm on Tuesday 28th November 2023, include: North British (Grain) 1991 –  1st Fill Barrel, Reserve £6,500 and Ben Nevis 2015 – Barrel, reserve £8,000.

auctionyourcask.com is the only live, online auction dedicated to cask whisky and premium spirits serving a global audience.

If you have a cask you would like to submit into the auction complete this form before 10th November 2023.

To sign up to bid in the live auction, register here

ABOUT AUCTION YOUR CASK:

Auction Your Cask (AYC) is the UK’s first live auction website dedicated to exceptional spirits casks.

Hosted four times a year and helping private owners/investors sell their cask to independent bottlers and other investors all around the world.

Auction Your Cask displays all re-gauge dates and aims to offer bidders the opportunity to sample the whisky from the casks before purchase to verify the cask and ensure quality of the spirits on offer.

AYC’s parent company Cask Trade validates all the sellers and confirms proof of ownership and the history of the cask enabling bidders to safely buy. With complete transparency and no sellers’ fee, AYC offer you the actual hammer price. The low buyers’ fee of 15% will offer the opportunity to buyers, trade or private, to buy rare casks.

https://www.auctionyourcask.com

Embark on a sensorial journey with Distil Your World Mexico, our latest edition in the Distil Your World series — expressed through a unique, limited edition single malt whisky that celebrates the essence of Mexico’s vibrant Day of the Dead festival.

The Macallan’s Whisky Maker Diane Stuart with Joan Roca of the acclaimed Roca brothers, owners of El Celler de Can Roca, twice named Best Restaurant in the World, explored the local traditions of this vibrant celebration. Their immersion served as the source of inspiration for their whisky making and gastronomic creations.

Watch the Distil You World Mexico documentary, which showcases the artful creation of the whisky and menu. ​

DISCOVER MORE

Distil Your World Mexico is a limited-edition release and it will be available at select The Macallan Boutiques around the world, in premium specialist retailers and in exclusive premium non-specialist retailers from early 2024. 

Distil Your World Mexico Documentary

Distil Your World Mexico brings together inspiration from the Roca brothers and the expertise of Diane Stuart, The Macallan Whisky Maker, to create a whisky that defines the character and spirit of this vibrant tradition. ​

In partnership with The Macallan, the Roca brothers have crafted a culinary experience that pays tribute to the vibrant spirit of Mexico and their annual Day of the Dead celebration.

Watch their journey of discovery in the Distil Your World Mexico Documentary.

The Macallan Distillery Experience, The Macallan Distillers Ltd,  Easter Elchies, 

Craigellachie, Moray, AB38 9RX, Scotland, +44 (0)1340 318 000

New Release!!
Glen Ord 2012 Aged 9 Years
UK Allocation only 20 bottles so grab yours now. 

A rare first fill bourbon cask of Glen Ord distilled in 2012. A Malt usually reserved for export under the ‘Singleton’ brand. This Highland distillery is the last remaining on the Black Isle. Ours is a single cask, cask strength bottling.  Bottled in 2022 but only being released for sale now.

Nose: Crisp apple, Cereal hints and some sweet notes coming through.

Palate: A strong mix of fruit and spice is evident initially with a follow up of honey notes.

Finish: Medium woody spice.

Tasting notes by Bartels

Click here to Buy

Bartels Whisky
4 The Old Glebe
Loughborough, Lec LE12 8LB
United Kingdom

Our final outrun of 2023 is here!

We are bringing a close to the year with five new Lady of the Glen releases, three Dalgety releases and the inaugural release from our St Bridget’s Kirk Solera System, aptly named Batch #1.

In what has been one of the more challenging years from a cost perspective we are looking forward to releasing a range of Single Malts from Lady of the Glen that showcase our Dunnage and cask management while for Dalgety we stretch from cask innovation in the use of ‘Super Porto’ casks for Glen Spey to the traditional refill Hogshead classic Glen Moray.

Our recently installed Solera System releases its first batch of Non Age Statement Whisky and we are very happy with the initial result – St Bridget’s Kirk Solera batch #1 is our small batch blend made up entirely of Single Malt Whisky blended together in casks and then placed in the ‘three cask solera system’

Please note that in order to better support our retail partners this outrun and future outruns will not be sold through our website. Links to stockists can be found via the tab on our homepage.

Lady of the Glen
Caol Ila 10yo – Ruby Port Finish
Dailuaine 10yo – Tawny Port Finish
Royal Brackla 8yo – Oloroso Butt
Teaninich 13yo – Profiler Barrique Finish
Blair Athol 10yo – Refill Barrique

Dalgety
Glen Moray 12yo – Refill Hogsheads
Glen Spey 10yo – Super Porto and Refill Port Barriques
Linkwood 10yo – Oloroso Finish

St Bridget’s Kirk
Solera Batch #1
All releases were bottled at our site in Dalgety Bay by hand.

A crackling fire, a soft blanket and a glass of whisky that whispers tales of warmth and comfort is exactly what’s needed at this time of year.

Our November Nipper has landed and to celebrate we’ve handpicked a selection of seriously good whiskies that are made for those intimate moments of pure relaxation. Allow us to set the stage for your very own whisky retreat, right in the comfort of your cosy abode.

READ NEW OUTTURN

BROWSE THE BOTTLES

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

Bearface Mitlenatch Island Release – The Unbottling With Special Guest Andres Faustinelli

Adam sits down to chat over Zoom with the father of Bearface, Andres Faustinelli about this very unique expression.

SOTHEBY’S ‘WEEKEND OF WHISKY’ IN LONDON THIS NOVEMBER

 Two-Day Sales Series Features:

The Most Valuable Collection of Japanese Whisky Ever Offered at Auction,

A Bottle Containing the World’s Most Valuable Whisky: The Macallan 1926,

&

Select Bottles from the Collection of Visionary Epicurean and Aesthete, Pierre Chen

The Macallan to Host Pop-up Bar in Sotheby’s New Bond Street Galleries

AUCTIONS: Friday 17 & Saturday 18 November

1 NOVEMBER 2023 – This autumn, Sotheby’s will present ‘The Weekend of Whisky’, a two-day event taking place on 17 and 18 November in London. The sales series will feature the world’s most valuable whisky, a bottle of The Macallan 1926, featuring the Valerio Adami label; select bottles from the legendary collection of visionary epicurean and aesthete, Pierre Chen; and the most valuable Japanese whisky collection ever to come to auction. The Macallan will be hosting a pop-up bar in Sotheby’s New Bond Street galleries for the occasion, by invitation only. Highlights from both sales will be on public exhibition from 14 to 18 November.

KODAWARI | The Greatest Japanese Whisky Collection, 17 November

“To oversee the sale of the most valuable collection of Japanese whisky ever offered at auction is truly a privilege as a real whisky lover. To have assembled this many magnificent and frankly iconic bottles into a single collection is staggering and tells a story not only of one collector’s passion and dedication over many years, but also of the rising popularity of the Japanese whisky category as a whole.”

James Gray, Sotheby’s Whisky Specialist

Karuizawa 52 Year Old Cask #5627 1960, est. £260,000-350,000

This year, 2023, marks the centenary of Japanese whisky – a spirit that 100 years ago was forged in the footprint of Scotch whisky, but nowadays very much has a unique standing in the whisky collecting world. With a combined estimate of £1.6 – 2.1 million, KODAWARI | The Greatest Japanese Whisky Collection is the most valuable collection of Japanese whisky ever offered at auction, predominantly made up of single cask releases from the closed distillery Karuizawa, many of which rarely come to auction.

The sale has been made possible by one collector’s foresight for the potential of Japanese whisky. Not only did the collector manage to obtain some of the rarest whiskies ever produced, he is also in the unique position of having tasted almost every single one of them, including the Karuizawa 1960. His passion overwhelmed any sense of trepidation when building the collection – when he began his foray into Japanese whisky, interest in the category outside of Asia was fairly non-existent, which is surprising given the exceptional quality of much of the malt whisky being produced in Japan. Although a ‘hidden gem’ in the West at the time, Japanese whisky was still fairly accessible. By the early 2010s, the whiskies had begun to appear regularly in Europe and the collector – a true enthusiast – started to swap and trade bottles with other like-minded individuals around the world to ensure his collection was as comprehensive as possible.

The KODAWARI collector said: “When I started collecting just over two decades ago, nobody really knew much about Japanese whisky. I just liked the story and iconography, not to mention the taste! It wasn’t at all popular in the West at that time, so it was relatively easy to collect. Nowadays, rare bottles are extremely difficult to find. The bottles I’m selling at Sotheby’s are a relatively small proportion of my collection. I probably won’t be able to drink all of them within my lifetime. I want these rare bottles to be shared with and enjoyed by other collectors. This year we celebrate 100 years of Japanese whisky, so it feels like a landmark moment for these whiskies and for me in my time of collecting.”

Headlining the collection is a bottle of Karuizawa 1960 (est. £260,000-350,000) – a 52 Year Old whisky from Cask #5627 that holds a special place in the world of whisky collecting.

Further highlights include:

• Karuizawa 50 Year Old LMDW Japonisme Casks 1965 (est. £30,000-40,000)
• Karuizawa Noh 41 Year Old Cask #1842 1971 (est. £26,000-35,000)
• Karuizawa 50 Year Old LMDW Sherry Cask #2372 1965 (est. £24,000-32,000 per lot)
• Karuizawa 50 Year Old LMDW Bourbon Cask #8636 1965 (est. £20,000-26,000 per lot)
• Karuizawa Vintage Cask #6426 1967 (est. £15,000-20,000 per lot)
• Karuizawa Golden Dragon 40 Year Old Cask #8833 1972 (est. £12,000-15,000 per lot)
• Karuizawa Geisha Cask #6227 1970 (est. £10,000-14,000)
• Karuizawa Sakura Single Cask #158 1981 (est. £10,000-13,000 per lot)
• Yamazaki 25 Year Old Suntory Pure Malt 2002 Release (est. £8,000-12,000)

The World’s Most Valuable Whisky + The Epicurean’s Atlas, 18 November

The Macallan 1926 has always been recognised as the most sought-after Scotch whisky, as illustrated by the sum of £1.5m ($1.9m) achieved by Sotheby’s in 2019, for the Fine & Rare version, which set a new auction record for any bottle of wine or spirit. After being aged in sherry casks for six decades, just 40 bottles of The Macallan 1926 were bottled in 1986, representing the oldest Macallan vintage ever produced. The offering of a bottle of The Macallan 1926 featuring the Valerio Adami label, estimated at £750,000-1,200,000, marks the first time one of the 40 bottles has come to auction at Sotheby’s since the current record was set.

Distinguishing this offering even further is the fact that this is the first bottle to have undergone reconditioning by The Macallan Distillery ahead of being presented at auction. This process involved replacing both the capsule and the cork, applying new glue to the corners of the bottle labels and taking a 1ml liquid sample to test against another 1926 bottle at The Macallan’s Edrington offices in Glasgow. The Macallan 1926 bottle to be offered by Sotheby’s is now the foundation for all other 1926 bottles that may undergo testing in the future. In order to recondition the capsule, a sample swatch of the old capsule was used as a material match by a producer in Austria to recreate a replica replacement matching the original. (More details here.)The Macallan 1926 will take star billing in a sale of whiskies led by bottles produced by The Macallan Distillery. The auction will also feature select bottles from the legendary cellar of visionary epicurean and aesthete Pierre Chen, as a curtain-raiser to the first of five dedicated auctions in leading locations around the world – beginning in November 2023 through to November 2024 – of 25,000 bottles of wine from Chen’s vast collection (more details here).Selection of The Macallan lots from the collection of Pierre Chen

The 16 lots on offer from Pierre Chen’s collection, carrying a combined estimated value in excess of £500,000, include:

• • The Macallan The Red Collection 77 Year Old (est. £65,000-80,000)
  • The Macallan in Lalique Genesis Decanter (est. £55,000-70,000) – amongst the oldest ever Macallan single malts to be released by the distillery
  • All six editions of The Macallan in Lalique Six Pillars Collection (estimates start at £38,000), an exclusive series of limited-edition decanters which were released over a decade, between 2005 and 2016
  • Tales of The Macallan Volume I, the first edition in a series of single malt whiskies that pay tribute to The Macallan pioneers and their stories; encased in a Lalique crystal decanter, the rare whisky distilled in 1950 and bottled in 2021 is concealed within an 800-page almanac (est. £55,000-80,000)
  • A range of bottles from the Fine and Rare series (estimates start at £16,000)

About Sotheby’s

Established in 1744, Sotheby’s is the world’s premier destination for art and luxury. Sotheby’s promotes access to and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through auctions and buy-now channels including private sales, e-commerce and retail. Our trusted global marketplace is supported by an industry-leading technology platform and a network of specialists spanning 40 countries and 70 categories which include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits, and Design, as well as collectible cars and real estate. Sotheby’s believes in the transformative power of art and culture and is committed to making our industries more inclusive, sustainable and collaborative.

*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium or overhead premium. Prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium and overhead premium and are net of any fees paid to the purchaser where the purchaser provided an irrevocable bid.