The Midleton Very Rare series is incredibly popular with collectors and many are seeking to complete an entire range with every year spanning 1984 to the present day. Some vintages are harder to find than other. None more so than 1988, which is the real unicorn amongst Midleton Very Rares.

The third of the three extraordinary Oloroso cask 1964 Bowmores released in the mid-1990s, this final batch was of 1812 bottles. With an almost unfathomable concentration and intensity of flavour, and with the perfect balance of fruit, peat and power, this whisky deserves the frequently overused ’legendary’ tag and has assumed almost mythic status amongst whisky collectors and aficionados.

Limited to just 565 bottles, this is another fine example of a rare independent bottling from a distillery whose bottles are consistently sought out by collectors.

A mere 192 bottles exist of this smoky dram. Islay’s oldest distillery is the 3rd most collectible brand according to a recent report from Rare Whisky 101.
 Part of a collection of Hunter Laing Old & Rare Platinum range we have procured.
All of which are single cask bottlings. 

This XOP Black from independent bottler Douglas Laing is one of just 276 bottles made.
Islay’s oldest distillery is the 3rd most collectible brand according to a recent report
from Rare Whisky 101. 

The 200th anniversary bottling from this lost distillery, with only 1819 bottles made to commemorate the year the distillery opened. The decision by Diageo to rebuild this highland whisky icon is testament to its legendary status amongst collectors. It ensures an increased interest in its most cherished bottlings. 

Brora Triptych is a truly special one – assembling a set of the three eras that epitomise Brora. Each liquid a celebration of restoration and an ode to the rare characteristics that define Brora whisky; waxy, peated and earthy. A collection of three vintages that define Brora never before released at once, this is a true collector’s piece.

To celebrate the 175th anniversary of the opening of the distillery, this limited edition 24 year old Caol Ila has aromas that remind you of a campfire along with subtle spice notes. The palate is honied with light smoke.

Check availability at thesinglemaltshop.com

Founded in 1819 and with only 1819 bottles produced, this Clynelish is only available from the distillery. Bottles from this remote distillery are highly collectible and its profile is only going to increase. This is due to Clynelish being one of the 4 brands linked to Edinburgh’s new Johnnie Walker experience, thanks to a multi-million-pound Diageo investment. According to RW101, Clynelish was the second fastest growing brand at auction in the UK, in value terms, in the first half of 2019. Definitely a brand to watch.

1869 bottles harks back to the founding of this distillery in the year 1869 This bottling is only sold at the distillery in Speyside. A unique bottling from a famous distillery and a sought-after brand due it its rare appearances in the collectible Special Releases from Diageo.

Thanks to our friends at Whyte & Mackay, we have taken up their offer of a few of these rare bottlings of this iconic distillery. 

Released in 2016 and bottled at 40% abv, Dalmore 35 has aged in a Bourbon barrel, a Matusalem Sherry butt, and a colheita Port pipe.  

Dalmore 40, released in 2017 from the Highland distillery has matured in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels, before aging further in 30-year-old Gonzalez Byass Matusalem Oloroso Sherry butts. The whisky was then finished in first-fill Bourbon barrels.

French crystal house Baccarat was enlisted to design the hand-blown decanters, each decorated with The Dalmore’s 12-point stag emblem, which was created by Royal Warrant holders Hamilton & Inches.

These bottles are highly sought after by collectors world-wide. 

Glen Scotia has gone and released another well-matured Campbeltown single malt – this time, they’ve bottled up an excellent 30 year old expression! It was drawn from European oak casks and bottled up at cask strength, with only 500 bottles produced. Incredible stuff from a marvellous distillery.

The 46 year old marks our oldest release to date, with only 150 individually numbered bottles available worldwide. Originally laid down in refill bourbon casks. The finest have been carefully selected and re-casked in first-fill bourbon, before being finished in a single first-fill oloroso hogshead.

In celebration of Master Distiller Billy Walker’s half-century long career in the whisky industry, we are delighted to unveil the first in The Past, Present and Future Series: The GlenAllachie 50th Anniversary Past Edition.

Available exclusively at the Glenfarclas distillery, where there are only 275 bottles from this single cask bottling in existence. Filled into a single sherry hogshead by the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the time in 1994.

A 30 YO single cask commemorative bottling, celebrating 50 years of The Glenfiddich Distillery Visitor Centre. 

We have acquired some bottles of this limited release of just 200 exceptional bottles. 

The very rare Glenfiddich single cask no. 20050 was laid down on Christmas Day in the centenary year of the brand, 1987. Matured for over 30 years in American Oak Hogsheads this is a sublime, genuinely sophisticated malt. Considering the limited amount ever released of this exceptional malt, we are enthusiastic about this investment. 

Part of the exclusive vintage collection. The limited release of the Grand Vintages have ensured they have become hard to find. Its prominence amongst collectors is shown in Glenmorangie’s continued appearance in the list of collectible whiskies on Rare Whisky 101 reports.

Karuizawa is the gold standard of rare Japanese whisky. The distillery closed its doors in 2011, although it had not been producing whisky for over a decade. This bottle from the Noh series is from a single cask, distilled in 1981 and bottled 31 years later from single sherry butt #348. A very rare Karuizawa, with only 207 bottles ever released.

Littlemill 29-year-old is the third release from the Private Cellar Collection, each crafted by Master Blender Michael Henry in Littlemill’s traditional Lowland ‘floral’ style. This latest release places emphasis on developing the wood character and only 600 bottles will be released across the world.

This is a commemorative edition issued on the 20th anniversary of the launch of the flagship Midleton Very Rare whisky. It is bottled at cask strength. The bottle comes with two crystal glasses with which to enjoy your whisky. Only 400 bottles were produced.

We have secured the last remaining bottles from Irish Distillers, of this Midleton release.

Composed of Single Pot Still whiskey between 12-23 years old and matured initially in American oak barrels. This gorgeous whiskey is finished in native virgin Irish oak casks. These casks have been sourced from Bluebell Forest, Castle Blunden Estate in County Kilkenny. Every bottle can be traced back to one of six different 130 year old Irish oak trees that were sustainably felled.

The second release in the Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection is a 46-year-old single pot still Irish whiskey distilled in 1973 and matured in a single third-fill bourbon barrel. Aromas of apples, pears, lemon, oak spice, hazelnuts and worn leather fill the nose, complemented by notes of sweet red berries, star anise, ginger, malt and grapefruit throughout the palate and lingering in the finish.

Released in 2003 as a limited edition aged in three types of barrels- American oak, oloroso sherry butts, and port pipes. This special edition was carefully assembled by former master distiller Barry Crockett from some of the last remaining pot still whiskys from the Old Midleton Distillery. Only 800 bottles were made available.

We have secured the last remaining bottles from Irish Distillers, of this Midleton release.

From the most sought after collection in Irish whiskey comes this 2017 edition of the Midleton Very Rare Vintages. It comes in the last of the old- style packaging. It is a complex fruity whiskey, that culminates with a long spicy finish, a true pot still character.

The 2018 edition of the Midleton Very Rare vintages is a luscious whiskey and it comes in the new and suitably lavish packaging and bottle. Smooth, with notes of vanilla and fruit, it has a rich spicy pot still finish. Yet another fine example of the stunning quality coming out of Irelands leading distillery.

Combining whiskey aged between 12 and 33 years this Midleton Very Rare 2022 is the latest release from the pinnacle collection in Irish Whiskey. With delicate floral notes and vanilla on the nose, the palate releases caramelised apples and orange zest. The soft oak finish leaves you wanting more.

Check availability at thesinglemaltshop.com

Another single cask bottling from the exclusive Hunter Laing Old & Rare Platinum range.
Only 317 bottles of this sherry matured Mortlach are available. A brand whose bottles
continue to prove highly collectible and a good investment. This sherry monster is worthy
of any collection.

A rare 35 year old Mortlach that was distilled in 1936 and bottled by Gordon & MacPhail as part of their Connoisseurs Choice range in the early 1970’s and this was an Italian import bottling.

Distilled in the spring and fall of 1989 and stored on lower levels of a metal warehouse built in 1935 at the Van Winkle family distillery. In 2002 the barrels found a new home at Buffalo Trace and in 2014 the juice was dumped into stainless steel tanks to halt the aging process. And now, it’s ready for release. But only 11 barrels made the full trip, resulting in a mere 710 bottles.

The second in Diageo’s series of annual Port Ellen bottlings, using the remaining stocks of this closed distillery. 12000 bottles were released in 2002 as a 24 year old whisky. Clean, sweet, powerful and smoky, this another classic Port Ellen expression that has a delicacy and less oaky style than other contemporary Islays.