The rarest bottle

1: Ardbeg Provenance. 2: Stauning Whisky 1st edition unpeated (first release from the Danish Stauning distillery, one of about 750 bottles). 3: Bruichladdich 125th Anniversary 35 year old.

Awesome discussion! I don't have any of note but am really enjoying hearing other people's examples.

Well, I've had some SMWS bottles that are single cask. Two I have currently are grains: G7.5 (275 bottles) and G10.4 (261 bottles). I also own a bottle of Canadian whisky from the long-defunct Harwood Distillery, that was bottled in 1946 - I don't imagine there are very many of those around anymore...

I include Arran Distillery in many posts, and this will be no different.

The first Arran Premium Cask Selection to come to the USA was Sherry Cask #1785. Not only was it the rarest of the bottles I've personally opened, but it was, hands down, the best. d: 06/11/96 b: 31/03/11 (note the day/month/year inscription). 165 bottles at 56%

Arran Premium Cask Selection Bourbon Cask #2096 came next. d: 18/12/96 b: 08/05/12. 186 bottles at 52%.

Highland Park 25 year old 1987 hogshead #1541, bottled at Cask Strength (47.2%) by Signatory. 203 bottles. But ... consistent with my love of Arran, I have another Bourbon Cask release en route that produced fewer than 160 bottles. Can't wait.

I guess since Bladnoch is hard to come by, and all bottlings are single cask (according to them), the two 55% 10 year old and 11 year old bottles I've tasted are among the rarest I've had. I also have a 12, but I have multiple bottles of the 11 and 12 (likely from the same cask for each year), so maybe not so rare.

I do have a Mortlach CS bottled under the rare malts label. Likely not common now. Gifted by the man who started me on this journey. Plus a few others that likely are not so common.

I haven't collected anything of great value over the years, but I do have a couple of rare bottles I'm saving for a special occasion. I've got OP Row to the Pole, which is to commemorate an OP-funded 2011 expedition to the north pole via rowboat. I believe only 3000 bottles were made. I've also gotten my hands on Kavalan Distiller's Edition, which is one of these "only available at the distillery" deals. Neither is expensive or particularly fancy, but they are fun ones to have in the collection.

1971 Old Fitzgerald bottled in bond; 1980 Macallan 18 year; 2013 Karuizawa 31 year....These have not been opened yet but eventually will be.

You will not have heard of the rarest bottle. It will be too rare to even make known to the public. You must offer a price range and year range. Without those specifics, this discussion is like asking how wet the ocean is

@two-bit-cowboy Yeah Arran is awesome, the Eagle was one of the more expressive young whiskies so far and I should have bought the Single Cask Cognac barrel aged(480b) when I saw it, the next day it was gone :p Im curious about their peated stuff, should be a great combo, Arran and peat.

@rigmorole wow what happened here?

@Bourbondork Dang... never heard of that Ardbeg... should be quite a ride. Was there any peat left after 23 yrs?

@PeatyZealot Ah, you're in for a treat with the peated Arran. I've liked the first three releases of Machrie Moor, but First Edition was the best. My favorite, though, was a 2011 distillation of new make Arran Machrie Moor peated at 50ppm. Pure heaven--the Islay lads and lassies will have to make space on the pew for that one. I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.

@PeatyZealot I didn't see the comment but rig was probably being his usual self which can be controversial to say it nicely.

Difficulty of acquisition for someone in Ontario, Canada would put Old Potrero 18th Century style Rye and a bottle of Stagg (thank you so much to @Victor for his efforts in securing said bottles) in my top 3, along with a bottle of Sullivan's Cove Double Cask.

Honorable mentions to Grand Old Parr 12 and Parker's Heritage Collection 4th and 5th editions.

Perhaps the rarest bottle in the world! A gift from my brother-in-law. A bottle of Forty Creek Confederation Oak Reserve. His middle name is Frugal. It must have caused him some sleepless nights, giving me that little gem at $70 per bottle. Definitely worth three.

@paddockjudge

Rare? I thought it was a standard expression now....

@Nozinan, his brother-in-law giving a $ 70 gift is what is rare...

@paddockjudge @Victor :) you guys just made my day.

@Victor

I see now why I misunderstood... My brother in law sends me emails when something interesting is for sale in Calgary. And If I see something i want I let him know. And although the intent is to settle the account, I did en up with two "Christmas" gifts this year, Laimrig and Glendronach CS. And my other brothers in law used to buy me cognac (they don't knw brands, just "XO") until my wife made them stop. Perhaps if @paddockjudge has a child who marries one of mine he can have better luck with in-laws.

@Nozinan

Of course, I mean only in terms of whisky....

@Nozinan - TOO FUNNY

Here are some bottles under $500 that I treasure and consider rare: Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 003, PC5, PC6, Brora (any you can get your hands on), Port Ellen (any), Ardbeg Uigeadail (L9 or younger); Ardbeg 10 (L9 or younger). That's 2009 = L (lot) 9.

Take a look at this site to familiarize yourself with Ardbeg bottling codes. It's worth keeping your eyes peeled for the older bottles. The ones before L9 have some very old Ardbeg in them, and the ones between L9 and L11 have some of the same stuff that went into Beist. Here is the link: ardbegproject.com/codepics.shtml. I also really like the Laphroaig Cask Strength Batch 003. It's hard to find now. Very complex and just delicious. I will be writing up a review of the batch 006 very soon indeed.

@PeatyZealot I forget what I wrote that night. It was very late and I had been indulging in some healthy sized glasses from a bottle of PC6 that I am making a respectable dent in.I don't think it was bad enough to be buried, however. There are some sensitive souls on the Connosr that tend to bury first and ask questions later . . or never ; ) This is a whisky site, after all.

Whisky was not pioneered by timid souls. It was created by hardy types and proliferated thanks to their Scottish ingenuity and delight in speaking their minds and thumbing their noses at the "crown" and "lords" down south that wanted to control and tax the bejeezus out of anything spirited. And that included people with pluck and spirit who were willing to stand up to unfair treatment and questionable laws . . . . The same goes for whiskey in Canada and the U S of A. When the gov'mt tried to pass laws to tax whisky the riots nearly overthrew the entire government to the point of threatening the union that "united" the states. That's also worth remembering when "timid souls" bury comments for being outspoken and a little plucky without meaning any hard or being insulting.

without meaning any "harm." [typo]

Glengoyne 17 is also a snag if you can find it. Ditto with Laphroaig 15. I suggest stocking up on anything 17 years old or older that you like. Older bottles will be harder and harder to find as time goes on. No Age Statements are coming into vogue as the demand for whisky worldwide increases. Anyhow, sorry if I ruffled some feathers with my comment. Now I'm wondering what I wrote. I can't imagine it being that bad. I love y'all. This site is awesome.

@talexander Would that one still be drinkable?

@rigmorole So of all t5he bottles you mentioned, which three would go with you to the moon?

@PeatyZealot I may open it on Canada Day - I'll review it then and let you know!

@PeatyZealot Ardbeg? What Ardbeg?

@two-bit-cowboy

Hey--did you ever crack that Signatory Highland Park 25 year old? I'm eyeing one and wondering if you had any thoughts on it. Thanks!