A set of three older miniatures, please refer to images for lot contents.

January 2026

February 2026

March 2026

April 2026

The history of Scotch whisky has to a significant degree been shaped by excise legislation, ever since the first tax was imposed on it by the Scots Parliament in 1644. The parliament passed an Excise Act fixing the duty at 2/8d (13p) per pint of ‘aquavitae or other strong liquor’ – the Scots pint being approximately one third of a gallon.

Over the next two centuries, many changes were made to the legislation surrounding the taxation of whisky, but one factor that never changed was the determination of some distillers to operate illicitly, cutting out any proceeds for the treasury altogether.

In the early 1820s as many as 14,000 illicit stills were being seized each year, and it was estimated that more than half the whisky consumed in Scotland had been distilled without benefit of licence. In 1822 there were no fewer than 6,278 prosecutions for illicit distilling. 

The following year saw the passing of perhaps the most significant piece of legislation ever enacted in relation to Scotch whisky. The Act was an attempt – largely successful, as it turned out – to stifle the extensive trade in illicitly-distilled whisky.

The Excise Act encouraged legal distillation by cutting duty to 2s 5d per gallon, a historic reduction of more than 50 per cent, and a minimum still size of 40 gallons was sanctioned. A licence fee of £10 per annum was introduced, the concept of duty-free warehousing was developed, and distillers were free to export to England and overseas. 

One of the key figures behind the Excise Act of 1823 was the 4th Duke of Gordon, who had extensive estates throughout north-east Scotland, an area that was the very heartland of illicit distillation. Gordon proposed that if new legislation was put in place to make legal distilling more attractive, he and his fellow landowners would do all in their power to uphold the law as diligently as they could and evict anyone convicted of illicit distilling.

The advantages were perceived as being more revenue for the government, despite the lower level of duty, and opportunities for the lairds to make money out of the rash of whisky-making operations that would surely be built as a result of the proposed legislation. Remarkably, no fewer than 79 new distilleries were commissioned between 10th October 1823 and 9th August 1824, with the number of licensed distilleries rising from 111 in 1823 to 263 by 1825.

Perhaps the most significant name from a north-east of Scotland ‘Speyside’ perspective to join the list of legal distilleries was that of Glenlivet, where Captain George Smith began to distil legally at his Upper Drumin farm in 1824. However, Smith’s father, Andrew, had been distilling on the site since 1774, without ever feeling the need to acquire a licence! 
Glenlivet was notable as being the first distillery in the Highlands to be licensed in the wake of the 1823 Excise Act, with support from the Duke of Gordon. Not that the newly licensed Glenlivet flourished without interference, however. Many of Smith’s compatriots considered him a traitor for ‘going legit,’ and as he wrote some years later, they threatened to “…burn the distillery to the ground, and me at the heart of it. The laird of Aberlour presented me with a pair of hair-trigger pistols worth ten guineas, and they were never out of my belt for ten years.”

According to legend, Smith only ever had recourse to his pistols on one occasion. This occurred in a tavern where he stopped for refreshment after delivering some whisky to a customer, and involved a number of would-be thieves, keen to relieve wealthy travellers of their money. When they approached Smith, he drew one of his pistols and fired it into the fireplace. He was allowed to finish his drink in peace.
As a legitimate distillery, Glenlivet supplied high quality single malt to Scotland’s thirsty, expanding population centres to the south, and in terms of reputation, all other Speyside distilleries soon came to exist in its shadow.

One effect of the 1823 Excise Act was a move away from very small, localised licensed distilleries in southern and central Scotland, with larger whisky-making concerns reflecting the general trend towards bigger, more professional and integrated commercial activities across the UK. 
Indeed, Scotland had already witnessed a tendency towards the development of an industry focused on a relatively small number of extensive distilleries, with the likes of Kilbagie, Kennetpans, Glenochil, Cambus and Carsebridge among the most significant. This consolidation continued apace in the wake of the 1823 Act, though the Highlands were still characterised by a larger number of individually smaller distilling operations.

To give a clear idea of just how significant the 1823 Excise Act really was, many of the distilleries and single malts we now value most highly were licensed within a decade or so of its enactment. Not all of these were ‘new builds,’ of course, with some, usually farm-based, having previously operated under the radar without licenses.

The list of distilleries in question includes Balmenach, Ben Nevis, Benrinnes, cardhu, Edradour, Fettercairn, Glen Scotia, Glencadam, GlenDronach, Glenfarclas, Glengoyne, Glenkinchie, Miltonduff, Royal Lochnagar and Talisker   as well as many others no longer in existence.
While a very strong case can be made for declaring the 1823 Excise Act to be the single most important piece of excise legislation relating to Scotch whisky, a case can also be made for the 1860 Spirit Act which legalised the blending of malt and grain whiskies under bond for the first time. But that is another story for another day.

The Deil's awa wi' the Exciseman - Robert Burns

"The deil cam fiddlin' thro' the town, 
And danc'd awa wi' th' Exciseman; 
And ilka wife cries,  Auld Mahoun, 
I wish you luck o' the prize, man.

The deil's awa the deil's awa, 
The deil's awa wi' the Exciseman, 
He's danc'd awa he's danc'd awa 
He's danc'd awa wi' the Exciseman.

We'll mak our maut, and we'll brew our drink, 
We'll laugh, sing, and rejoice, man; 
And mony braw thanks to the meikle black deil, 
That danc'd awa wi' th' Exciseman.

There's threesome reels, there's foursome reels, 
There's hornpipes and strathspeys, man, 
But the ae best dance ere came to the Land 
Was, the deil's awa wi' the Exciseman.

The deil's awa the deil's awa , 
The deil's awa wi' the Exciseman, 
He's danc'd awa he's danc'd awa  
He's danc'd awa wi' the Exciseman."

…burn the distillery to the ground, and me at the heart of it.

In this intriguing piece, Gavin D. Smith delves into the relationship between taxes and the Scotch Whisky industry.

1823 EXCISE ACT

Historical

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Minor marks to transit box

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70 cl

44.4%

Gordon & MacPhail Generations

Mortlach 75 Years Old

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Refer to images for general condition

1999-2000 Vintage Cask Strength

Karuizawa Masterpieces in 8 Colours

49.3%

1999-2000 Vintage Sherry Butt

Karuizawa Masterpieces in 8 Colours 1st Batch

52.1%

Karuizawa Masterpieces in 8 Colours 2nd Batch

51.8%

Karuizawa Masterpieces in 8 Colours 3rd Batch

48.5%

Karuizawa Masterpieces in 8 Colours 4th Batch

52.2% vol

Karuizawa Masterpieces in 8 Colours 5th Batch

51.1%

Karuizawa Masterpieces in 8 Colours 6th Batch

Karuizawa Masterpieces in 8 Colours 7th Batch

49.4%

Karuizawa Masterpieces in 8 Colours 8th Batch

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karuizawa_masterpieces_in_8_colours_1999_2000_vintage_cask_strength_2772470_942038.webp

karuizawa_masterpieces_in_8_colours_1999_2000_vintage_cask_strength_2737150_367503.webp

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Vintage Series First Release

Rosebank 29 Years Old 1990

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Midleton Very Rare 1999

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midleton_very_rare_1999_2785684_693098.webp

midleton_very_rare_1999_2785683_527665.webp

remy_martin_louis_xiii_cognac_grande_champagne_decanter_1960s_316595_663107.webp

Grande Champagne Decanter (1960s)

Remy Martin Louis XIII Cognac

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remy_martin_louis_xiii_cognac_grande_champagne_decanter_2785621_333052.webp

remy_martin_louis_xiii_cognac_grande_champagne_decanter_2785619_926130.webp

remy_martin_louis_xiii_cognac_grande_champagne_decanter_2785622_471355.webp

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Minor dents to box

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75 cl

48.3% vol

2012 GBM Exclusive

Glenfiddich 18 Years Old 1994

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Assorted Miniatures X3 (Inc. Bowmore Deluxe)

Official

Other

Multiple

Miniatures

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5 cl

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July 2020

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46.8%

William & Catherine 2011

Macallan Royal Marriage

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Sherry Oak 2022 Release

Macallan 30 Years Old

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macallan_30_years_old_sherry_oak_2020_release.jpg

Sherry Oak 2020 Release

Macallan 30 Years Old  Sherry Oak

macallan_30_years_old_sherry_oak_sherry_oak_2020_release_2782892_730331.webp

macallan_30_years_old_sherry_oak_sherry_oak_2020_release_2782893_217583.webp

Discoloration of and minor scores to wooden presentation box.

jura_44_years_old_1975_very_rare_vintage_2020_tawny_port_pipe_finish_70cl_5cl__gssQ3b8.webp

70cl & 5cl

46.2%

2020 Tawny Port Pipe Finish (70cl & 5cl)

Jura 44 Years Old 1975 Very Rare Vintage

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Marks to outer box.

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Macallan x Urwerk Flask 2

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macallan_x_urwerk_flask_2_2785715_333548.webp

macallan_2005_2017_exceptional_single_cask_no780211_us_import_202380.webp

63.4%

2017 Exceptional Single Cask No.7802/11 (US Import)

Macallan 2005

macallan_2005_2017_exceptional_single_cask_no780211_us_import_2785179_880985.webp

macallan_2005_2017_exceptional_single_cask_no780211_us_import_2785180_592741.webp

macallan_34_years_old_1966_signatory_vintage_rare_reserve.jpg

Signatory Vintage Rare Reserve | Cask No.4182

Macallan 34 Years Old 1966

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macallan_34_years_old_1966_signatory_vintage_rare_reserve_cask_no4182_2785427_876545.webp

bowmore_29_years_old_timeless_series_2744130_987600_063476.webp

53.7%

Timeless Series

Bowmore 29 Years Old

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bowmore_29_years_old_timeless_series_2744131_956556.webp

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The Manager's Dram 200th Anniversary

Oban 16 Years Old

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oban_16_years_old_the_managers_dram_200th_anniversary_2782118_159083.webp

bowmore_27_years_old_timeless_series_117589_721134.webp

52.7%

Bowmore 33 Years Old

bowmore_33_years_old_timeless_series_2744126_126261.webp

bowmore_33_years_old_timeless_series_2744127_120123.webp

craigellachie_31_years_old_very_old_reserve.jpg

52.2%

2016 Very Old Reserve

Craigellachie 31 Years Old

craigellachie_31_years_old_2016_very_old_reserve_2784904_411525.webp

craigellachie_31_years_old_2016_very_old_reserve_2784905_926983.webp

rosebank_31_years_old_1990_2022_release_2.jpg

48.1%

2022 Legacy Release 2

Rosebank 31 Years Old 1990

rosebank_31_years_old_1990_2022_legacy_release_2_2782151_892256.webp

rosebank_31_years_old_1990_2022_legacy_release_2_2782154_284748.webp

macallan_12_years_old_sherry_wood_1990s_1_litreduty_free_878188_703972_244710.webp

100cl

Sherry Wood 1980's (1-Litre/Duty Free)

Macallan 12 Years Old

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macallan_12_years_old_sherry_wood_1980s_1_litreduty_free_2779158_787444.webp

Minor marks to transit box.

glendronach_29_years_old_1989_kingsman_edition.jpg

50.1%

2019 Kingsman Edition

Glendronach 29 Years Old 1989

glendronach_29_years_old_1989_2019_kingsman_edition_2769151_408504.webp

glendronach_29_years_old_1989_2019_kingsman_edition_2769152_756742.webp

tullibardine_44_years_old_1970_the_custodians_collection_2nd_release_2749332_789258_023934.webp

40.3%

The Custodian's Collection 2nd Release.

Tullibardine 44 Years Old 1970

tullibardine_44_years_old_1970_the_custodians_collection_2nd_release_2749332_789258.webp

tullibardine_44_years_old_1970_the_custodians_collection_2nd_release_2749333_169552.webp

macallan_43_years_old_1965_2008_carn_mor_celebration_of_the_cask_no2114_2765556_787529.webp

54.1%

2008 Carn Mor Celebration of the Cask No.2114

Macallan 43 Years Old 1965

macallan_43_years_old_1965_2008_carn_mor_celebration_of_the_cask_no2114_2781717_051128.webp

macallan_43_years_old_1965_2008_carn_mor_celebration_of_the_cask_no2114_2781718_780786.webp

glengoyne_28_years_old_1995_single_european_sherry_hogshead_no2091_2783533_534865.webp

Single European Sherry Hogshead No.2091

Glengoyne 28 Years Old 1995

Assorted Miniatures X3 (Inc. Bowmore Deluxe)

Assorted Miniatures X3 (Inc. Bowmore Deluxe)

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