Name: James MacArthur's Miniatures
SKU: 1331222
Price: 185 GBP
Availability: InStock

A selection of single malt drams bottled by James MacArthur's for their Fine Malt Selection range. Some of these drams are from silent distilleries like Imperial and Pittyvaich and some bottled from single casks, all are bottled at natural cask strength.

Springbank 12YO - Cask No. 226 - 50.8%
Pittyvaich 12YO - Cask No. 15096 - 54%
Caol Ila 12YO - Cask No.560 - 64.8%
Glenlossie 12YO Cask No. 8230 - 65.8%
Dailuaine 12YO - Cask No. 6911 - 62.4%
Royal Brackla 12YO - 64.5%
Imperial 12YO - 65%

Please refer to images for lot contents, general condition and fill levels.

August 2025

September 2025

October 2025

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

In our inaugural Blog entry, Guest writer Ian Buxton explores the seemingly unglamorous distillery mill. The unsung hero of whisky distilleries.

The Distillery Mill

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Please refer to images for lot contents, general condition and fill levels.

Incl Springbank (7x5cl)

James MacArthur's Miniatures

James MacArthur's Miniatures Incl Springbank (7x5cl)

James MacArthur & Co Ltd

A single malt dram bottled by James MacArthur's for their Fine Malt Selection range. This dram was bottled from a single cask and at natural cask strength.

Seen by some as Scotland’s, if not the world’s greatest distillery, Springbank is a unique proposition. Not much has changed at Springbank since its inception in 1828; it still follows a historical oddity of distilling, it remains owned by J&A Mitchell and it still uses floor malting for 100% of its requirements. And all of this from the fairly remote location of Campbeltown, which is the former distilling capital of Scotland.

Three distinct styles are produced at the distillery with a triple distilled whisky (Hazelburn), a heavily peated (Longrow) and the classic Springbank. More than ever before, these are in huge demand from the UK and international distributors. Due to the historical nature of the distillery and the methods they follow, production cannot be increased too dramatically to accommodate rising demand. Sadly, it looks like we’ll all have to chase a little harder for anything Springbank-related for a while to come.

Springbank

Campbeltown

Springbank 12YO - Cask No. 226 - 50.8% Miniature 5cl

Miniatures

5 cl

50.8%

Springbank 12YO - Cask No. 226 - 50.8% Miniature

If you take the whisky walking tour of Dufftown, just up from the Dufftown distillery, you’ll come to an open patch of land surrounded by warehouses. This is where Pittyvaich once stood. Established in 1975 by Arthur Bells & Sons, the distillery had a single purpose and that was to provide content for the Bell’s blend.
It was a fairly simple construct, often described as little more than a shed, which eventually housed 4 stills that produced as much whisky as possible. Pittyvaich was unglamorous as distilleries go and very little of it was released as a single malt. That changed in 1991 when it made its Flora & Fauna debut as a 12 year old and occasional independent bottlings appeared to satisfy curiosity. The end came in 1993 when distilling stopped in the shed and it was demolished in 2002. Since then, we’ve seen Diageo produce the odd Special Release to underline that stocks of Pittyvaich still exist, and maybe one day, we’ll grow to appreciate the whisky.

Pittyvaich

Speyside

Pittyvaich 12YO - Cask No. 15096 - 54% Miniature 5cl

Pittyvaich 12YO - Cask No. 15096 - 54% Miniature

Islay’s biggest distillery is arguably its most consistent and underappreciated. Caol Ila was established in 1846 and when through a handful of owners thanks to various financial difficulties. The biggest change came in 1972 when the distillery and the majority of buildings were demolished and rebuilt. Famously, stepping into the gap during this period was inaction was the Brora distillery in Sutherland.
After further investment in 2011, Caol Ila’s capacity increased to 6.5 million litres as its reputation continued to grow. Widely available in official versions and via independent bottlers, it now forms part of the Johnnie Walker experience with enhanced facilities for visitors.

Caol Ila

Islay

Caol Ila 12YO - Cask No.560 - 64.8% Miniature 5cl

64.8%

Caol Ila 12YO - Cask No.560 - 64.8% Miniature

You’ll often hear about a ‘cult’ distillery, and Glenlossie fits the bill. Founded in 1878 by a former manager of GlenDronach and since 1919 it has resided with a forerunner of Diageo, who still own the distillery today.
A modest producer of any 2 million or so litres annually, much of Glenlossie’s output goes into blends including Haig Club Gold Label and other Diageo stalwarts, so only 1% reaches the single malt market. Most of this is in the form of the 10 year old Flora & Fauna expression, which was originally launched in 1990. Unfortunately for single malt enthusiasts, Glenlossie is highly regarded by blenders, who in 1974, included it in their top-class malts, of which there were only 12 distillers to receive such an honour. The distillery site plays host to another distillery in the form of Mannochmore and is used by Diageo to store a vast number of casks from across its portfolio thanks to the sizeable warehousing capacity.

Glenlossie

Rest of World

Glenlossie 12YO Cask No. 8230 - 65.8% Miniature 5cl

65.8%

Glenlossie 12YO Cask No. 8230 - 65.8% Miniature

Dailuaine is a well-respected distillery that was recently chosen by Diageo to cover the gap created by Clynelish’s refurbishment, as it shares a similar waxy character and this was amplified by maximising the fermentation time. Founded in 1852 by William Mackenzie it passes through the family until it is acquired by a consortium of blenders in 1919; blends such as Dewar’s, Black & White and Johnnie Walker. The rise of DCL in the 1920s led to the acquisition of Johnnie Walker and distilleries associated with the brand.
Very little of Dailuaine is released officially and the distillery is closed to the public apart from special days during the Speyside festival. You’ll most likely see it with the staple 16 year old as part of the Flora & Fauna range or a 22 year old in the Rare Malts series from 1996. More recently was a 34 year old in the Special Releases range in 2015, or consistent support from independent bottlers.

Dailuaine

Dailuaine 12YO - Cask No. 6911 - 62.4% Miniature 5cl

62.4% vol

Dailuaine 12YO - Cask No. 6911 - 62.4% Miniature

A single malt dram bottled by James MacArthur's for their Fine Malt Selection range. This dram was bottled at 12 years old and at natural cask strength.

Cawdor plays has played host to Royal Brackla since the 1812, when it was founded by Captain William Fraser. It was granted the ‘Royal’ warrant in 1835 as King William IV enjoyed its whisky on numerous occasions. A huge honour that only a couple of distilleries can claim to have received.
Brackla today is under the ownership of Bacardi after it acquired the Dewar’s distilleries in 1998. It’s always been a well-regarded malt, if slightly unseen at retail and mostly destined for blends. It has taken Dewar’s decades to build up the inventory, as the deal with Diageo did not include any pre-1998 stocks. Now taking centre stage in the last great malts series, we can explore what made this whisky so favoured by royalty, with sherried expressions being particularly enjoyable.

Royal Brackla

Royal Brackla 12YO - 64.5% Miniature 5cl

64.5% vol

Royal Brackla 12YO - 64.5% Miniature

Imperial is a lost distillery that was the source of many rumours when it closed for good in 1998. Eventually, the site was acquired by Chivas Brothers in 2005 prompting further speculation and hope that this classic Victorian distillery would be revived. Those hopes were dashed in 2013 when the distillery was demolished to make way for a modern plant in the form of Dalmunach distillery.
Oddly, many have only come to appreciate the charms of Imperial as several independent bottlings have reached the market in recent times. An incredibly stylish whisky, which for many years was only really supported by Gordon & MacPhail, Imperial was ahead of its time in terms of internal innovations and also (for a period) featured a huge crown on top of the pagoda. A charming whisky, mainly destined for blends, casks will still be maturing as it’s a more recent closure. So, we can hope to enjoy Imperial for many years to come.

Imperial

Imperial 12YO - 65% Miniature 5cl

Imperial 12YO - 65% Miniature

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December 2024

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70 cl

41.6%, 42.6% & 42.2%

The Red Collection (3x70cl)

Macallan 71, 74, & 78 Years Old

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48.1%

The Red Collection

Macallan 40 Years Old

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Minor creases to box

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60.02% vol

Rare Malts (60.02%)

Brora 22 Years Old 1972

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Scratches to box

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Not Stated

Hart Brothers The Dynasty Decanter

Bowmore 31 Years Old

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Full Collection & Wooden case (6x70cl)

Johnnie Walker Directors Blend 2008-2013

2008 Release

Johnnie Walker The Directors Blend

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2009 Release

2010 Release

2011 Release

2012 Release

2013 Release

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Folio 1

Macallan The Archival Series

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Minor mark to tin

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57.5%

London Edition

Macallan Distil Your World

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47.1%

2023 Countdown Collection 1st Release

Springbank 27 Years Old

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50.9%

9 Rogue Casks

Port Ellen 40 Years Old 1979

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Minor dent to box.

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2018 Untold Stories - The Spirit Safe

Port Ellen 39 Years Old 1978

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49.2%

200th Anniversary

Brora 40 Years Old 1978

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Minor scratches and dent to box.

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Folio 2

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Masters of Photography Rankin & Book

Macallan 30 Years Old Fine Oak

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James MacArthur's Miniatures

Incl Springbank (7x5cl)

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