SUPERB WHISKIES IN CERAMIC JUGS

DELIGHTFUL WHISKIES OF YESTERYEAR

MUNRO'S KING OF KINGS - 1960s (75cl, 40%)

This handsome piece is a collectible presented in a two tone ceramic decanter of Munro's King of Kings blended Scotch whisky, which was produced in the 1960s. It was made by James Munro & Sons - interestingly, James Munro & Sons also ran the Dalwhinnie distillery back in the early 1900s.

Munro's Profile

Blended Scotch Whisky

Leith whisky blender James Munro & Son produced a series of blended scotch whiskies under the Munro’s name. Munro had a thing about the monarchy, for among its blends were King of the North and Queen’s Club. Its most enduring creation however, was the Munro’s King of Kings Rare Old Deluxe Scotch Whisky. It was bottled in a dumpy, short-necked bottle, and a stoneware flagon that has become popular among collectors.

The company was also known for its Munro’s Square Bottle, a blended whisky presented in a dumpy bottle that was imported to the US, along with Munro’s King of Kings, by New York’s Epicure Wines and Spirits Co. at the end of Prohibition. The blends would have undoubtedly contained whisky from Dalwhinnie distillery, which James Munro & Son operated on behalf of its US parent company until 1919.

Munro's History:

The Leith-based blending firm of James Munro & Son must have been of a decent size to attract the attention of America’s biggest distiller at the turn of the 20th century. This was Cook & Bernheimer of New York & Baltimore, which bought the firm and then used it to run the Dalwhinnie distillery, which it bought for £1,250 in 1905. Some in the Scotch whisky industry feared it was the start of a US takeover, while others believed it would help open up the largely untapped American market. Indeed, by Christmas 1905 Cook & Bernheimer was already advertising James Munro & Son’s Long and Short ‘pot still Scotch’ in New York newspaper Brooklyn Eagle, as a whisky ‘made at the highest distillery in Scotland’ (Dalwhinnie).

A 1914 ‘Who’s Who in Business’ directory listed James Munro & Son as based in ‘palatial new offices’ at 121 Constitution Street, Leith. The company’s speciality was ‘Scotch whisky in square bottles,’ – a reference to Munro’s Square Bottle no doubt – and that it was ‘purveyor to the House of Lords’. With the onset of US Prohibition, James Munro & Son was bought by Macdonald Greenlees in 1919, and then by Distillers Company Ltd. in 1926. In later years the DCL licensed Knockdhu distillery to James Munro & Sons.

GRANT'S DELUXE SCOTCH DECANTER - 1970s (75cl, 43%)

This is a 1970s bottling of William Grant & Son’s delightful deluxe Blended Scotch whisky presented in a neat two-toned Navy Blue and Cream collectible ceramic decanter. 

Profile

This famous whisky’s main brands in this blend come from Glenfiddich and Balvenie Single Malts from the Dufftown District.

TASTING NOTES

The nose is quite soft and light. There are notes of malted barley and toasted cereals with the requisite sweetness. The palate is of good body and quite sweet. There are notes of toffee and caramel with vanilla fudge and a touch of gentle, supple oak. The finish is of medium-length.

Best served at room temperature to enjoy neat, on ice or with a splash of still or sparkling water.

Grant’s have also created two ceramic jugs alongside.

QE2 CERAMIC DECANTER SINGLE MALT OVER 12 YO (75cl, 48.6% ABV)

Product Description

Sealed Ceramic QE2 Decanter of over 12 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Bottled in Scotland by Beinn Bhuidhe Holdings Limited, Inverary, Argyll.

Decanter Details

Black ceramic decanter with “QE2 – Single Malt Scotch Whisky- 12- Over twelve years old--Bottled in Scotland by Beinn Bhuidhe Holdings Limited, Inverary, Argyll--75cl -48.6% Vol. – 97US proof” in gold. Presented in a Black leatherette box with a tartan formed lining for the decanter complete with matching stopper. The box has a line drawing of the QE2 in gold inside the box lid.On the outside of the lid is “QE2 Single Malt Scotch Whisky” in gold lettering, which has a matching gold border around the lid top, from the onboard gift shop.

VINTAGE LONG JOHN SCOTCH WHISKY STONEWARE JUG

Two-Toned Handled Ceramic Pitcher/Decanter

A vintage Long John Scotch whisky stoneware jug dating to the 1960's. This is a rare and highly collectible glazed ceramic pitcher from Long John Distilleries, in Glasgow, Scotland. The dark green and cream decanter advertises the original contents and the company on the front and features a raised horseshoe on the top. The pottery whisky bottle still has its ceramic and cork stopper. Also available at Le Bonheur Vintage.

DIMENSIONS:

The stoneware jug is 8" high (20 cm) and 4.5" (12 cm) in diameter at its widest.

GLENFIDDICH 8 YEAR OLD CERAMIC JUG (75cl, 43% ABV)

Glenfiddich was founded by William Grant, who had learned his craft at Mortlach, and the first spirit ran from the stills on Christmas Day 1887. Glenfiddich is also credited with creating the world's interest in single malt whisky with the launch of the Straight Malt in 1963. Still family owned, it was the first single malt brand to sell 1 million cases in a year.

Age: 8 years old

Strength: 86° US Proof; Contents 26⅔ Fl Ozs

GLENTURRET 21 YEAR OLD

Gold Ceramic Jug: 70cl / 40%

Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Distillery Bottling

A delightfully presented ceramic decanter, decorated in the style of a copper still. The jug style decanter contains Glenturret 21 year old and comes with accompanying stopper. Glenturret is the spiritual home of the Famous Grouse blend, for which most of its production is used. This jug is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity from the distillery.

ROYAL SALUTE

Royal Salute is a brand of Scotch whisky produced by Chivas Brothers (owned by Pernod Ricard), founded in 1857 in Aberdeen, Scotland. The Royal Salute brand's home is Strathisla Distillery at Keith, Moray in Speyside, Scotland. The distillery was founded in 1786, and it is the oldest working distillery in the Highlands of Scotland. The Strathisla distillery is owned by Chivas Brothers, and Strathisla Single Malt is one of the malt whiskies used within the Royal Salute blend.

Royal Salute was launched on 2nd June 1953 as a tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on her Coronation Day. This rich and complex whisky from Chivas is aged for 21 years in oak casks before bottling in handcrafted porcelain flagons. This expression is bottled in porcelain flagons, produced by Wade porcelain, incorporating the image of Robert the Bruce and bearing a Gaelic motto which translates as "fidelity, stability since 1801. The name of this exceptional Scotch Whisky comes from the 21 Gun Royal Salute, which is fired as a mark of respect for powerful dignitaries.

MACPHAIL’S 2000 2L CERAMIC DECANTER

This is a blended malt produced by Gordon & MacPhail to mark the millennium. In many ways, this is something of an odd release, coming as it does in a two-litre ceramic flagon and containing malts that amount to a total of 2,000 years of age.

Given the kinds of ancient malts Gordon & MacPhail used to plaster about the shops in the late 1990s you can only imagine the juice it put in this mad decanter to get the combined age up to 2,000 years. It certainly shows on the nose: aged tobacco, dark fruit cordial, damp earthen cellars, rancio, walnut wine, camphor, sultanas stewed in old Cognac, mineral oils… just superb. A thrilling and sumptuous demonstration of old-school Sherry casks.The flavours match the anticipation kindled by the aromas perfectly – all that’s missing is more oomph of alcohol to carry them home. 

This is where 40% ABV really feels like a flaw in such a whisky. Even a few extra degrees of alcohol would have helped add the necessary punch. Having said that this is still beautiful and full of leafy tobacco, strawberry cordial, herbal syrup, mint essence, lemon cough drops and walnut oils. Old-style Sherry and old-school malt whisky entwined in harmony, a gorgeous wee dram. 

JAPANESE WHISKY IN BEAUTIFUL CERAMIC AND PORCELAIN DECANTERS

For storage and display, ceramic or porcelain-made decanters are a popular choice for Japanese whiskies. Many whisky companies release limited editions of whiskies in rare bottles for special occasions from holidays to commemorations. Perfect as a holiday gift, these beautiful whisky bottles are more than just their exteriors. Check out this list of luxurious liquor from Japan and their complementing containers:

NIKKA WHISKY TSURU 17 YEAR OLD WHITE CERAMIC BOTTLE

Description

This 43% ABV (75° proof) Japanese whisky from Nikka was blended with a well-rounded depth and smooth refined palate in mind. To this end, a soft but luxuriant type of malt was selected as the key ingredient. This delicate balance, achieved by the Nikka whisky team of blenders, is imbued with mellowness, sweet balmy freshness and a smooth texture after 17 years of ageing. Bottle size is 700ml.

Cost: US$ 459.99

MARS CASK STRENGTH 13 YEAR OLD WHISKY

Description

The Hombo Mars Distillery is a Japanese whisky distillery owned by the Hombo family. The family has been distilling since 1909 and added whisky to their products in 1949. The distillery has multiple locations, including Mars Shinshu Distillery, located in Miyada village, Nagano Prefecture. This is Japan's highest whisky distillery at over 2,600 feet and is known for its cool climate and soft granite filtered snowmelt. The Hombo family also has a winery, and the brand's whiskies are often aged in casks that were previously used to age the winery's Château Mars vintages.

Mars Shinshu may not be the largest whisky distillery in Japan, but it more than makes up for its size with its elegance and grace. Bottles from this distillery are popular. This particular 13 year old extremely rare Japanese Single Malt whisky is presented in a beautiful 72cl ceramic bottle at cask strength of 58.3% ABV, one of the best Mars has to offer!

Cost: US$ 369.99

SUNTORY HIBIKI 35 YEAR OLD (TOKUDA YASOKICHI III)

Description

The Hibiki 35 Year Old Japanese Blended Whisky from Suntory Distillery is, in short, a work of an art. Not only is it the oldest Hibiki you will ever come across, it is also presented in a specially made porcelain bottle made by one of the masters of porcelain making, Tokuda Yasokichi III, from porcelain coming from Arita in Saga Prefecture. In total, only 150 bottles were made; presented in a wooden case, this is a bottle made for collectors of rare world class whisky. The 70cl bottled blend is at 43% ABV.

Cost: US$ 44,999.99

CAUTION

Ceramic jugs are indeed collectibles, but its contents do not appreciate over time. On the other hand, Porcelain jugs are equally collectible and its contents do appreciate over time. Not only is porcelain tile more dense than ceramic tile, but due to its through-body composition, it is considered more durable and better suited for heavy usage than ceramic tile. Both types are affected where market value is concerned because bottle-fill level cannot be seen.