Highland Park "The Dragon" 1961

[Exciseman]

This may be old news to many of you, but it may just have escaped one or two 'deeper pocketed' individuals. So, here's what I've been told about this private bottling.

Back in 1961, a single cask of Highland Park was filled into hogshead cask #4493. In 1997, this was bottled (as a 36 year old at 48.1%ABV) by S & JD Robertson of Kirkwall, Orkney. The whisky was physically bottled at Broxburn Bottlers Ltd, at the request of S & JD Robertson Ltd. Seemingly, the cask yielded just 216 bottles, which were labelled “The Dragon 1961”. The bottles were not individually numbered.

S & JD Robertson are not an independent bottler, but rather a ‘finger in many pies’ local company based in Kirkwall, Orkney (just a couple of kilometres from the distillery). The whisky is part of S & JD Robertson’s private collection of whisky bottlings.

Relatively recently, S & JD Robertson allocated an unspecified number of the original “Dragon 1961” bottles for sale. This was the first time that the company had released any of this vintage for public sale. The problem was that, not being in the spirits trade, S & JD Robertson didn’t have an off-sales liqueur licence. So, they took advice from a company called Hebridean Liqueurs on how best to go forward. In the end, it was agreed that Hebridean Liqueurs would process sales, but that bottles would be delivered (P&P free by Special Delivery) directly to customers (from Orkney) by S & JD Robertson. The lady at S & J D Robertson who deals with sales orders placed with Hebridean Liqueurs is Fiona Bain (tel 01856 872961).

The bottles allocated for public sale were considered too plain to sell unpackaged in the modern market. So, just the public sale allocation were 'finished' in mahogany lacquered linden wood boxs . I’m told that the bottles themselves are in perfect condition with good fill levels.

Orders for “Dragon 1961” can be placed with Roy Lewis of Hebridean Liqueurs via http://www.hebridean-liqueurs.co.uk or by phoning 01436 679935. The non-negotiable price tag is £350.

Serge did do a taste-off between "Legend 1961" and the “Highland Park 50yo” in September 2010, in which he referred it as a “legendary” bottling and score it 91/100. Other reviewers have also scored the expression 90+.

[C57]

Tim, I hadn't heard this. Interesting story - thank you!

[Exciseman]

Thanks. I nearly bought a bottle of this, as I was born in the year that it was distilled. However, I didn't in the end. The price is, I think, fair. However, too much for me just now.

[Exciseman]

By way of introduction, I'd make clear that I've no links with the seller whatsoever. I just think that this is a lovely bottling and wish that I could afford it (especially as I was born in 1961)


HIGHLAND PARK DRAGON 1961/36YO - AVAILABLE NOW FROM HEBRIDEAN LIQUEURS

Back in 1961, a single cask of Highland Park was filled into hogshead cask #4493. In 1997, this was bottled (as a 36 year old at 48.1%ABV) by S & JD Robertson of Kirkwall, Orkney. The whisky was physically bottled at Broxburn Bottlers Ltd, at the request of S & JD Robertson Ltd. Seemingly, the cask yielded just 216 bottles, which were labelled “The Dragon 1961”. The bottles were not individually numbered.

S & JD Robertson are not an independent bottler, but rather a ‘finger in many pies’ local company based in Kirkwall, Orkney (just a couple of kilometres from the distillery). The whisky is part of S & JD Robertson’s private collection of whisky bottlings.

Relatively recently, S & JD Robertson allocated an unspecified number of the original “Dragon 1961” bottles for sale. This was the first time that the company had released any of this vintage for public sale. The problem was that, not being in the spirits trade, S & JD Robertson didn’t have an off-sales liqueur licence. So, they took advice from a company called Hebridean Liqueurs on how best to go forward. In the end, it was agreed that Hebridean Liqueurs would process sales, but that bottles would be delivered (P&P free by Special Delivery) directly to customers (from Orkney) by S & JD Robertson. The lady at S & J D Robertson who deals with sales orders placed with Hebridean Liqueurs is Fiona Bain (tel 01856 872961).

The original bottles were considered too plain to sell unpackaged in the modern market. So, they now come to sale in a mahogany lacquered linden wood box . I’m told that the bottles themselves are in perfect condition with good fill levels.

Orders for “Dragon 1961” can be placed with Roy Lewis of Hebridean Liqueurs via http://www.hebridean-liqueurs.co.uk or by phoning 01436 679935. The non-negotiable price tag is £350.

Serge did do a taste-off between "Legend 1961" and the “Highland Park 50yo” in September 2010, in which he referred it as a “legendary” bottling and score it 91/100. Other reviewers have also scored the expression 90+.

[Exciseman]

Still available, but the price has suddenly gone up from £320 to £350. I suppose that this is still good value for a premium 1961/36yo HP, albeit a private bottling

[mongo]

is it a good price? the regular ob 30 is <£200. twe has a douglas laing 33 yo single cask at £260. they also have an ob single sherry cask 30yo for £300. those seem like far safer bets to me.

[Exciseman]

I was on the verge of buying a bottle of this as a long-terms investment, but am now having second thoughts.

Am I perhaps being seduced by this having been distilled in 1961 (my birth year)? Or is the beautiful packaging maybe causing me to view the expression through 'rose tinted specs'? After all, £350 is an awful lot of money.

But then again, Highland Park is a top-name distillery. And we are talking about a single cask laid down half a century ago (albeit bottled as a 36yo, not as a 50yo).

Any further views anyone?

[Aidan]

Well, I bought a bottle a good while ago. Not sure how wise it was, but I did it anyway. I hope to drink it one day.

[mongo]

if it hasn't sold out yet from the original issue then is it likely to be a good investment? especially when there's no shortage of similarly aged whisky from the distillery every year?

[Aidan]

I don't know if it's a good investment, but it wasn't for sale for a long period after it was bottled. Is that right?

[mongo]

I don't know if it's a good investment, but it wasn't for sale for a long period after it was bottled. Is that right?

i was going off the original post--i assumed it went on sale in 1997. but even if it was much later, i'm dubious. it apparently received a good score from serge a year ago, and it's still out there to be had. probably an excellent bottle to drink, but doesn't seem to me like the strong investment exciseman is hoping it might prove to be.

[r900p]

Seduced by the packaging- anyone got a picture?

Cheers

[Exciseman]

Pictures on Hebridean Liqueurs website.

One sold recently on Whisky Auctions for 650+ Euros (approx £575).

[Exciseman]

I finally 'bit the bullet' and bought a bottle. Now nervously awaiting its safe arrival from Orkney.

I wasn't surprised at all that it was still available. After all, it is only being retailed through a fairly obscure liqueur website.

[Aidan]

When I saw the title, I though "oh no, I'm going to have to buy another expensive bottle". Thankfully, it's one I already have.

[Exciseman]

I finally 'bit the bullet' and got a bottle of this. Nervously awaiting its safe arrival.

I wasn't surprised at all that it was still available. After all, it is only being retailed through a fairly obscure liqueur website.

[Lionsmane]

I would be interested to know more about this seemingly obscure collection of bottlings - I've been privileged enough to try one of the latter ones from 1973 at a tasting a couple of months back. It was amazing, although I'm fairly sure Mark's tasting notes would be much better than mine!

Do anyone know if the bottlings were a regular thing for the shop on Orkney? I know the one I tasted was also at auction and went for a cool £400.... A little out of my budget!

[Exciseman]

S&JD Robertson are somewhat coy about details, as these were fundamentally casks privately purchased and bottled by the family.

I believe that there was more than one 1973 expression (one at least presented in wine bottles).

The 1961 expression seems to have been more professionally bottled. However, only enough presentation boxes were made for those designated for public sale. So, for example, those in bars in Orkney will never have been boxed.

[Lionsmane]

I believe that there was more than one 1973 expression (one at least presented in wine bottles).

Yeah the one I tried was in a wine bottle. I knew there wasn't a lot of information going about them, so thank you Exciseman

[Exciseman]

I have asked S & JD Robertson for more information, but I'm not expecting a reply. I suppose that's fair enough though, as these were private bottlings.

[Exciseman]

S & JD Robertson were (to say the least) coy in their response. All that they'd tell me was the bleeding obvious (ie the 1961 is currently for sale).

[Exciseman]

I just thought that I'd give this another 'airing', just in case anyone hadn't seen it.

[Exciseman]

I thought that I'd highlight this just one more time, for anyone new to the forum.

Yes, it is certainly a considered purchase. But, for anyone wanting an aged Highland Park, this is one to bear in mind. The packaging is stunning.

[Adrian]

Has anyone tasted this or have a view on it? Can't decide whether this is good value or not.

You can get a 30yo OB for £200 but a 1975 single cask (32yo) could cost £350 again an OB.

I'm presuming this is an IB but never heard of Dragon Whisky???

It would be interesting to taste a HP from this period ...

[Onefortheditch]

I first heard of and saw this bottle in the Lynnefield hotel which is next to the HP distillery and, as I vaguely remember, the hotel owner said recommended it. If you compare it to a 1968 OB HP which currently retails for £2300, I think it seems pretty good value. I bought a single cask 35YO 1968 OB HP at the distillery for £200 a few years back, so inflation seems to have gone a bit mad recently.