Search Results

The Perfect Fifth acquired this exceptional 36-year-old Glenrothes with every intention of releasing it as one of the prestige bottlings in its range, but somehow the whisky never actually made it to market. Had it been released as planned, a single cask Glenrothes of this age would reasonably have carried a retail price around $2,000. Instead, years later, we've managed to get our hands on this tiny parcel under circumstances that make the original economics almost irrelevant. Cask #2128 was filled on March 4, 1986 and matured for more than 36 years in ex-bourbon oak before being bottled on December 15, 2022. After more than three and a half decades in cask, it had naturally fallen to just 43.3% ABV, yet remained above the legal minimum and was bottled exactly there at full cask strength. Glenrothes of this age is already exceptionally rare, but the ex-bourbon maturation makes this particularly fascinating. So much of the distillery's reputation has been built around sherry-matured whisky that an ancient bourbon-cask Glenrothes offers an entirely different window into the character of the spirit itself. A 1986 vintage, 36 years in a single cask, natural cask strength, and a release that essentially disappeared before it ever happened. This is precisely the sort of old Scotch we thought the modern market had made impossible to sell at prices like this.

Bid on this 2-bottle lot of 1986 Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan (96DC, 96VN, 93RP). Vinous: "The 1986 Haut-Brion, served blind at a private dinner in Bordeaux, comes from an ex-château bottle. I must admit that I spent a few moments marveling at the bouquet. It's intense and Margaux-like, perhaps more like a 1985 in style with precocious red fruit, cedar, kirsch and veins of cassis. It blossoms in the glass, revealing excellent minerality, yet never loses that curious Margaux-inspired allure. The palate has finally mellowed like many 1986s appear to be doing. This Haut-Brion is framed by fine tannins, suppler than previous bottles and maybe more filigree. Beautifully balanced from start to finish, it delivers disarming purity on the finish. Ladies and gentlemen, the 1986 Haut-Brion is ready for business. (NM)" (01/2023)

Bid on this 2-half-bottle lot of 1986 Certan de May, Pomerol (375ml) (93JG, 93WS). Wine Spectator: The plum and coffee aromas and flavors merge nicely with the toast and vanilla overtones from good oak barrels. Harmonious and elegant now, it can develop only more nuances with age. (09/1989)

Bid on this bottle of 1986 Léoville-Las-Cases, St-Julien (100DC, 98RP, 98VN, 95WS). Decanter: "Michel Delon, then owner, believed this to be the greatest wine he ever made. It's not often the case that wines with this much expectation riding on them live up to the hype, but this one did. A stunning wine that, at 33 years old, still feels fresh, concentrated and with a long way left to go. The tannins have the characteristic Las Cases weight and definition to them, giving form and shape to the sweet berry fruit, but the overall impression is of welcoming, juicy pleasure. Harvested from 1 to 17 October. 4% Petit Verdot completes the blend. (JA)" (05/2019)

Bid on this bottle of 1986 Cheval Blanc, St-Émilion (94VN, 93JG). Vinous: "Finally, the 1986 Cheval Blanc, a vintage that I had not tasted for several years. This was not a renowned growing season for the Right Bank, but this Saint-Émilion bucks the trends to produce one of its most attractive wines. It has a gorgeous bouquet that you could lose yourself in with red berry fruit, quite tertiary at first, and scents of meat juices, fennel, juniper and wilted flowers. This is complex but also has the warmth I normally associate with the 1985s. The palate is medium-bodied with melted tannins, exquisite balance, light sous-bois and black truffle notes that infuse the dark berry fruit towards the persistent finish. It’s like a less extravagant version of the 1985. It’s probably at its peak now, though this bottle suggests it will drink well for many years. (NM)" (06/2023)

Bid on this bottle of 1986 DRC Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche Grand Cru (97JS, 93JG). James Suckling: "This sacred masterpiece needs no introduction. I was blown away by the purity and finesse to this; it was truly stunning, indulging every sense with intense dried flowers, spices and tobacco. On the palate it was medium-bodied with wonderful, fine tannins and a awe-inspiring finish. The sheer beauty on offer here from this DRC was sensational. " (06/2016)

Bid on this bottle of 1986 DRC Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru (94RP, 94WS). Wine Advocate: "The spectacular Richebourg has a stunning nose, is more full bodied and powerful than usual, very long, but also quite tannic. I tasted it twice and my estimate on peak drinkability was between 1996 and 2012. It should be a real ager. This is among the few superstars of this vintage, but the 1986 is not for drinking soon-patience is most definitely required. (RP)" (12/1989)

Bid on this 2-bottle lot of 1986 Pichon-Lalande, Pauillac (95DC, 95VN, 95WS, 94JG, 94RP). Vinous: "The 1986 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is a vintage I have tasted several times, including at the château, but this bottle is one of the best I have encountered. It has a vibrant nose of blackberry intermixed with cedar and a light ferrous note, perhaps even a suggestion of paprika as it moves into its secondary phase. Showing plenty of undergrowth, the bouquet coheres beautifully in the glass as subtle clove aromas manifest over time. The palate is fresh and lively with black fruit aplenty and quite strict tannins that lend it an off-dry feel. One of the most saline bottles I can remember, this example displays exquisite delineation and a slightly softer landing than the bottle I tasted several years ago. Outstanding. Tasted at the château. (NM)" (04/2026)

Bid on this 5-bottle lot of 1986 Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Sauternes (94JG, 91JS). John Gilman: "In the US market, this was the first vintage of Lafaurie-Peyraguey that really caught the imagination of Bordeaux lovers and it was very widely distributed. Consequently, along with the 1988 vintage, the 1986 is the wine from this estate that I have had the most opportunities to enjoy and it continues to drink beautifully at age thirty. The bouquet is deep, pure and quite elegant in its expression of toasted coconut, pineapple, chalky soil tones, honey, orange peel and a deft framing of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, crisp and complex, with a good core, bright, zesty acids and a fine finish that remains light on its feet and vibrant. " (01/2018)

Bid on this 2-bottle lot of 1986 l'Evangile, Pomerol (93JA). Jane Anson: "Tobacco, roses, soot, gentle raspberry fruit, beautifully stretched out through the palate, this is a charming wine, although lacks the depth and nuance of the other L'Evangiles we tried in this lineup. Madame Ducasse in charge at this point, barrel ageing but no new oak." (06/2024)

Bid on this 2-bottle lot of 1986 Pichon-Baron, Pauillac (97WS, 93JA). Wine Spectator: "Amazingly elegant and complex featuring rich cedar, currant, black cherry and cassis notes, with grace, harmony and the kind of structure that should ensure it will age beautifully until the turn of the century. The aftertaste echoes cherry flavors. *Ranked #4 on Top 100 Wines of 1989* " (05/1989)

Bid on this bottle of 1986 DRC Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche Grand Cru (97JS, 93JG). James Suckling: "This sacred masterpiece needs no introduction. I was blown away by the purity and finesse to this; it was truly stunning, indulging every sense with intense dried flowers, spices and tobacco. On the palate it was medium-bodied with wonderful, fine tannins and a awe-inspiring finish. The sheer beauty on offer here from this DRC was sensational. " (06/2016)

Bid on this bottle of 1986 DRC Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru (94RP, 94WS). Wine Advocate: "The spectacular Richebourg has a stunning nose, is more full bodied and powerful than usual, very long, but also quite tannic. I tasted it twice and my estimate on peak drinkability was between 1996 and 2012. It should be a real ager. This is among the few superstars of this vintage, but the 1986 is not for drinking soon-patience is most definitely required. (RP)" (12/1989)

Bid on this 2-magnum lot of 1986 Margaux, Margaux (1.5L) (98RP, 98VN, 95WS). Vinous: The 1986 Chateau Margaux was even more emotionally moving. Still incredibly youthful, it showed incredible focus and depth, all backed up by considerable structure. As hard as it may seem to believe, on this night the 1986 appeared to still be some years away from peaking. It was striking in every way. (AG) 98+ (02/2012)

Bid on this 1-700 ml bottle lot of 1986 Glenfarclas The Family Casks #4775 (Spring 2018 Bottling) Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) in original wood. Spring 2018 Release

Bid on this bottle of 1986 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac (100JD, 100JS, 100RP, 100VN, 99WS, 98JA). Vinous: "As it nears 40 years in age, the 1986 Mouton-Rothschild is acquiescing to time, those huge tannins polymerising as primary fruit evolves into secondary. The nose is a cornucopia of scents—blackberry, cedar, mint and freshly picked violet—all delivered with equal precocity and control. This is the first time that this Mouton-Rothschild has conveyed a more melted texture on the palate. There remains immense grip, but all those angles and edges have been smoothed into velvet. It has amazing depth, unfurling layers of predominantly black fruit, blueberry and graphite before it dovetails into a sumptuous yet still aristocratic finish... In general, the 1986s are a bit forgotten, sometimes dismissed simply because they were predestined to evolve so slowly. But the best examples are delivering for those with patience. The 1986 Mouton-Rothschild is the best of them all. (NM)" (12/2025)