TIME REMAINING
End Date : Aug 05 2026 08:00 PM
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St Magdalene 1970. 23 Year Old. Bottled by Diageo for their Rare Malts Selection. 70cl. 58.1%. No box.
Distilled in 1970 and matured for 23 years, this St Magdalene was bottled by Diageo at its natural cask strength of 58.1% ABV as part of the iconic Rare Malts Selection. Released during the mid-1990s, the Rare Malts series was created to showcase exceptional cask strength single malts from some of Scotland's finest and increasingly scarce distilleries, with many releases coming from sites that had already closed.
St Magdalene, also known as Linlithgow Distillery, traces its origins back to 1765 and ceased production in 1983, making official bottlings increasingly sought after. Distilled while the distillery was still operating and using its traditional direct-fired stills, this whisky captures the character of one of the Lowlands' most respected lost distilleries.
The Rare Malts Selection has become one of Diageo's most celebrated series, renowned for presenting whiskies without chill filtration or added colouring and at their natural cask strength. Today, these bottlings are regarded as modern classics, particularly those from closed distilleries such as St Magdalene, Brora, Port Ellen and Rosebank. As remaining stocks continue to diminish, examples like this have become increasingly difficult to acquire and are now highly prized.
St. Magdalene distillery (sometimes known as Linlithgow) is one of the greatest and most sorely missed of the lost Lowland distilleries. The distillery’s 1983 closure attracted little outcry but a handful of extraordinary Rare Malts bottlings in the late 1990s brought home the scale of the loss. Thankfully, a great many casks of St. Magdalene/Linlithgow have appeared from independent bottlers, with high strength versions by Cadenhead’s, SMWS, Douglas Laing and Gordon & MacPhail all performing well at auction.
St. Magdalene’s spirit, although sometimes showing a typical Lowland grassiness, was also frequently considerably more robust and austere than one would expect, with the pre-1975 vintages in particular displaying a minerally, oily waxiness more akin to the old Highland style malts than the soft Lowland archetype, while post-1975 vintages sometimes tend more towards elegance and fruitiness. A marvellous distillery that malt fans must try while bottlings still exist.
Distillery bottlings are, as the name suggests, bottled by or for the distillery from which the whisky has originated and are thus often referred to as Official Bottlings or OBs. Distillery bottlings are generally more desirable for collectors and usually fetch higher prices at auction than independent bottlings. They are officially-endorsed versions of the whisky from a particular distillery and are therefore considered the truest expression of the distillery’s character.
This ideal of the distillery character is regarded so seriously by the distilleries and brand owners that casks of whisky that are considered to vary too far from the archetype are frequently sold on to whisky brokers and independent bottlers. When this happens, it is often with the proviso that the distillery’s name is not allowed to be used when the cask is bottled for fear of diminishing or damaging the distillery’s character and status.
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| BID | DATE | TIME | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £600.00 | 5th August 2026 | 09:01 AM | |
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No Product Found
By placing a bid, you confirm that you have read, understood and agree to be bound by Whisky-Online Auctions' Terms and Conditions of Sale.
You acknowledge that your bid is binding and irrevocable.
If you are the successful bidder, a legally binding contract for the purchase of the Lot will be formed in accordance with the Terms and Conditions. You agree to pay the hammer price together with the Buyer's Premium, any applicable VAT and all other charges payable under those Terms, including delivery charges where applicable.
By bidding, you confirm that you are authorised to place the bid, are acting on your own behalf or have full authority to act on behalf of another person or entity, and have the financial means to complete the purchase if your bid is successful.