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Littlemill 45
Year Old 250th Anniversary Release is
the oldest bottling ever released from
the now closed distillery.
Scotland’s oldest licensed
distillery, Littlemill, has teamed up with
world-renowned photographer, Stefan
Sappert, to launch a very rare bottling
of Littlemill 45 Year Old singlew malt
whisky which has been specially bottled
to commemorate the distillery’s 250th
anniversary.
Founded back in1772 in Bowling, West
Dunbartonshire, the distillery was sadly
lost to a fire in 2004 and since then,
Master Blender of Loch Lomond Group,
Michael Henry, has held guardianship of
the last remaining rare casks of
Littlemill single malt whisky, and it is
on these limited reserves he has drew on
for this Littlemill 250th Anniversary
Release.
Due to be released on 22nd August 2022,
it will be its oldest age statement
original distillery bottling released to
date, and rather aptly, there will be
only 250 individually numbered bottles
available worldwide, with a price tag of
£9,500.
To mark its historic milestone,
Littlemill has collaborated with Stefan
Sappert to honour two monumental moments
in time – the establishment of
Littlemill and its innovators who shaped
whisky production, and the development
of photography – both occurring in the
1700s; two artforms connected by their
ability to capture a moment and
transport us to the past.
Stefan’s traditional photographic
technique, silver on black glass,
combined with state-of-the-art
production creates dramatic and
atmospheric imagery, and his portfolio
includes international stars Alice
Cooper, Joss Stone, Sting, Rod Stewart,
and David Duchovny.
Stefan has worked with Michael Henry - a
kindred spirit and skilled craftsman –
to create an exclusive collectable for
the Littlemill 250th Anniversary
Release, giving custodians the rare
chance to own a piece of the lost
distillery’s legacy.
The liquid has been taken from a single
distillation on 4th October 1976. It was
re-casked in 1996 into American oak
Hogsheads, before maturing in first-fill
Oloroso sherry hogsheads for a final six
months before bottling.
In homage to Stefan and his process, the
Littlemill 250th cabinet in which the
rare dram is presented draws inspiration
from a Victorian bellows camera box with
a traditional lens, designed by Morans
Wood Components and Scottish crystal
studio Glencairn Crystal. Inside, each
handblown crystal decanter, also by
Glencairn Crystal, has been inspired by
a camera aperture and is topped with an
impressive, hand-turned and finished
gold-plated collar and stopper which
notes special milestone years from
Littlemill’s history.
As part of the global collaboration,
Stefan has manufactured 250 silver on
black glass photographic plates. Nestled
in a drawer under the decanter, it
recaptures an image of the River Clyde
close to Littlemill’s doorsteps. Each
individually numbered plate is visibly
unique and exclusive to its new owner,
bearing Stefan’s signature and
fingerprints on the reverse.
Dunbartonshire was historically the
largest Scottish glass producer of the
era, and the raw beauty of each plate
perfectly captures that of Littlemill’s
spiritual home.
Michael Henry, Master Blender of Loch
Lomond Group, said: "Littlemill was lost
before its contribution to whisky could
ever be fully acknowledged and
applauded. However, we are lucky to have
the remaining few casks under our care,
a stone’s throw from where the original
distillery once stood, and it felt only
right to mark this significant milestone
with a very special limited release.
"Distilled in 1976 and double distilled
in Littlemill’s bespoke straight neck
pot stills which were designed to give a
triple distillation style character,
this is a lowland single malt whisky of
exceptional character. In keeping with
our records of how Littlemill was
treated, I have given the liquid a final
six-month finish in first-fill Oloroso
sherry hogsheads. You can taste the
history in every precious drop, from
elderflower, chamomile and lemon zest,
to the silk-like creme caramel and tart
green apple, and the warming ginger and
cinnamon spice finish.
"Our partnership with Stefan has allowed
us to explore the meeting of our crafts,
both of which preserve and revive the
past. I have hugely enjoyed sharing our
passion, patience, and respect for
tradition. His artistry and our
remarkable liquid have combined to make
something incredible for collectors. It
is a true privilege to be part of
Littlemill’s final legacy and we are so
excited to be offering 250 custodians
the opportunity to own this rare piece
of whisky history."
Stefan Sappert, Photographer, said: "The
art of whisky-making is fascinating.
Like wet plate photography, it captures
a moment that requires an equal amount
of patience, dedication, passion, and
most importantly, time.
"My work uses one of the oldest
photographic processes that links
directly to the 1770s, where the basis
of creating permanent photographs was
discovered and when Littlemill was
founded. I work with an old wooden
camera and a historic lens that is over
160 years old. The result is not just a
digital image, but a genuine piece of
art."
Research into the history of Littlemill
and its connections with photography was
supported by The Royal Photographic
Society, one of the world’s oldest
photography communities.
Dr Michael Pritchard FRPS, Director of
Education at The Royal Photographic
Society, added: "The history of
photography is interwoven with such
meaningful moments from the past. It
captures the imagination and solidifies
a moment in time. It has been wonderful
to play a part in this project and
explore the connections and shared
milestones between photography and
whisky in celebration of Littlemill’s
remarkable 250th anniversary."
The Littlemill 45 Year Old 250th
Anniversary Release is non-chill
filtered and bottled at its natural
colour and natural strength of 41.8%
ABV, it will be available for purchase from
specialist online whisky retailers such
as
The Whisky Exchange,
The Whisky Shop,
Hard To Find Whisky
and
Master of
Malt
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