Ladyburn David Bailey’s John Lennon 54 Year Old 1966
A one of one bottling from ‘lost’ distillery Ladyburn. In operation between 1966 and 1975, it is one of the shortest-lived distilleries in history, yet spans two decades that changed the future of Scotch whisky. This 54-year-old whisky distilled in 1966, was bottled at 43.4 abv and is uniquely labelled with a highly sought-after, hand-signed photograph of John Lennon captured by David Bailey
“Ladyburn 1966 sherry butts exemplifying the character of the lost distillery while possessing the typical profile of a single malt aged for over 50 years in Sherry Butts. It is an unseen gem, perfect for The Distillers One of One.” – Brian Kinsman, Malt Master of Glenfiddich.
The 1960s was a time of enormous change.
The Scotch whisky industry experienced huge structural upheaval. Ladyburn distillery was declared a remarkable technological advance when it opened, but within a decade it had closed. This was a thrilling decade when times were changing culturally, with progressive art in all its forms taking centre stage.
David Bailey was, arguably, the most famous photographer of the decade and was best known for his stunning photographs of celebrities and fashion. The publication in 1965 of his Box of Pin-Ups, was a very bold move for a photographer at that time. This loose portfolio of 36 portraits, which includes the iconic portrait of John Lennon featuring on the front label of this unique Ladyburn bottling, is now regarded as a celebration of this era and of some of its most defining protagonists.
The iconic image of John Lennon adorning the bottle has been selected and signed by David Bailey. It was shot by the photographer in 1965.
The taste of Ladyburn 54 year old is characterized by a very intense wood and oak tannin, dried tobacco leaf and dark spices. The flavours evolve and develop over time with whispers of citrus, dried apricots, and juicy sultanas.
Ladyburn distillery is a ‘lost gem’ of the whisky world. A marvel of industrial design when it opened in 1966, the Girvan-located Ladyburn Distillery was only in operation for nine years before it made the decision to close in 1975. It is the shortest-lived distillery in history, yet it spanned two decades that changed the future of Scotch Whisky.