Description

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A very rare and historically significant bottle of Merlin Irish Whiskey, produced by W. & A. Gilbey, one of the most important wine and spirit merchants and whiskey bonders in Irish whiskey history.

Gilbey’s established its Dublin business in the 19th century and became closely associated with the maturation and bottling of Irish whiskey, most famously through Redbreast, which remains its best-known legacy today.

Merlin appears to form part of Gilbey’s fascinating tradition of using bird-inspired names for a number of its Irish whiskey brands, alongside names such as Redbreast, Yellowhammer, Skylark and Chaffinch. The name refers to the Merlin, a small species of falcon found in Ireland and Britain.

Surviving examples of Merlin are exceptionally uncommon, with far less documentation and auction history than Redbreast, making bottles such as this particularly interesting to collectors researching the wider Gilbey’s portfolio

LOT No. IWA: 65795904