Queen Anne Rare Scotch Whisky Foil cap 1950s miniature. Germany.
Queen Anne Rare Scotch Whisky – 1950s Foil Cap Miniature (Germany edition)...
Condition: Collector-Please note as this is a vintage/rare/limited edition bottle, conditions of bottle/label and liquid level can vary - Some years can vary and as estimations only (example: estimated 1970s/80s)
Fill level: In the neck, exceptional for the age.
Whisky still produced: No – brand discontinued.
Category: Blended Scotch Whisky.
Distillery: Not stated (blend).
Bottler: Hill, Thomson & Co. Ltd.
Bottling series: Queen Anne Rare Scotch Whisky, foil cap miniature.
Bottling Year: Circa 1950s.
Stated Age: Not stated.
Cask type: Not stated.
Strength: Not stated. Approx. 40–43% Vol.
Size: Not stated. There are some variants 4.7–5.6 cl
Colouring: Likely yes, typical for the period.
Chill-filtered: Yes, Likely for this era.
Bottle code: Not stated.
Country of Origin: Scotland.
Market: Germany and broader European export market.
‘He’ll adore you for choosing Queen Anne,’ declared a 1960s advert featuring a woman in a long dress teasing her man with a bottle behind her back. The blend, which was created by Edinburgh merchant Hill, Thomson & Co. some 80 years earlier, and carried a Royal Warrant, grew to become one of the shining stars of The Glenlivet Distillers’ portfolio. With access to famous malt whiskies from the Glenlivet, Grant Grant and Longmorn distilleries, later adverts boasted that Queen Anne offered the taste of ‘three of Scotland’s finest malt whiskies in one bottle.’
Despite its longevity and the reputation of its portfolio stablemates, this once popular blend has virtually disappeared from sale.
Tasting notes;
Appearance/colour; Gold.
Nose; Your classic old bottle effect going on. But more deep. Camphor. Old cellar. Citrus. Green spices and green tea. Quite complex with blue berries, christmas spices and more apricot with time.
Palate; Oily and fruity. Some pepper. More mint now. Plums. Sweetness and of course the old bottle effect. Raspberries, almost jammy as well.
Finish: Long. Hints of bitter spices. Pears. Citrus. Herbs. Minty. Cherries. Lemon. Tonic water.
Distillery History: Queen Anne was first released by Hill, Thomson & Co. in 1884, and registered in 1902. The blend was established and promoted by the firm’s export salesman, William Shaw, who had recently joined the company. Hill, Thomson & Co. was established in 1857, though its roots go back to William Hill’s licenced grocer’s shop which opened in 1793. It remained at 45 Frederick Street in the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town for two centuries.
Queen Anne became its flagship blend alongside Something Special, and was being sold in over 100 countries by the 1980s, principally in Sweden, Italy, Venezuela, Australasia and South America.
Meanwhile, Hill, Thomson & Co. had become part of The Glenlivet Distillers Ltd in 1970, its Queen Anne blend taking a starring role in the portfolio. The group later became part of Canada’s Seagram and finally rested with French drinks giant Pernod Ricard in 2001.
Today Queen Anne continues to be registered to Hill, Thomson & Co., although its availability has somewhat diminished.
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