Whisky · Scotland · brand
The Antiquary. Five whiskies.
From the shelf
Everything we have from The Antiquary
Click on a bottle for the rest of the details.
A blend named after a book
The Antiquary is named after the 1816 novel by Sir Walter Scott. The early labels showed the main character: Jonathan Oldbuck, the antiquarian. The brothers John and William Hardie launched the blend from their Edinburgh trading business and registered the name in 1888.
A long line of owners followed, until the Tomatin distillery took over the brand in 1996. Since June 2024 a new range has been on the shelves: three old blends with an unusually high share of malt whisky, finished on claret, port and sherry casks respectively.
The bottles we have in stock
Bottles from the old and the new range mixed together; the characteristic diamond-shaped bottle has remained through all changes of ownership.
From Edinburgh to the Highlands
- A brief history
- 1888The trademark registered by J&W Hardie in Edinburgh.
- 1917Sold to J&G Stewart.
- 1996Taken over by The Tomatin Distillery Co.
- 2024Relaunch with three old blends, on 24 June.
The house J&W Hardie was an Edinburgh trading business in tea, wine and spirits. Sources contradict each other about the exact founding year; it was in the second half of the nineteenth century. What is certain is 1888, the year in which the name The Antiquary was registered.
In 1917 the brand went to J&G Stewart and disappeared into a larger concern. In 1996 the Highland distillery Tomatin bought the brand and the firm Hardie. That put the blend in the hands of a house with its own distillery, although nowhere is it claimed that it contains only Tomatin.
The June 2024 series consists of a fifteen-year-old finished in Bordeaux casks, a twenty-one-year-old in tawny port casks and a thirty-year-old in sherry casks from Jerez. All three at forty percent, all three a blend of Highland and Speyside malts with Lowland grain.
Named after a book, bottled in a diamond-shaped bottle.
What these bottles go with
An aged blend is something different from an ordinary blend: it contains more malt whisky and the glass is perfectly suited to slow sipping.
The diamond-shaped bottle is instantly recognisable on the shelf and works well as a gift.
Call 0570 541 278 or drop in at Brink 2 in Bathmen.
Frequently asked questions about The Antiquary
How many The Antiquary does ’t Bockje have in stock?
Five bottles.
Where does the name come from?
From the novel The Antiquary of 1816 by Sir Walter Scott. The early labels showed the main character Jonathan Oldbuck.
Who is the owner?
The Tomatin Distillery Co., which took over the brand and the firm J&W Hardie in 1996.
Is The Antiquary a single malt?
No, it is a blend of Highland and Speyside malts with Lowland grain, with an unusually high proportion of malt whisky.
What changed in 2024?
On 24 June 2024 a new range arrived: a fifteen-year-old on Bordeaux casks, a twenty-one-year-old on tawny port casks and a thirty-year-old on sherry casks.
Can I collect these bottles in Bathmen?
Yes. You can always order online or collect at Brink 2, or simply walk in.
Order, collect or drop by
- In stock in our shop at Brink 2 in Bathmen
- Available to order online and have delivered, including abroad
- Order online or collect in Bathmen
- Personal advice via 0570 541 278 or info@bockje.nl
- Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday 09.00–18.00, Saturday 09.00–17.00. Closed Monday and Sunday
Wij verkopen geen alcohol aan personen onder de 18 jaar. NIX18.
All 5 bottles at a glance
Each bottle shows the details from the label.
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Brink 2, Bathmen
All our stock is in the shop, not in a warehouse somewhere else. If you walk in with a name you couldn't find anywhere, it is often simply here on the shelf. You can also call: 0570 541 278.
Wij verkopen geen alcohol aan personen onder de 18 jaar. NIX18
- Tuesday to Friday 09.00 – 18.00
- Saturday 09.00 – 17.00
- Monday and Sunday closed