A fantastic range of whisky, with examples from nearly every major distillery across Scotland, is on offer in Tennants Auctioneer’s Fine Wine and Whisky Sale on 12th December. Incorporating several good Private Collections, the sale offers high-end bottles for investors, rare mid-range collectors’ bottles and interesting, good value bottles for drinking or those looking to start collecting.
Macallan once again dominates the top end of the sale, with the like of The Macallan 18 Years Old. Examples in the sale include a bottle distilled in 1970 and bottled in 1988 (estimate: £2,000-2,500 plus buyer’s premium), and a bottle distilled in 1966 and bottled in 1984 (estimate: £1,600-2,000).
One of the rarer bottles in the sale is a Macallan-Glenlivet 1937 35 Years Old Pure Highland Malt Scotch Whisky (estimate: £3,000-4,000). Not only is this a desirable Pre-War distillation with a good age, but it is also an Italian import bottle by Pinerolo. There was a boom in whisky drinking in Italy after the Second World War, and a large number of bottles were imported by Italian retailers. Indeed, the country was the biggest consumer of single malt in the 1970s. In recent years, they have become a strong niche area of collecting.
A good selection of Dalmore is also on offer. The highland distillery is currently performing well at auction, being highly sought after. Highlights to look out for include the Dalmore Directors’ Cut 21 Years Old, distilled in 1990 and bottled in 2011 by Douglas Laing & Co. One of 297 bottles, it is sold with original wooden box with an estimate of £300-500. Also of note is a Dalmore 1981 Matusalem Sherry Finesse Highland Single Malt Whisky (estimate: £600-800). The whisky was matured in American white oak bourbon barrels for 22 years, followed by a prolonged maturation in Matusalem sherry casks from Gonzalez Byass.
Port Ellen, an Islay silent distillery, is also well represented in the sale. On offer is a Port Ellen 30 Years Old, Old Malt Cask 60th Anniversary Commemorative Bottling. Number one of 234, the bottle was released in 2009 and is entered with an estimate of £700-1,000. A Port Ellen 35 Year Old Platinum Selection Distilled in 1977 and bottled by Douglas Laing & Co. Ltd. is offered with an estimate of £1,000-1,500.
With provenance from the distillery is a Bowmore Bicentenary 1979 Single Malt Whisky in original wooden presentation case with certificate (estimate of £2,000-4,000). The vendor received the bottle from Bowmore in exchange for a drawing he did of the distillery whilst he was visiting Islay.
Further interesting lots to look out for include a Rosebank 12 Years Old Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Flora and Fauna release (estimate: £200-300), a Springbank 27 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky Chieftain’s bottling distilled in 1974 (estimate: £400-600), and a selection of limited edition releases from That Boutique-Y Whisky Company.
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