Rare Whisky Review – August 2016

When we finally close out August, we’ll have seen one of the largest (if not the single largest) open market volume months ever. Supply has been astounding, not just with three thousand bottles of whatever Ardbeg released on their last ‘day’, but with some massive malts; many of the kings of collectables emerged, and boy did they fly. We’re primarily going to focus on just two iconic collectors distilleries this month.

Bowmore and Macallan.

Starting with Bowmore; we’re witnessing some exceptional increases in value for certain bottles from this classic collectors distillery. Currency fluctuations can be held responsible for an element of these increases; however, before the significant weakening of Sterling, we had already witnessed exceptional buoyancy in the rare whisky market despite any forex related movement.

Whisky-Online Auctions (W-OA) started August with a record price for the 1955 40 year old. Always re-assuringly expensive, even as far back as 2008 these were selling for over £3,000. £6,200 took the bottle on this occasion. London based Whisky. Auction took a 30 year old ‘Sea Dragon’ ceramic to £1,550, just surpassing its previous best of £1,500. Crazy to think that even as recently as 2011 these sea dragon ceramics could be bought at auction for around £250.

Turning to Whisky Auctioneer and a bottle of White Bowmore managed a superb £5,100, way past its 2012 low-point of £1,700. Whisky Auctioneer also took a bottle of the 1965 vintage ‘Premier Range’ to £6,100; exactly £1,000 past its previous best of £5,100.

At the slightly less racy end of the market, also at Whisky Auctioneer, two bottles of the 1984 ‘Vintage Distillation’ sold for £312 (another sold for £271) a clear record for this bottle. This bottle was selling for £60 in 2012, therefore crystallising a four year gain of 420%.

Scotch Whisky Auctions August sale further illustrated the stiff demand for Bowmore. One of the 70cl variant bottles of the 1964 38 year old Bourbon Cask bottling achieved £4,300, comfortably exceeding a previous best of £3,600. The exceptionally rare Fecchio & Frassa Bicentenary bottle at 98.8 proof managed £2,800, £300 past its previous best.

As one of the classic-collectable distilleries, Bowmore rarities will inevitably remain sought after and August prices have confirmed that. But moving away from Islay and onto the mainland we find a distillery which is not just a ‘classic-collectable’ but arguably the king of collectables – Macallan had some stunning performances this month.

Scotch Whisky Auctions took a bottle of Private eye to £2,100.

£35 in 1996. £2,100 in 2016

I remember complaining bitterly at paying a hefty (it was then) £260 price-tag for a bottle some years ago but that seems almost a moot price-point now. I know I’ve mentioned this previously but I still find it incredible these originally retailed for £35 in 1996. The mini’s were even given away free with bottles of 10 year old at one point. Long gone are those days.

Virtually every vintage 18 year old bottling is now becoming a prize for the wealthy drinker/collector/investor. Prices are continuing to march north at a rapid pace. We do fear there will be a cooling at some point so unless these are being bought to drink, we urge extreme caution if buying at todays heated prices as an investment. Gap filling a collection? We completely understand that, but prices are looking ‘toppy’ right now.

Whisky Auctioneer sold a 1969 vintage 18 year old for £1,600 and the 1976’s are now around the £1,150 mark. For the first time, more than £1,000 was paid for the 1978 and 1979 vintages.

Just-Whisky brought some incredible bottles to market in their August sale. Little more than a week had passed since Whisky Auctioneer set a new £16,300 record for the 1949 vintage Millennium decanter when Just-whisky moved one for £17,675.

Not to be confused with sherry…

When you next see my Co-Director, David, be sure and ask him about the time his very generous wife accidentally made what is possibly the worlds most expensive trifle with the Macallan Millennium liquid…

This month is to remain dominated by Bowmore and Macallan, however there are a couple of other record prices which can’t go without mention. Scotch Whisky Auctions £13,000 price for a bottle of Dalmore 1926 50 year old and what is surely the most expensive 20cl baby-bottle ever… A 20 cl variant Mortlach 70 year old by Gordon and MacPhail rocketed to £12,000…

The most expensive 20cl bottle ever.

I can’t help but wonder if the buyer in some way misread it and thought they were getting a full-sized bottle for a bargain.

Although in the current market, “a bargain” seems increasingly unlikely…

Until next time, slainte.

Andy and David.