Weekly Whisky Auction Watch
Andy Simpson
22.01.2013
Far quieter on the whisky auction front this week. It’s a bit of a relief from recent weeks as it’s giving me the chance to catch up with other things, like…… clearing the snow off the drive and ….. clearing the snow off the drive and, oh yes, clearing the snow off the drive!
So I’m sat writing this in agony with a very cold and more modern version of the ailment known as monkey shoulder; just from shovelling snow rather than turning barley!
While there were no bottles of huge value sold last week, it was interesting to see the continuation of demand for older discontinued standard bottlings. There are a distilleries ‘house malt’ (Lagavulin 16 year old, Highland Park 12 year old etc) which have been discontinued; in some cases not that long ago.
Older discontinued bottles from Tamdhu are now starting to increase in value. These were selling for as little as £20 four years ago with one selling last week for just over £50.
Staying on the same theme, an older mid 1990’s Highland Park 12 year old bottle sold for just over £90. Again, four years ago, these were selling for just £30. Also Glenmorangies now discontinued Madeira Wood Finish sold for £85. The ‘set’ of these bottles (Madeira, Burgundy, Port and Sherry) seems to be increasing at the moment.
The old bottle of Springbank 21 year old seems to have found a new trading level at around the £250 mark. One sold last week for £255. Seem to remember someone in the dim and distant past telling me they bought theirs for just £30. If only!
All in all, a vastly quieter week…. But if your bidding finger is suffering from lack of exercise I’m sure there will be another raft of rarities appearing soon. Scotch Whisky Auctions, Whisky-Online Auctions and McTears all have imminent sales.
Until next week.
Slainte,
Andy.
