Yamazaki Sherry Cask Finish
Cost: $5,600Chosen by: Ryan Perry, Master Blender, Heavens DoorWhy: My favorite pricey whiskey has got to be the Yamazaki Sherry Cask Finish. The Japanese approach to blending is unmatched and the mature profile of their single malts pick-up the Sherry so elegantly. I bought this in 2016 in celebration of a hard-working business year, and have been nursing it ever since. Still more than half the bottle left!
Royal Salute Tribute To Honor $250000/ 50
Chivas Regals latest offering is called Royal Salute Tribute to Honor,, which is a luxury Scotch whisky that promises to be the most expensive Chivas ever at $250,000 a bottle. This exclusive new scotch whisky is an homage to the Scottish crown jewels, which are also the oldest in the British Isles. They are also called Tribute to Honor only in this case its plural. And, every bottle is a handcrafted flagon made from black porcelain and contains no less than 413 white and black and diamonds that are flawless, handset in both gold and silver, and totaling 22 carats. There are only 21 of these limited edition bottles that were designed by Stephen Webster, who is the Director of Garrard, which is a London-based jeweler.
How To Find Out Your Decanter’s Worth
Identifying the maker of your decanter will help determine its value. Place your decanter on its side between two books so it wont roll. By using a magnifying glass, examine its base for the makers mark. Pay special attention to the center and along the edge.
You may also use a loupe to scrutinize the flat surface of the bottom. Once you find a mark, a decanter price guide will come in handy for reference, such as Miller’s Antique Handbook and Price Guide and Jim Beam Figural Bottles: An Unauthorized Collector’s Guide.
If youre planning on selling your decanter, another factor to consider is its condition. New in the box or mint decanters are more valuable than used ones. Damages, especially around the lip and base, will devalue your decanter.
Additionally, engraving may reduce its selling price. You may also check for rarity and artistic merit as unusual designs are more prized by collectors than common ones.
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The Macallan Lalique Six Pillars Collection $993000
The Macallan Lalique Legacy Collection is a set of six crystal decanters from revered French glassmaker and jeweler Lalique, containing some of the rarest of The Macallans single malts aged from 50 to 65 years old. Each of the six sought-after limited-edition decanters had originally been single releases and are the product of a decade-long collaboration between The Macallan and the iconic French brand.
Each bottle is highly prized, but when the whole collection housed in a bespoke natural ebony cabinet that also holds six miniatures and six pairs of Lalique Macallan glasses came up for auction in April 2017, it also surpassed expectations. The spring auction at Sothebys in Hong Kong saw the incredibly rare set sell for $993,000.
How Much Is A Bottle Of Black Bowmore 50 Year Old Whiskey
Jaws dropped at the $19,600 price tag for the specialty aged whiskey, and the whiskey drinking community went into a frenzy. Social media comments centered on the pricing, with outraged followers calling it a rip off and outrageous. However those with an in-depth knowledge of single malt whiskey, and an appreciation for its taste, expected that type of asking price for that special bottle.
The Black Bowmore 50 year edition has two key factors at work, driving up the price. The first of course is its age, and the second is the limited availability of the whiskey. There is very little left of this unique single malt, as most has either been released in earlier editions.
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Are Old Bottles Of Liquor Worth Anything
The Age of the Bottle
While not all old bottles are valuable, an older bottle is more likely to be worth more than a newer one. Seams and pontil marks are two of the ways you can determine a bottles age. The pontil mark is the mark at the bottom of the bottle where it was attached to the glass blowers pontil rod.
Hanyu Ichiros Full Card Series $152m
Last year this set of ultrarare Japanese whiskies shattered its previous 2019 record by $600,000 to sell for $1.52m, reaffirming its place as the most expensive set of Japanese whisky ever sold. The highly sought-after Hanyu Ichiros Full Card Series comprises 54 bottles, each representing a playing card in a deck.
Adding to the desirability of the collection is the story of how it came to life. The renowned Hanyu distillery was established in 1941 by Isouji Akuto, who came from a long line of sake brewers. Before it ceased in 2000, Akutos grandson conserved 400 casks of fine whisky from the distillery. From these casks, he hand-selected each whisky , which was then released between 2005 and 2014 to create the Full Card Series.
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Ledaig 1996 19 Years Old
Lest ye be mistaken for a whisky neophyte, remember that this single-malt scotch from the Inner Hebrides is pronounced la-chayk or even la-chik . Ledaig, safe haven in Gaelic, is handcrafted at the Tobermory Distillery, the only whisky production facility on the impossibly colorful Isle of Mull. The Ledaig 1996 19 Years Old is what is often referred to as a peat bomb, crackling with smoky goodness from sniff to finish. And bless the ole malt masters heart for all the other wonderful things at play in this whiskytoffee and seaweed on the nose, with apple, orange, and black pepper mingling on the palate. Finishes long, with peaty embers glowing.
Midleton 45 Year Old Peated Single Malt Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection
Cost: $85,000Chosen by: Jack Teeling, Founder and Managing Director, Teeling WhiskeyWhy: The bottle of whiskey I would most like to buy would be a bottle from the first release of the Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection. This comprised of just 48 bottles of a 45-Year-Old Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey distilled in 1974 in the Old Midleton distillery which confirms the old tradition of using Peat in the making of Irish Single Malts a technique we have revived in our recent Teeling Blackpitts Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey. I would be fascinated to taste how an Irish Peated Single Malt that old from a now-mothballed distillery tastes against our new Triple Distilled Dublin take on this ancient way of making Irish whiskey.
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These 50 Year Old Scotches Have Stood The Test Of Time
September 14, 2020 | Jonny McCormick
For the whisky drinker, few moments will ever rival that of tasting a 50 year old scotch. And right now, we are witnessing the release of the last bottles from casks laid down in the 1960sa decade defined by tumultuous changes in the world: the Civil Rights protests, the Cuban missile crisis, the Vietnam War, the assassination of J.F.K., the Moon landings, and Hendrix playing The Star-Spangled Banner at Woodstock. Although blended scotch was king at the time, the 1960s also marked the inception of the single malt Scotch whisky revolution. And today, there are more 50 year old single malts to choose from than ever before.
Only an infinitesimal number of special barrels have gone the distance of 50 years, and their rarity and longevity always command top dollar. Current offerings of 50 year old scotch, like Dalmore, can cost as much as $60,000 a bottle, making others, like Benromach, look like a veritable bargain at $14,500. Therefore, you will likely belong to one of two groups: those who can afford 50 year old scotch, or those who aspire to afford 50 year old scotch. To the first group, congratulations to both of you, and to the latter, squeeze up at the back so everyone can hear.
Dalmore 50 year old
Only 200 bottles of Macallan 50 year old were produced.
Balvenie Fifty: Marriage 0197
Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye
Cost: $2,000Chosen by: Sean Josephs, Co-Founder and Taster, Pinhook BourbonWhy: When I opened by bourbon bar Char No. 4 in 2008 in New York, Pappy Van Winkle was still gathering dust on the shelves of retail stores. While it is easy to fall into the trap of saying the Pappy hype is overblown and that the bottles are not worth the price, my initial experience with Pappy was at a time when some of the expressions had a wholesale price of $40. I am happy to admit that I prefer rye to bourbon and even back then with little demand for Pappy, there was so little of the Van Winkle 13 Year rye that my restaurant only got 1 bottle per year. There is something so rich, decadent, complex and umami laden about the VW 13 Rye which I found to be a unique flavor profile that was also the penultimate representation of everything I love about rye. Regardless of the stratospheric pricing, I could justify the cost to get my hands on this amazing bottle and take a walk/drink down memory lane.
Cost: $700 Chosen by: Brendan McCarron, Head of Maturing Whisky Stocks, The Glenmorangie and ArdbegWhy: One whisky I have spent money on a few times and love is St Magdalenes whisky. The reason its expensive and rare is the distillery is now closed so its like drinking a piece of history to me now, and lowland whiskies can be amazing but this one is sadly gone.
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Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 10 Year Old
Peated whisky can be divisive, particularly at the extreme end of the spectrum. You either like it or you dont there are very few people on the fence here. Bruichladdichs core expression is actually unpeated, but the Port Charlotte range goes completely in the opposite direction with whiskies that are smoky like five-alarm fires. The thing is, there is still a good deal of subtlety to this 10-year-old spirit, which is aged in a combination of bourbon barrels and wine casks and has a PPM of 40 . This is an almost savory whisky, with a supporting cast of stone fruit, vanilla and even some honey notes, striking a nice balance throughout each sip.
Photo: courtesy Highland Park
Highland Park is a whisky lovers single malt, releasing peated but not overpoweringly smoky whiskies aged mostly in sherry casks. Fans of this Viking-themed distillery were very excited about the first cask strength release, which came out in 2020. The second batch clocks in at 63.9 percent ABV, slightly higher than the first, with no chill filtration or color added. The whisky was aged in European and American sherry-seasoned oak, with a small amount of bourbon barrels included as well. Add a few drops of water and the palate expands, with baking spice, toffee, pear and dried fig notes intermingling into something delightful.
Do Bottles Of Whiskey Increase In Value
Most collectible bottles are over 10 years old and value usually increases with the age of the whisky. Whisky over 30 years old is the most sought after as it is the rarest. Any whisky bottled at over 50 years old is highly desirable and a very limited number of distilleries have released whisky over 50 years old.
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Best 10 Year Old: Jura 10 Year Old
courtesy of Total Wine
Region: Islands | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Vanilla, Orange, Cherry
Though not as well-known an island as its neighbor Islay, the isle of Jura also boasts a history of scotch productionand its namesake distillery offers a delicious and approachable 10-year-old expression. This scotch is rested in bourbon barrels and then finished in Oloroso sherry casks, says Adam Morgan, head bartender at Husk Nashville. This unique finish lends a balanced yet sweet finish that dances between spice and oak. The smoke on this particular scotch is soft and intriguing for any first-time scotch drinker.
Are Old Bottles Of Whiskey Worth Anything
Old and rare doesnt mean something is very valuable. The value is determined by what others are willing to pay for it and what you can collect for it. Whiskey doesnt age or improve in the bottle like wine does. Whiskey that was bottled decades ago will still taste similar to the day it was bottled.
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Whats Your Bottle Worth
Please provide information about your bottles so that we can provide you with a valuation.
- STEP 2: We approach our contacts
We contact our extensive network of industry and private buyers who will make offers if they are interested in your whisky. We can broker sales internationally, ensuring your whisky reaches the largest possible audience.
Selling privately gives you more control over the process compared to selling at auction and ensures you get the best price for your whisky. Auction can sometimes be the best option, but commission often means there is a 50% difference between what the buyer pays and the seller receives.
Once all offers have been received we will contact you with the offers. You are welcome to discuss the offers with us.
- STEP 3: If you want to proceed we issue you with a contract
Once you have decided to accept an offer we will issue you with a contract for the agreed price.
The contract is an agency agreement giving us the right to complete the sale of your bottle on your behalf. It is the same as the contract you would receive if you sold at auction, except the price is agreed and forms an integral part of the agreement. It outlines all our legal obligations to you acting as your agent and also covers payment terms.
Our brokerage fee is 10% for private sales, including VAT.
There are no other charges, except the courier fee if you decide to use that service. Please see STEP 4 for more information.
The Macallan Triple Cask Matured 18 Years Old
This legendary single malt, formerly known as Fine Oak 18 Years Old, is an amalgam of spirits aged in a trio of different oak caskssherry-seasoned European oak, sherry-seasoned American oak, and American ex-bourbon barrels. Of the many brilliant expressions produced by the Macallan, Triple Cask Matured 18arguably, of coursebest exemplifies the identity of the brands core range: scotch that is exceedingly smooth, elegant, and adorned with disparate tastes that somehow come together in perfect harmony. Dominant flavors include rich dark chocolate, dried coconut, and orange, with subtle notes of vanilla, nutmeg, and wood smoke. Best enjoyed neat with a side of toasted marshmallows dipped in Pedro Ximénez sherry.
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Old Unopened Bottles Of Whiskey
Note: If you have found an old bottle and are looking for resources to evaluate or sell it, you can find a short list here: Whiskey, Rum and Old Spirit Bottle Price Evaluators. For background information on stability and drinkability, read below.
It seems people are finding lots of old bottles of whisky that are still sealed and are wondering whether they are still good and what the value of the bottle would be. For the most part, any bottle of unsealed high proof spirit should be safe as weve seen by the sales of very old scotch whiskies. As for the value of these old bottles, it will depend on the type of spirit and the stated age and how old the bottle is. For example, a bottle of Glenavon whisky from 1851 sold for about $29,000. The bottles that will attract the most interest would be anything pre-prohibition, or items that are out of production.
Unlike wine, once whisky, and spirits in general, are bottled they dont age. Technically there can still be some changes going on, if let says the bottle was exposed to light for a long period of time, but for the most part, once bottled high proof spirits dont age. The reason wine ages are because of the chemical nature of the wine. The compounds in grapes tend to oxidize and soften the wine over time. This is a good characteristic for wine. When spirits are aged, they pick up flavours from the oak barrels and thats about it.
Additional Whisky Topics
Best Under $: Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie
Region: Islay | ABV: 50% | Tasting Notes: Green Apple, Brown Sugar, Grass
Bruichladdich is known for releasing some intensely smoky whisky, a signature flavor profile of the Islay region of Scotland. This includes the Port Charlotte and annual Octomore releases, which at times reaches some of the highest levels of peat in any whisky out there. But the core bottling is actually this lovely unpeated whisky.
The Classic Laddie is a non-age statement single malt that is light and full of notes of citrus, sweet malted barley, vanilla and honey. This is a good value at under $100, a great whisky to sip neat, and elevates a simple highball cocktail.
The team at Bruichladdich has been hard at work establishing themselves in the field, and this rare unpeated whisky from Islay absolutely brings some modern, forward-thinking, and transparency to the region.” Stephen Kurpinsky, U.S. brand ambassador for Mr. Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur
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One Small Sip For Man
In the summer of 1969, Scottish Malt Distillers filled a refill sherry cask at Benromach Distillery. A month later, man first walked on the Moon. By 1983, NASA was pushing the space shuttle program to four missions a year, but scotch whisky was in trouble, and numerous distilleries fell silent, including Benromach. When Gordon & MacPhail bought the dilapidated site in 1993, the distillery building was nothing more than a shell. In 1998, a new Benromach Distillery was opened on the site, which was the same year that the international space station launched into orbit. By 2009, Benromach launched its own 10 year old whisky. And this year, that 1969 cask was finally disgorged as Benromach 50 year old, the oldest whisky in the distillerys current range.
Benromach was the first distillery in Scotland to have oil-fired direct stills, but by the late 1960s, shell-and-tube condensers had replaced the worm tubs and the stills were switched to indirect firing. Benromach transitioned from floor maltings to buying commercial malt in 1968, so the peatiness dwindled as the stocks of house malt were used up. Distillery records from the 1960s are meager, but the gentle smoke on the Benromach 50 year old causes us to consider whether the inclusion of some of the final floor malted barley appears here. Perhaps it is a last glimpse: a final taste.