What makes certain whiskies so expensive?

“An old whisky matured for a long time before it was bottled, or one bottled a long time ago. A high age statement costs a fair amount of money, as will anything before the Nineties. Over that time, it will have developed a lot of flavour and character: a drop of liquid history, frozen in time.”

What should I collect?

“Anything hard to get or limited in supply. Bottles from silent distilleries like Littlemill or Caperdonich are costly because those whiskies will never be made again. The same goes for novelty and uniqueness, like the one Frank Sinatra gave to a doorman as a tip.”

What is secondary market whisky?

“Here, people buy whisky they know will be in-demand and flip at a higher cost in auctions. It can be a cyclical market too: the more money a whisky sells for on the secondary market, the more it will make in the future, as people want to cash in on how much it will go for at auction.”

How much could I pay?

“In 2019 The Macallan Fine & Rare 1926 60-year-old single malt set a world record for a bottle, fetching £1.5 million at auction [this world record has since been beaten by the same spirit at £2.1 million].”

Why is single malt more expensive?

“It’s made from 100% malted barley, distilled at a single distillery in pot stills and aged in oak barrels for a minimum of three years. The flavour tends to reflect the unique characteristics of the distillery’s location and production methods, too.”

Does expensive whisky taste better?

“Here, it’s important to note that price does not always equal quality. Neither does age or prestige. None of the above means much if a whisky isn’t to your taste. Ultimately that’s what whisky is about. Taste is subjective.”

Ready to invest? Here’s four whiskies to add to your collection before they’re gone:

Glenfarclas Family Case Trunk 1000cl – £115,000

This trunk is a spectacular addition to the Glenfarclas’ Family Cask collection, believed to be the most expansive single collection ever released by one distillery. It contains every vintage made by the Speyside distillery between 1954 and 2003 – 50 200ml bottles of Glenfarclas goodness.

Midleton 47 Year Old Silent Distillery Collection Chapter Three 75cl – £32,995

The Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection is made up of some of the last surviving casks distilled at the Old Midleton Distillery in Cork. Chapter Three in the collection is a single pot still Irish whiskey taken from two casks, an ex-sherry butt, and an ex-bourbon barrel, both of which were distilled in 1973.

Visit www.masterofmalt.com

Glen Grant 1948 (cask 1365) King Charles III Coronation Release (Gordon & MacPhail 70cl) – £24,995

Marking King Charles’ III coronation and hailing from the Glen Grant distillery, this single malt was distilled in 1948, the birth year of King Charles, then filled in a sherry cask to mature. Despite over seven decades of maturation, the spirit retained a hearty cask strength of 50.4% ABV upon bottling in 2022.

The Dalmore 45 Year Old 1966 (cask 7) Constellation Collection 70cl – £22,999.95

This 45-year-old expression was first aged in an American white oak ex-bourbon cask for 37 years – but that just wasn’t enough for the Dalmore team. They then moved the whisky over to a Matusalem Oloroso sherry cask for six years, and then finally two more years in a bourbon barrel.

Disclaimer: This feature is for editorial purposes only and should not be regarded as financial advice. Prices, product details and availability were correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change. The value of whisky or any collectable may rise or fall, and readers are encouraged to seek independent professional advice before making investment decisions. Best of Living supports mindful enjoyment of alcohol – please drink responsibly. For guidance and support, visit drinkaware.co.uk.

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