Ask The Collector - August

When I get questions on the value of Scotch bottles, I turn to the most knowledgeable collector I know, Sukhinder Singh, proprietor of London-based The Whisky Exchange.

Last month we introduced The Collector - you send in questions about the value of bottles of Scotch you have laying around, Sukhinder answers them, and then at the end of the month I post the questions here for everyone to read.

So if you have questions on a collectible bottle you've discovered, send them in, and we'll get them answered. Use the "...Ask the Collector" link under "Stay in Touch..." over to the right.

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Ground Rules

We are getting swamped with emails every month! Believe me, we get a LOT of questions and only a small percentage of them make it here - but we try to respond to everyone.

In order to help reduce the amount of work, I thought I'd establish some ground rules:

1. Before emailing, please look through the old "Ask The Collector" stories, to see if a similar bottle has already been appraised. If we get another question about the value of a bottle of White Horse from 1990, I'm going to put my head through the screen.
2. Some people have been leaving questions for Sukhinder in the comments. This is a no-no. I will assume any questions left in comments are for other readers to answer and NOT for Sukhinder - If you want Sukhinder's expert opinion please use the "...Ask the Collector" email address in the link to the right.
3. No questions will be considered without an included picture. I spend too much time asking people for pictures. Starting in 2007, I'm afraid we can't respond to any questions which don't include a picture of the bottle. In you don't include a picture, you won't get a response. Make sure your pictures include the fill level as well as the label and any distinguishing characteristics!
4. If Sukhinder makes an offer to buy your bottle, please do him the courtesy of responding whether you accept his offer or not.
5. Please visit The Whisky Exchange - either in person or via their website. Let's support Sukhinder, as he is providing this valuation services for free!

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If you want to read more about The Whisky Exchange, here is a story from May 2006.

The Whisky Exchange has a fantastic selection, and will do mail order around the world.

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Dear Collector

How much is this worth... a fifth bottle of Ambassador Royal Blended Scotch Whisky, aged 12 yrs.  The bottle is unopened in perfect condition bought around 1972.  Thank You in advance.

Nicole W.

Dear Ms. W.,

Ambassador Royal was primarily made for the US - I would say it is worth about US$100 - $150. Hope this helps.

Regards, Sukhinder

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Dear Collector

We have a bottle of 1893 Glen Moray/Glenlivet scotch that is a pinch style bottle.  The seal and label are intact and it is about half full.  Our grandfather brought the bottle back after his service in WWII.  He says he got the bottle in Italy.  He lost it on a bet to our father who has since passed away and the bottle is now with my sister and I.

We contacted Sothebys (Martin Green) in 1999 and they told us they could sell the bottle for us but it would cost us a fortune to send it to Scotland because at the time it could not be auctioned in the US.  We do not know the current process.

We believe we have a very rare bottle and we were told by Glenlivet that it is potable.  They wanted to buy it for their museum but wanted to buy it for $300.00.  We would rather drink it and sell the empty bottle than sell it for such a low price.   We do have pictures available that we can e-mail and fax you any research documents you might want to see.  Can you offer any advice or should we just have a really nice dinner and celebrate with the scotch?

Thank you for any assistance you can provide and for your time.

Karin and Kim H.

Dear Karin & Kim,

You have a very nice bottle there and it could have been worth a lot, except for.......the level.
I know the bottle well, it was bottled around the 1920's and is in a dumpy 3 sided bottle.

Unfortunately, the level is a key element for a collector and considering it is so low at the moment, it can only get worse. I feel it is worth about US$600 - $800 in this condition - if the level was perfect I would have been happy to offer you $1750, as it would have been a nice addition to my collection.

I know you are considering drinking it, it will be a 50/50 as to how good it is.
With such little liquid in the bottle, oxidation may have finished the whisky.

Regards, Sukhinder

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Dear TSB

I have recently found a bottle of Kings Ransom scotch  whisky it is unopened and is in a stoneware jug. There is no date on the tax stamp, but it was found with  bottle of 1955 Crown Royal. There is a state of Illinois tax stamp on it for 1.00. On the bottom of the jug it says made in England. Feels about 3/4 or more full. Any idea of the date on this and is there any worth? Thanks.
- SKelly

Dear Skelly,

This ceramic was made in a similar design from the 1940's to the 1960's. This one should be about the mid 1950's to the early 1960's.

You are right about the level of fill - 2/3 full, some old ceramics do have an evaporation problem.

Even though it is fairly old, these do come up quite often, so, it's only worth about US $100.

Regards, Sukhinder

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Dear TSB

How much is this worth... Someone gave me a closed bottle of 30yr Ballantine's scotch, he says he has had it for 20yrs.  It does not say the year it was made but it does have a number on the bottom S987.  Does that mean anything?

Henry K.

 

Dear Henry,

I would guess this bottle is from the 1970's, maybe a little earlier. The same type of label was used for many years and even today it is quite similar.
I feel this bottle is worth about US$250 - $300

Regards, Sukhinder

Comments

[Ramy]

Dear Collector,

I have a bottle of Canadian Crown Royal whisky from 1959....Is it worth something ?
Thank you very much for your assistance.
Ramy

[Ralph Lyon]

A few weeks ago you dated and price quoted a couple of old bottles of Scotch for me ($100-Johnny Walker Black & $200-White Horse...pre-1936 & still very potable).

I just realized that I never thanked you for your help. I've decided to keep them as opposed to selling them. They'll be a great way to celebrate an upcoming special occasion.

Thanks again for your help!

Sincerely,
Ralph Lyon

[Tom Borg]

I have a bottle of Kings Ransom Blended Scotch Whiskey from William Whitely & company. It is still sealed and wrapped in wire. How much is it worth how old is it

[deb]

I have been gifted the following unopened bottles
all from early to mid sixties so i am told

what value could you access to each?

ballantines square bottle

kings ransom

lord calvert square tall tapered

peter heering

benedictine

[chieu]

dear collector
i have a unopen bottle of crown royal dated in 1972 can you give me a price on what it may be worth?

[Nicole B.]

I have recently stumbled on to a bottle of King's Ransom Scotch that was stored in my Grandfather's attic. The bottle is still sealed, wrapped in thin wire and more than 2/3 full. On the bottle there is a 16 cent Missouri tax stamp and a label announcing that due to wartime production the packaging of the product had changed, but the quality hadn't. I do not currently have a picture but would be glad to email you one. How much could this bottle be worth?

[josh]

Dear Collector
I have an unopen bottle of kings ransom that came in a treasure chest like music box with a shot glass and two glasses. it has thin wire and an unbroken seal. any idea what that may be worth?
thanks. josh.

[Angel]

Hi,

I have a BLUE Porcelain Pinch 750ml bottle:

PINCH 15 Year Old Scotch Whiskey (John Haig & Co.)

It is new and never been opened. I got it as a gift over 17 years ago. The bottle does look like it made from glass...it looks porcelain.

Do you have any idea of it's value?

Thanks,

Angel

[david hollister]

i was wondering if you can help me out with finding the price of a 1970 bottle of crown royal. I've had the bottle for about 12 years and never really knew the value. Your help will be very appreciated

[Sandra A. Sessions]

I have a bottle of Ballantine's 17 year old Scotch Whiskey that I purchased for my father at Heathrow's duty free shop, in 1985, upon returning to the U.S. while serving in the Air Force. My parents recently moved in with us and found the bottle, still in the box with the duty free label intact. I paid 11.55 then...any idea of it's worth? Should we just drink it now since they saved it for a special occasion? I think selling their ranch in Texas and moving to Idaho at the age of 75 and 72 is a special occasion, don't you?
Thank you for your help,
Sandra A. Sessions

[Angelica]

I found a bottle of Haig & Haig 5 Star Blended Scotch. The label also says it has been aged 8 years. This bottle was in my grandfather's bar. The label looks quite old and no year is listed. However it does have a bottle stamp # of 36-5500334. Can you tell me its value?

[Terri]

Hello -
I have a couple of Spey Royal Whiskey Bottles and am trying to figure out idea on value. They are about 18 inches tall and have a little dome on the bottom that has a little musical man in a kilt that dances with the music - I cant find much info on them---- The top and bottom is both white with a couple bands of red and black checkered design -

[priscilla Ostapiej]

I have a bottle of unopened Haig Pinch scotch that is encased in a pewter casing. Bottled in 1989 that I am interested in selling. It has a denmark seal plus a serial number along with a crown on the label. I haven't been able to find one like it on the internet and came across this site. Please e-mail me back and I will gladly send you a picture of the bottle itself. Thank you Priscilla
lei-momi-lani@inbox.com

[Dear Collector]

I have a bottle of Auchentoshan 1962. I have bottle 39 out of 112 ever made. I am intrested how much this would sell for.

[Lorne]

I was recently given a bottle of Haig & Haig (dimple) that looks rather old (the labels are yellowed and cracked). Where might I find out how old it is or if it's worth anything? The person who gave it to me doesn't have any info on it.
Thanks,
Lorne

[Steve]

I have a bottle of Pinch 12yo that is allegedly from WWII era. It has a Bottle Stamp with Renfield Importers on it. Stamp #34-0096203. Any idea how old it is? Tastes great!

[Rick L McPhail]

I have a haig & haig bottle of scotch its very old a wire tie and metal cap twist tie cap. and old paper label maybe from the 30tys what would it be worth? Rickslookin2000@msn.com

[Tammy]

I have a bottle of Lord Calverts Whisky that was given as a gift to my great uncle in 1955 it has never been opened it still has the original paper seal on it along with be in the original box. The box says A special Gift Decanter Designed by George Nelson. Can you tell me what this is worth?
Thanks

[fred jones]

I have two bottles of dimple scotch unopened. The first is a royal pewter purchased in 1980 the second is a ceramic comemorative for the 75th anniversary of the Royal Australian Navy purchased in 1985. Could you give me a valuation please.

Fred

[JamesB]

While helping to clean out the wine cellar at my folks home, I found an unopened bottle of Spey Royal 8yrs Old Blended Scotch Whisky. My search to find out if this is something drinkable or if it's turned into jet fuel has come to naught, except it did lead me here. Any/all direction is appreciated in advance. Thanks!

[David Paglia]

hi, i recently got a bottle of Ambassador 25 year old scotch from a friends mothers house that has been on a shelf in her basment for 45 or more years, its a full bottle and the tax seal is still intact on top, there is no date on it. It is 4/5th not a full quart. Is there anyway of dating the bottle to a close year? And whats it worth?

[jackie]

I have also the same chest as Josh 2-16-07 posting but it has a program sheet for Micheal Todd the producer of "Around the World in Eighty Days"--- It shows the guest that were there--like Debbie Reynolds, Lucille Ball--- many celebraties at the time. Do you know of this King Ransoms 4/5 qt gift?

[David Wright]

Hi, I recently found some bottles that were stored in my grandmothers closet after she passed away, they were my grandfathers who passed away in 1969 so they have been in there since 1969 atleast, I didn't know they were valuable and have opened 1, the Ambassador Scotch Whiskey 25 yrs old in the box,stamp etc. (its wonderful) But I have a Haig & Haig Ltd Pinch 4/5 bottle full, unopened with stamp in the box (box poor shape) also Chivas Regal in the pouch with booklet and in the can with a 1955 tax stamp. could you please let me know what they may be worth? Thank You David

[Carl Jones II]

i have recently found a bottle of johnny walker red with a alabama abc tax stap #244078491 it also has a atf stamp # I 497 on it the bottle is 100% full and is 86.8 proof rather than the 80.00 proof the alabama stamp is for a mini or a 1/2 pint yet the bottle is a litre

[Don]

I have a friend which has a bottle of King Ransom Scotch dated 1943-1945 4/5 of a Qt which was brought home from the war by her mother gentelmen friend and sent it to her to hold until he came home and they could enjoy it together. She has the original box it came in as well. It is still sealed and in perfect condition. Wondering its value