Ask The Collector - September

And now another installment of our very popular "Ask The Collector" column in which Sukhinder Singh of The Whisky Exchange answers questions about the value of collectible whisky.

The Collector is published on the last Friday of each month, though we generally respond to questions within a day or so (completely dependant upon Sukhinder's schedule).

Remember, when you are in London, you can visit The Whisky Exchange in Hanwell or at their satellite at Vinopolis near the Borough Market. And of course, The Whisky Exchange takes mail orders.

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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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Dear Collector

A friend of mine gave me 10 sealed bottles of 1968 Dewar's White Label.  Is it worth anything and do you have any tasting notes from similar Dewar's vintages?

Thanks
Mike W.

Hi Mike,

Even though old blends seem a bit boring and are not worth very much, they are very good for drinking - the quality is generally far superior than today's bottling.

By the way, how do you know it is from 1968 as they are never dated?

If the date is correct it is not worth that much, US$50 - $60

Regards, Sukhinder

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Hi Mate,

Thought the following might be of interest.

I  have perhaps the last bottle of Prohibition era Sandy MacDonald Pot Still Malt Whisky from a find in the Detroit River circa 1987. Others  from this underwater find were sold at Christie's Whisky Action in Glasgow in the 1990's - allegedly from a shipment bound for Capone's speakeasies in Cicero.

This bottle is in very good condition, all labels mostly intact, lead foil seal and pristine cork protecting full-to-neck contents.

Might this rare bottle be of interest to collectors?
Jim

Hi Jim,

Nice bottle, but definitely not the last one of its kind. We found a case of these about 12 months ago.

A shame the label is not perfect, what is the level of fill like? The age is about right, 1930's.

If the level is around the neck, it is worth about US$400 - US$500

Regards, Sukhinder

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I got this bottle from my parents, who got it for their wedding about 36 years ago. Unopened.

Thanks, Brian

Brian,
The modern ones Chivas Royal Salute carafes are made by Wade. This should be worth about US$200 - US$250

Regards, Sukhinder

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Dear TSB

I've managed to get my hands on a Glenury Royal 12yo 70pr 26 2/3 FL ozs not sure what year it is any info you could give me on it would be appreciated.

with thanks

Brendan T.

Dear Brendan,

 
Nice bottle. Very difficult to find nowadays. This version was bottled in the late 1970's.
The distillery closed in 1985, and I believe the last bottlings were from around this time
Hope this helps,
 
Regards, Sukhinder

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Hi could you tell me how much  this is worth?
I have a limited edition 14 year old Macallan 1991 sherry Oak, Easter Elchies - a cask strength bottling; one of only 570. 54% vol

Many Thanks
Adrian. 

Adrian,

This is quite a modern bottling, which has now sold out. I would say it is selling for about US$200 currently.

Regards
Sukhinder

Comments

[Michael C.]

Greetings,

My wife's grandfather recently gave to us one bottle of White Label Dewar's Blended Scotch Whisky. It has the seal across the top with a particular number. The seal also says "Schenley Import Corporation, New York, NY".

We do not know our whiskey. Yet, this bottle looks old, perhaps from the mid 1950's. The liquid line goes to the very bottom of the neck.

What value would you put on this?

Thank you for your help!

Michael C.

[Amy A.]

Hi there!

I have a bottle of Cassis Liqueur Bardinet Bordeaux. There is a 16 cent California tax stamp on it. Also stamped into the glass are the words: Federal law forbids sale or re-use of this bottle.

I got this from my dad. No idea of the year. Any idea of a value?

Thanks!

Amy

[Jay]

I found a bottle of Sandy MacDonald Blended Special Scotch Whisky in my mothers house. It says Famly heirloom on it. How would I find out how much this is worth? And If we wanted to sell it what would be the process?

Thanks!

Jay

[Lori]

I have an old empty bottle with the name Schenley on it. The bottom of the bottle has numbers on it, 730-9 53 A1 (not sure if the last digit is the number one or an I). The bottle has a glass topper that pulls out and it has some cork left on it.It has a fancy design all over it. Not sure if you would know about this bottle at all, or maybe what it is worth. Thank you

[Trent Fritsche]

My fiance has some Royal Salute Blue porcelain bottles still sealed. One is a 375 ML and the other came in a gift set with a lead crystal 2.4 ounce glass also still sealed. Just wondering if you could let us know something about these items. Thank you for your time.

Trent Fritsche

[irwin]

i have a sealed bottle of old smuggler scotch
whiskey. at least from 1987, i found in my
moms house. it was my fathers who passed away
1987. mom did not drink. what is it worth

[Bryan Roussell]

Hi There,

I have an unopened bottle of 15 year old Wisers Oldest Blended Canadian Whiskey. It is in a red velvet bag with a drawsting. There is a US tax stamp on the cap that is dated 2-1-69. Under the US Stamp is a Canadian tax stamp dated 1958. Whats it worth?

Thanks
Bryan

[jan]

hi..i have a whisky..its old and the paint on the bottle is not as it used to be..its a royal salute..a blue one..and i dont know how to check for the year..the only year is 1801 and i dont know what the year means..could you help me? i want to know how much the whisky is worth and old...if you need more information just ask..

[Orien]

I have a sealed bottle of Wisers Oldest Canadian Whiskey from 1957. What is the value of the bottle or where could I go to find the value?

Thanks,
Orien

[john]

i was given a bottle of dewars blended scotch whisky white label the bar code 8811008105 just wondering what year this is i dont drink much and its been sitting on my desk a few years would you know ? thank you john romano

[Jim Starr]

I have a few bottles of Dewars 1913 Whiskey. What is the approximate value. They are unopened.. jim_strr@yahoo.com

[Ginette Peil]

I have a bottle of Dewars with a red label, green bottle, with ancestor written on it. On the seal that is not broken is N Y - 1-68. With it is the original box with raised ornate designs of looks like greek warriors, but on the front of the box is a single figure-looks like a guy who would be blowing bagpipes with out the pipes, he is wearing a big hat a what looks like a kilt. the decor on the boxed is raised and in gold and silver.
could you advise me the worth of this bottle. I do have pictures available.

thank you for your time,
ginette peil
north syracuse NY

[megan]

Hi,
My friend has an unopened bottle of Canadian Master Piece Limited Addition Whiskey 1965. And she would like to now the value of it. Its still in its original red box with the papers. She said that the building where the whiskey was made, burnt down a year later.

Thanks megan

[Lori]

I have a bottle of Dewar's White Label.
1 gallon, 86.8 proof.
Bottled in 1968.
It is in a stand with a scotish piper on the sides.
The paper seal over the lid is still intact but the plastic neck wrapper is torn on one side but intact on the other.
Can you give me a value on this bottle?
Thanks, Lori

[Bryce]

Just to perhaps help the volume of postings here, if you'd like:
Loads of people seem to think that the NY-I-68 tax seal on their bottle of Dewar's White Label is a reference to a date. If they were to check the boxes the bottles came with, they would find bar codes which were not used widely till the late 70s, proving that the tax seal is not a date.
I learned this the hard way!

[allan]

i found a bottle of sandy macdonalds special blend perfect labels all around unsure the year it appears to be from 1920-1930

the label has glenlivet on it and 2 other distillies was this bottle blended with them?

also wondering what alcohol content it is ..and value .bottle filled just below neck has been opened and wow premo really something

[allan]

hi its me again about the bottle of sandy macdonald special belded liqeur scotch whisky on the label is glenlivet .stronachie and auchinbae disilleries
would really like to know the yearlabel appears 1920s maybe older

could you please tell me how to put pics up