Ask The Collector - HOLIDAY EDITION

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Hopefully your New Year's Eve / Hogmanay was a lot of fun and you all stayed safe.
Unless something REALLY big pops up, this will be the only story this week.

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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 usually published on the last Friday of each month, but because of the I've combined November & December into a single article.

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 shop at Vinopolis near the Borough Market. And of course you can always visit The Whisky Exchange on-line.

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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. If 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,

How much are these worth?

15 year Glendronach
Talisker
Caol Ila
Macallan 1979

Don't know if that is worth anything but the regular value. My brother, Rick, was quite the scotch connoisseur, unfortunately he never got a chance to enjoy all of this. He was killed at 54, 4 years ago. Just thought I would tell you that so you would have some background as to why I have all of this. I think he may have brought some of it back from Scotland in 2000.

Thanks, Robyn B.

Dear Robyn,

All are standardish bottles. The Caol ila 15yo was discontinued a few years ago so is good, worth US$150+. The Glendronach 15yo has also been discontinued, we sell for about US$80+. The rest are all about $40 - 50.

Regards, Sukhinder

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How much is this worth?
Noble J.

I would like to see what the capsule and the level is like...
A very interesting bottle, but shame it is not an original bottle, as independant bottlings have little interest.

However, I really like it and would be happy to offer US $1000.00
It would be a nice addition to my collection.

Regards, Sukhinder

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How much is this worth...

The Glenlivet Royal Wedding Reserve No. 211. Bottle was given to me by my in-laws who used to own a liquor distributorship in Jacksonville, Fl.  Bottle is 25 year old Scotch from The Glenlivet Royal Wedding Reserve, still in the velvet lined box.  Curious about the value.

John S.

This Glenlivet 25yo was bottled in 1981 for the Royal wedding of Charles
& Di. I believe about 1000 bottles were made.

An outstanding whisky, and we are currently paying US$500.00 a bottle.

Hope this helps.
Regards, Sukhinder

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Can you inform me how to date old scotch?  The seal (tape) is on the caps and most of the numbers are readable.

These un-opened bottles were given to me from a gentlemen in his 90's.

Chivas Regal
Old Smuggler
Canadian MacNaughton
Dewars White Lable (the cap is metal and has a clasp)
Hudson Bay
Bicentenial Commerative Bourbon (Ky Straight Bourbon dist. feb 4, 1959)
Cointreau
Grand Macintosh

Any assistance would be appreciated.

Thank you, Eric O'B.

Hi Eric

Interesting bottles - all from the early 1950's..

The blends are worth about US$60 - $80
The American bits are worth about US$40 - $60
The Cointreau about US$40

As the condition of all the bottles seem good, they would be very good drinkers..
Regards, S

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Dear TSB

Is labeled in Scotland, in one corner says (by appoinment to her Majesty the Queen, it has a numerber N.PA 2647343 of the White Horse Cellar from the original recipe 1746, 100% Scotch Whisky.

The bottle is sealed and the labels are in excellent condition.
Thank you!!!!

Paola S.

White Horse is one of the big boys and was mass produced.
Cannot read the label properly so cannot give you an exact date, but at a guess, I would say 1960's.

Level is a bit on the low side, i would say it is worth about US$80 - $100
Regards, Sukhinder

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I have a sealed bottle of McLarenn's Scotch Whisky from 1878. It is a Canadian bottle and has a stamp on it from the Canadian government that guarantees that it was distilled in that year. John A. McLaren was the distiller and it is from Perth. There is a beaver on the label of the bottle. It appears that there has been some evaporation as the scotch bottle is full up to about a half inch below the neck of the bottle. My grandfather owned two of these and I have ended up with one of the two. Any ideas about the value of this bottle.?

Thanks, William B.

William, Very nice....
I certainly do not find many old bottles with vintages pre 1900.
How long has your grandfather owned this.?

It is also rare to have a big age such as 25 years on the label.
Whisky in this era was generally bottled young.

I would say that it is definitely worth about US$800 - $1000.
Regards, Sukhinder

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I found some old Whisky while cleaning out my Grandfather's things, and I was wondering what it might be worth.  I am not a Scotch fan myself, but it looks pretty.

It is a "Pinch Royal Decanter", in a Royal Holland pewter mounted decanter numbered "C7727" on the base; the decanter is in a presentation case which is in perfect condition.  There is also an accompanying booklet with the Pinch Royal Decanter story and the number "C7727" stamped on the back cover of the booklet.  There is also a State of Florida tax stamp on the top of the bottle dated April 1st, 1989.

It looks exactly like this picture...Except mine says "Pinch" instead of "Dimple", and I can not find a reference to the age of the whisky.  I can tell that it was imported to Florida in 1989, and I suppose it was likely bottled not too long before that.

Brian L.

Hi,

This is an attractive piece but produced in large quantities. Worth about US $200.00.

Regards, Sukhinder

Comments

[Johnny RnR]

That second image is unavailable; what's the bottle?

[Gary Fetterman]

My wife will turn 50 this February and under the category of things that get better with time, I'd like to get her a really fine bottle of Scotch. Without considering cost, can you offer some suggestions for a 1957 Scotch whisky?

[Jeff Massa]

I was born in 1959 and have been looking for a bottle of 1959 Glenlivet to be opened on my 50th Birthday. Any suggestions on where to look?

Jeff

[Gary Bracken]

We were given a bottle of the Glenlivet Royal Wedding Reserve No. 526 still in the red velvet lined black case.

Is it worth as much as the bottle No. 211 shown on your webpage, and if so, are you willing to purchase this bottle from us?

Please advise, Gary

[Laura Washabaugh]

Hello - I am looking for a 1957 bottle of Scotch needed ASAP - HELP Please!!

[Brett Christensen]

I was given a bottle of the Glenlivet Royal Wedding Reserve No. 1020 still in the Black case. I would like to sell it. Would you be interested?

Thanks,
Brett Christensen

[T. Johnson]

Three bottles similar to this, purchased in Paris long ago. I am sipping one, saving one, and selling one off. Any interest or approximate value here? Thanks.

[Dwayne]

Hey, Have a 750mL bottle of White Horse - Limited Edition special blend from 1987 its an Americas Cup edition, in box. wondering how much this would be worth. cheers

Dwayne

[Kerrie]

I have just purchased a bottle similar to this one in the pic and want to know its worth ... mine does not have a stopper
... Kerrie

[George.]

Glenlivet Royal Wedding Resrve, in original box and perfect condition. Was aged 25 at the time of the wedding. What are you willing to pay for it?

George.