New Record Auction Price for a Bottle of Single Malt

[artificer]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...-fife-16182045

Who would like to get a wee nip of that besides me?


ith:

[creagdhubh]

Aye! Paired with a plate of warm, mince and tatties!

[azwildcat96]

Talk about rare and old! I wonder if these 11 bottles will be sampled by the owners, or just socked away in collections?

[ForresterModern]

At 55 years old, and only enough remaining after evaporation to fill 15 bottles, and the first bottle selling at 45,000gbp ($70,000USD), I doubt these will ever be drunk. First, it will be a total guess at what these may taste like after so long in the barrel and so much evaporation, potentially very strong and harsh and overwhelming, and most likely disappointing considering the build up (and the common belief that older is inherently better). Second, that high value itself essentially completely evaporates upon breaking the seal, and it is not like you could sell it by the dram in a scotch bar to inquisitive and affluent afficianados for 1000+gbp per glass, assuming you might get 45 aliquots out of a bottle (probably an over estimation). These will almost certainly sit in various collectors collections, only to be resold at auction when the collector dies or needs cash for some other reason, or to be handed down to the next generation.

Personally, although a bottle might be cute to have in the collection (never happen as I will never pay that much for a bottle of scotch, or even for a single dram of it at a proportionate price) I know that I would be profoundly conflicted between keeping it sealed and tucked away safely, maybe in a safety deposit box, thereby maintaining its monetary "value", and opening it and tasting it for pure curiosity and enjoyment's sake. Imagine opening it with the high expectations of its age and value and finding out that it tastes like motor oil.

IMHO once you get beyond 18-25 years in a barrel age becomes relatively irrelevant in most facets of scotch whisky other than, of course, rarity and price, neither of which correlates in any way with a satisfying flavor.

Just my tuppence (far from 45000gbp) as that is what I can afford to offer on this topic.

[Burly Brute]

They should put it in an old wine barrel. I would never pay that much for anything that is just going to pass right through and be gone the next day! Haha.

[McClef]

I would love to toast Janet Sheed Roberts' age with it!

[Burly Brute]

I would love to toast Janet Sheed Roberts' age with it!

Right? 110? What a triumph, it must be the Scotch.

[ForresterModern]

I would love to toast Janet Sheed Roberts' age with it!

*** on this idea. Instead I will toast her longevity and continued health with another slightly less expensive, somewhat less rare and aged, but also collectible Glenfiddich, the Snow Phoenix (a mix of 13-30 yr old barrels), at the earliest opportunity this evening.

I wonder if she attributes any of her longevity to partaking in the family products on a regular basis? It would be a great selling point for me.

[artificer]

Right? 110? What a triumph, it must be the Scotch.

*** on this idea. Instead I will toast her longevity and continued health with another slightly less expensive, somewhat less rare and aged, but also collectible Glenfiddich, the Snow Phoenix (a mix of 13-30 yr old barrels), at the earliest opportunity this evening.

I wonder if she attributes any of her longevity to partaking in the family products on a regular basis? It would be a great selling point for me.

"Single Malt Whisky, it thins the blood and warms the heart. Prescribed by over 90% of Scottish Doctors."

Sounds like a winning ad campaign to me.

ith:

[LANCER1562]

I'm reading a book in which one of the main characters celebrates special occasions with a 60YO Macallum single malt valued at $38,000UDS according to the story.