The Dalmore’s £1m Paterson Collection still on shelf

The Dalmore Paterson Collection, thought to be the world’s most expensive set of Scotch whiskies at £987,500, has failed to find a buyer over a year since its launch.

Richard Paterson launched the £987,500 Dalmore Paterson Collection at Harrods in July last year, but it is yet to sell

The collection of 12 expressions, the liquid of which dates back to 1926, had been bottled by Whyte & Mackay master blender Richard Paterson last summer exclusively for Harrods department store in London.

Situated in the store’s Fine Spirits Room, the collection is said to have had “a number of interested buyers”, but no sale has been completed yet.

“The nature of these negotiations will take a wee while; it’s a high value collection,” said Bob Dalrymple, global marketing controller for malts at Whyte and Mackay.

The collection, which is presented in a bespoke wooden cabinet, is accompanied by a 200-page ledger detailing Paterson’s thought process as he created each whisky, bottling each one in Glencairn lead crystal decanters with hand-engraved silver plaques by Hamilton & Inches.

Although Harrods has been unable to shift the collection yet, Dalrymple said its presence in the store alone has generated a halo effect for The Dalmore brand.

“In the meantime it’s providing amazing standout for us in one of the worlds’ top luxury retailers,” he told The Spirits Business. “We’ve seen increases across our range and we’ve started selling the Constellation collection in Harrods and seen some early success behind that as well. The Paterson Collection is doing an overall brand job as well as being a very high value piece in itself.”

However Dalrymple dismissed the suggestion the Paterson Collection was simply a big marketing stunt for the brand.

“We’re proud to partner with Harrods and we’re not feeling under any pressure to make a sale, although we’ve had a few people from around the world express a very clear interest, so it will sell at some point soon I’m sure,” he said.

Spend on ultra-premium and prestige spirits has dropped dramatically in the past year, the latter declining by 18% (IWSR). For a more in-depth look at what the future has in store for the luxury spirits market, see the September 2014 issue of The Spirits Business.