Former master distiller launches rare whisky index

The former master distiller of The Macallan has teamed up with an investment banker to launch a rare whisky index.

David Robertson, former master distiller of The Macallan, has set up a rare whisky index

Rare Whisky 101 is a whisky insight, valuation and brokerage firm set up by David Robertson, former master distiller for The Macallan and former innovation director for Whyte & Mackay, and corporate banker Andy Simpson, founder of index Whisky Highland.

The new index is said to be the “world’s first consultancy expert in brokering, collecting, valuations, insight & intelligence, NPD development and brand re-positioning.”

Rare Whisky 101 is the result of a mergence of Whisky Highland and Robertson Whisky Consultancy. Its main function is to track the changing values in the whisky market.

According to the site’s Rare Whisky Top 1000 index, the 1,000 most collectable Scotch whiskies have gained 203% in value since 31 December 2008, to the end of June this year.

The site’s Rare Whisky Vintage 50 Index charts the performance of 50 of the oldest, rarest bottles of single malt Scotch whisky ever released. Included in the index is the Ardbeg Connoisseur’s Choice (aged 18 years) 1958 and The Balvenie 1937 (aged 50 years).

In March this year, Robertson launched the Platinum Whisky Investment Fund – the world’s first private equity fund for Scotch whisky.