Top 10 most collectible Scotch brands 2015
The secondary market continues to offer “exceptional value rarities” for Scotch whisky collectors, according to RW101’s Collectors’ Index for 2015.
These were the most collectible Scotch whisky brands in 2015, according to RW101In its most recent report, rare whisky index, valuation and brokerage firm Rare Whisky 101 (RW101) found that the rare whisky market “significantly outperformed” many other well established asset classes last year, including fine wine and gold.
The value of collectibles traded on the open market in the UK grew 25.13% to £9.56m in 2015, while volumes increased by 27.83% to 43,458 in 2015.
RW101 says age and vintage became “even more important” when considering values throughout 2015, with even poor quality old aged Scotch increasing in value.
The report states: “As retail releases of aged whisky become increasingly rare and costs continue to rise; the secondary market highlights the continued importance of an age statement. Drinkers, collectors and investors would appear somewhat challenged in accepting the opacity of the current NAS trend, no matter how heavily or lavishly it is marketed.
“Whisky distilled in years gone by carries mystique and allure to drinkers, collectors and investors. Many connoisseurs have the opinion that whisky distilled long ago is of a higher quality with more differentiation than the far more consistent modern day make.
“These older vintages are becoming more fiercely fought for and are in such scant supply, it’s only natural that values are high.”
RW101’s Collectors’ Index ranks every distillery on the total value, and the total physical number of bottles sold at auction in the UK between 2008 and 2015, weighted 50% value and 50% volume.
We may have already brought you the most investible Scotch brands of 2015, but click through the following pages to see which whiskies RW101 found to be the most collectible last year.
To see RW101’s full Rare Whisky Collectors’ / Investors’ 2015 Single Malt Scotch Review, click here.
10. Lagavulin
Up one place
Described as “probably the most sought-after single malt whisky in production today” by master distiller Georgie Crawford, Diageo-owned Lagavulin has scooped a place in the top 10 most collectible Scotch whiskies. Owned by Diageo since 1997, legal distilling first started at the site, which is located between Ardbeg and Laphroaig, in 1816. For years, Lagavulin has struggled to supply sufficient mature spirit to meet worldwide demand, meaning bottlings of old Lagavulin are “exceptionally rare”. To combat this, production now runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
9. Springbank
Down one place
Established in 1828, Springbank is based on the site of Archibald Mitchell’s illicit still in what was once the heartland of the Scotch whisky industry, Campbeltown. Described as one of the “most traditional distilleries in Scotland”, Springbank is now one of just three distilleries in Campbeltown, which once boasted 34 legal sites in its heyday. Springbank is also one of the few distilleries to retain family ownership, and is today headed by Hedley G. Wright, Mitchell’s great great grandson. The distillery produces three unique of single malts: Springbank, Hazelburn and Longrow.
8. Port Ellen
Up one place
Diageo’s Port Ellen distillery is placed within the top 10 of both RW101’s Collectors’ Index and Investors’ Index, if a little higher in the investible rankings. Based on of the south coast of Islay, the distillery is now silent, and its liquid is some of the world’s most sought after among Scotch collectors and connoisseurs. After 150 years of operation, Port Ellen was finally closed in 1983, when many leading distilleries shut shop due to a lack of demand, and seemingly surplus of supply. The whisky’s rarity coupled with a growing consumer demand for peated expressions and interest in silent distilleries, means the brand is now one of the most expensive on the market.
7. Glenmorangie
No movement
A non-mover in 7th place on RW101’s Collectors’ Index is LVMH’s Glenmorangie. The experimental Highland single malt distillery regularly releases limited editions, which quickly become collectors’ items and hot property at auction. It first began production in 1843 when William Matheson converted a local brewery next to the Dornoch Firth, and was later sold to the Glenmorangie Distillery Company in 1887. The distillery suffered between 1920 and 1950, and was effectively mothballed for much of the 1930s, but has been going from strength to strength following its acquisition by LVMH in 2004 for £300m.
6. Glenfiddich
Down one place
Despite being usurped as the world’s best-selling single malt whisky by The Glenlivet, William Grant & Sons-owned Glenfiddich delivered “strong value growth” in 2014-2015. The brand, whose expressions can fetch thousands at auction, this year dropped one place in RW101’s Collectors’ Index to number six. While the brand continues to produce vast quantities, and is also undertaking further expansions, its rare age statement expressions continue to perform well at auction. Earlier this month, a bottle of Glenfiddich 50 Year Old was estimated to fetch between £12,000 and £15,000.
5. Highland Park
Up one place
Highland Park’s move up one place to number five is brought about by a significant increase in value market share, from 3.32% in 2014 to 4.67% in 2015. Highland Park’s share of volume has also increased, rising from 3.40% in 2014 to 4.16% in 2015. Based in Orkney, the distillery was first established in 1798 on the site of notorious smuggler Magnus Eunson’s cottage. The brand regularly creates special releases that pay homage to its storied history.
4. Bruichladdich
No movement
The Islay distillery, now owned by French drinks company Rémy Cointreau, was first established in 1881, and passed through several hands – including Whyte & Mackay Distillers – before it closed in 1995. The distillery was rescued in 2000, with production resuming the following year, and a wealth of bottlings subsequently taking place. Looking to future collectors’ items, last March, now-retired master distiller Jim McEwan pioneered a Scotland-wide experiment to develop the brand’s exploration of the effect terroir has on the flavour of whisky. The expressions are expected to be released as a collection of six bottlings.
3. Bowmore
No movement
Another non-mover is Beam Suntory-owned Bowmore, which recorded a market share of 4.24% in volume and 6.44% in value. Being the first recorded distillery on Islay – founded in 1779 – limited edition Bowmore releases regularly appear on the secondary market at inflated prices. One such expression includes a bottle of 1980 Bowmore single malt Scotch whisky donated by Queen Elizabeth II, which fetched US$50,000 at a charity auction in September 2015. Last year also saw the launch of Bowmore Mizunara Cask Finish, the “first ever” Islay single malt finished in mizunara oak casks, containing “different vintages of the nineties” – which may become another collectible.
2. Ardbeg
No movement
Just one place away from the top spot, the closest distillery from a volume and value perspective is Ardbeg, with an 8.27% share of volume and a 7.68% share of value. Often coveted at auction, last year a single bottle of Ardbeg 1965 was sold as the top lot Bonhams Whisky Sale in Edinburgh for £4,375. In celebration of its 200th anniversary last year, Ardbeg launched a limited edition single malt Scotch whisky “inspired by many styles”, called Ardbeg Perpetuum.
1. The Macallan
No movement
On a volume and value perspective, The Macallan has maintained its foothold as the number one traded distillery, accounting for 9.59% of the auction market for all bottles sold, and 22.71% of the total value. Impressive as this might be, it’s worth noting the brand’s “rapid” and ongoing loss of market share, particularly from a value perspective. In 2013, the brand held 31.05% of the value traded at auction, which fell to 26.01% in 2014, and dropped again in 2015. Its market share of volume is also eroding, albeit slower: dropping from 10.98% recorded in 2013. With this in mind, could 2016 see another Scotch whisky gain enough ground to knock The Macallan off it’s top spot? RW101 says in the short to medium term it is “highly unlikely” any other distillery will challenge the brand for supremacy – a statement hard to argue with since the first Finest and Rarest Wines auction of 2016 at Sotheby’s Hong Kong saw a series of Macallan verticals sell for HK$1.3 million. In January a new travel retail world record was set when a collection of 19 bottles of The Macallan Scotch whisky sold at Dubai International airport for US$361,000.
