Auction site debuts first spirits miniatures sale

Online site Whisky.Auction has launched its first auction dedicated to miniature bottles of “old and rare” spirits.

The new miniatures auction from Whisky.Auction went live last Sunday

The auction features more than 3,000 5cl bottles of spirits, including small bottles from Port Ellen and Clynelish as well as tasting sets such as Diageo’s 2013 Special Releases.

“Increasing demand” for the tiny bottles has brought about the exclusive sale, following a recent rise in the number of miniature bottles bought and sold at each monthly auction.

Isabel Graham-Yooll, auction director, said: “Miniatures offer a great entry into old or rare spirits for which full bottle prices are out of reach for many. It makes these great liquids accessible for those who are keen to discover and opens up rare whiskies to a whole new audience.”

She continued: “There are some really very rare miniatures in this auction and if bidders time it right, a little piece of whisky history could be theirs for as little as £2 (US$2.64).”

The auction contains 1,255 lots including over 3,000 individual bottles of spirit.

All bottles in the auction had a starting price of £2 (US$2.64) however, some prices have increased dramatically since the sale began last Sunday (12 November).
Bottles currently commanding the highest bids include The Macallan Private Eye, originally bottled in 1996 to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Private Eye magazine, and a miniature bottle of Dalmore 8 Year Old 70 Proof, bottled by Duncan Macbeth. Bidding on both bottles currently stands at £330 (US$435).

According to analysts at Rare Whisky 101, sales of whisky at UK auctions has dramatically increased in April, May and June this year.

The auction will run until Tuesday 21 November online at Whisky.Auction.