Survey reveals rare whisky collections total up to £75m

Private whisky collections are estimated to be worth £75 million (US$121m), with an average value of £50,000 (US$67k), according to new research carried out by Rare Whisky 101 and Whisky Auctioneer.

Rare whisky collections are estimated to be worth £75 million

A survey of 1,542 rare whisky connoisseurs, collectors and investors uncovered the estimated values of individual collections which totalled some £74.547m and 326,000 bottles.

The average whisky collection comprises more than 200 bottles with an average bottle value of £228.

One in 10 report to be in possession of collections valued at over £100,000.

The Macallan comes out on top as the most popular brand to purchase, closely followed by Ardbeg, Highland Park and Springbank.

The research also showed that more than half (56%) are looking to make a positive financial return on their collection, while financial value is only deemed unimportant to 18% of respondents.

Less than one in 10 (9%) have required a recent professional full valuation of their collections. Only one in four (24%) seek professional help with their interest in whisky.

David Robertson, co-founder of Rare Whisky 101 (RW101), said: “ It’s very clear that whisky enthusiasts are prepared to invest serious sums in growing their rare whisky portfolios and many are looking to make a financial return on their investment. We anticipate that brand owners and distillers and retailers will need to develop intelligent strategies to ensure they can release and market new products to excite this dynamic new buyer.

“However, what’s more concerning is that, unlike many other passion pursuits, buyers are still not seeking professional advice on either the purchase or valuation of rare whisky. One thing this past year has taught us, brought in to sharp focus with The Macallan 1878 fake story, is that the rare whisky market is just as exposed to the problem of forgery as many other alternative assets – wine being the most adjacent. The untrained eye would not necessarily be able to spot a fake, but a professional can help to differentiate between fakes and the genuine article. An objective valuation could provide a real wake-up call for many investors and we would urge they seek expert support”.

According to RW101, the value of rare Scotch whisky sales in the UK’s secondary market is set to top £20 million for the first time this full year.

The firm’s 2017 Half Year Report revealed that both the volume and value of rare Scotch whisky sold at auction had increased by record amounts during the reporting period. The value of collectable bottles of single malt Scotch whisky sold at auction in the UK rose by 93.66% to an all-time half-year high of £11.176m (H1 2016 £5.771m).

The Full Year 2017 RW101 report will be published in late January 2018.