INVESTMENT WHISKIES

LADYBURN 1973 VINTAGE SINGLE CASK

So, after a failed attempt to buy one at a whisky auction, GrainMash paid 560 Swiss Francs (approximately £335 sterling) for this bottle, number XXX from Cask YYYY, which duly arrived on Friday 13th. A lucky day, it seems.

At the whisky auction, our cheeky little 250 Euro bid ended up being well beaten, the two bottles being auctioned finally sounding the hammer for an average of 350 Euros each. Having established that this bottle had both a healthy following and decent auction base price amongst collectors at £325.00 – we decided not to quibble over a few quid and bought one.

In the UK, it is found online at stores such as Royal Mile Whiskies for £450.00, Parkers at £440.00, and Arkwrights at £488.00 and £475.00 at The Whisky Exchange – giving it a current average retail price of £463.25. In the USA, it we found it available for 700 dollars in Boston.

Now this one is a risk. There is plenty of stock, so if it is all released we will see prices tumble, until it is all drunk, which will happen because those in the know would be only too happy to drink it.

On the other hand, the stock might be blended, to retain the rarity and reputation of this bottling. Only after these decisions have been made, and the outcome known, will the investment value of the Original Bottling come back, and perhaps it will then come back stronger for a broad release if some of the originals are opened and drunk in despair. But that is the beauty of investing in whisky, after all – it’s a drink, it was made to be drunk, so drinking it is not going to be the end of the world.

Conclusion – hold for 5 years for a reasonable return.

© 2009 GrainMash.