By Ryan Brechlin, this guide is your primer on scotch whisky auctions: how to navigate them, and how to walk away with a bottle you’ll love.
There are few spirits as well-known and storied as Scotch whisky. It’s renowned for its use of peat smoke in distilling. That smoke gives some scotch a delightful, earthy smokiness that many connoisseurs go goo-goo for. If you’re after truly incredible scotch, auctions are one of your best bets to find something magnificent. You just have to know how to navigate them. This article will help you master scotch whisky auctions. When you’re ready to buy your dream bottle, you’ll be well-prepared and ready to pounce.
Scotch Whisky: A Quick Introduction
Let’s start with the fundamentals: what is scotch whisky? Scotch whisky, or simply “scotch”, is a distilled and aged spirit. Scotland, a constituent country of the United Kingdom, produces it. This is the land of William Wallace and Bobby Burns, craggy coasts and grassy highlands. Scotch whisky, spelled without an “e” in Scotland, is one of the best-selling spirits on Earth. In fact, it makes up 93% of global single malt whiskies, according to the Scotch Whisky Association.
The Five Whisky Regions of Scotland
Scotland has five whisky-producing regions: Lowland, Highland, Islay, Campbeltown, and Speyside. Highland and Lowland scotch are the largest regions. Together, they cover much of the northern and southern portions of Scotland. Speyside whisky hails from the banks of the River Spey in the Highlands. It’s a different product from the rest of the region. Speyside whiskies are among the most sought after, featuring famous distilleries like Macallan, Balvenie, and Glenfiddich. Islay is an island off the coast of Scotland, while Campbeltown sits on a nearby peninsula. Each region produces whiskies of note, but specific characteristics tend to define each one. Islay whisky usually carries heavy peat smoke. That gives it a flavor that can taste like burnt grass — in the very best of ways. Most other scotch whiskies still have a little peat, but the other regions favor different notes, including salt, fruit, vanilla, and toffee. Where the whisky is made, and how it’s produced and aged, typically shapes these flavor notes.
Single Malt vs. Blended Scotch
Scotch whisky generally comes in one of two major types: single malt or blended. Single malts use one type of malted grain, and only one distillery can produce them. Blended scotch combines malt whiskies and grain whiskies, so multiple distilleries can contribute to one bottle. Most of the whiskies we cover in this article are single malts, since they tend to be more collectible. However, a few well-known — and quite expensive — blended scotch whiskies exist too, including Compass Box and Johnnie Walker.
Famous Scotch Distilleries
Macallan and Balvenie: Speyside’s Icons
Like all famous spirits, a handful of scotch distilleries stand out as incredibly well-regarded. Among the most famous are Macallan, Balvenie, Lagavulin, Laphroaig, and Glenmorangie. Macallan is a Speyside distillery that has been producing scotch since 1824. It makes a wide variety of scotch whiskies, many of which carry a premium in the market. Their Classic Range includes 12, 18, 25, and 30 Years Old expressions. The longer a whisky ages, the more complex flavors it takes on. That lets someone taste how a whisky develops over time, simply by sampling each expression. Macallan also produces special editions and limited runs. These include their very long-aged Red Collection, which at press offers a 77 Years Old Scotch. They also include “The Reach,” an 81 Years Old Scotch. The Reach is among the most expensive scotch whiskies on the planet, retailing for around $250,000. Speyside is also home to Balvenie, whose whiskies are likewise renowned. Their range is incredibly varied, with whiskies aged anywhere between 12 and 60 years.
Lagavulin and Laphroaig: Islay’s Smoky Icons
The two most well-known distilleries on Islay are Lagavulin and Laphroaig. Both produce delightfully smoky, peaty scotch. Lagavulin is most famous for its 16 Years Old Scotch — the favorite of Parks and Recreation character Ron Swanson. Nick Offerman, the actor who played Ron, is also a huge Lagavulin fan. He even collaborated with the distillery on an 11 Years Old Scotch. Laphroaig produces a variety of whiskies, from their flagship 10 Years Old to their special edition Càirdeas expressions. They even offer 30 and 33 Years Old Scotch. Islay scotch isn’t for the faint of heart. But if you’re a fan, you’re a fan.
Glenmorangie: Highland Elegance
The Highlands are home to a number of distilleries, and the most famous is probably Glenmorangie. Their range, with its sinuous and smart bottles, is well-varied. Tasting notes include vanilla, orange, honey, and even mocha. Their Original Scotch Whisky is aged 10 years, but other expressions age as long as 25 years. Glenmorangie frequently collaborates with artists and experiments with barrels made from diverse woods. That creates new and exciting flavors, perfect for the collector.
Scotch Whisky Auctions
Now that you know a bit more about scotch whisky, let’s talk about scotch whisky auctions. Good Bottle Auctions often features whiskies from around the world, but a good number of our bottles are almost always scotch. That’s hardly surprising, since scotch whisky is such a huge part of the global whiskey trade. As a result, we often have a significant spread of scotch for sale, with a bottle to suit just about every taste. Unlike a liquor store, we see a great variety of scotch whiskies come through our door. We aren’t limited to what one distributor can supply. So you, the buyer, get a better selection of rare and fine scotch whiskies at your fingertips.
What to Consider Before You Bid
When choosing a scotch whisky to bid on, you should consider a few things. First, think about what kinds of scotch you like. Which region’s whiskies most please your palate? If you’re unsure, try a single malt from each region to see what stands out. Love strong flavors and sitting close to a campfire? Islay’s heavily peated whiskies are probably for you. Prefer more refined, delicate flavors? We’d recommend a Highland or a Speyside.
Choosing a Distiller or Blender
A second factor to consider is the distiller, or, for blended scotch, the blender. Well-known distilleries like Macallan, Laphroaig, and Glenmorangie are always a good bet if you want an impressive, delightful bottle. The same advice applies to blended scotch. A bottle of Compass Box, for instance, will always be an excellent blend. But you need to know what you like, since they blend whiskies from all five regions together. Johnnie Walker is also a great bottle to buy, and their products are very smooth-drinking.
Exploring Craft and Japanese Whisky
As in many places, distilling is seeing a revival in Scotland, and new distilleries keep popping up. Some of these distilleries and new blend brands are putting out exciting whiskies for every scotch-drinker’s palate. So don’t be afraid to try a scotch from a craft distillery! In addition, scotch fans should explore the whiskies of Japan. Many Japanese whiskies use techniques similar to those in Highland scotch. There are incredible similarities between the Scottish Highlands and the upper reaches of the Japanese archipelago.
Setting Your Price Point
Finally, keep a price point in mind. Excellent scotch exists at nearly every price point, from bottles under $50 to those that go for thousands. Generally, scotch aged for longer sells for more money. The flavors have more time to develop and mellow, and less of it is available than a younger expression. That doesn’t mean a $50 bottle isn’t worth buying, though a $300 scotch will often taste better. Depending on your personal palate, the cheaper bottle may even be more enjoyable to you. For instance, fans of very peaty scotch typically prefer younger — and therefore cheaper — bottles of Islay scotch, since the smokiness mellows with age. However, if you have the palate and the funds to spend, purchasing an “investment bottle” might be a good idea. That way, you can hold onto a fine bottle to see if it appreciates in value, or simply enjoy a very pleasant dram.
The Bottom Line
If you’re in the market for scotch and don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place. At Good Bottle Auctions, we make sure you, the buyer, are as educated as possible about what you’re buying. We want you to enjoy your purchase, preferably neat — though some (the author included) like their wee dram with a cube of ice. That means we’ll go the extra mile to make sure you know what you’re buying. An educated scotch buyer is a good scotch buyer, and often a repeat customer.
If you’re interested in winning scotch at auction, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us here; we look forward to working with you!
Work Cited:
https://www.scotch-whisky.org.uk/discover-scotch/enjoying-scotch/scotch-whisky-regions
https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/campbeltown-p235331
https://www.themacallan.com/en-us/about
https://www.themacallan.com/en-us/single-malt-scotch-whisky
https://www.malts.com/en-gb/lagavulin-shop
https://www.laphroaig.com/en-gb/whiskies
https://www.thebalvenie.com/en-us/our-whisky-collection
