What Affects The Price Of Black Bowmore Whisky
Do you want to know the value of your bottle of Black Bowmore whisky?
We can value your whisky and help you find the best price for your bottle if you are looking to sell your Black Bowmore.
What is Black Bowmore Worth?
No whisky better epitomises the current market bubble than Black Bowmore.
Distilled on the 5th November 1964 in first fill sherry casks, Black Bowmore has become THE most sought after Islay whisky and ranks high amongst the best selling single malt whiskies.
Below are the original release details which show the leap in RRP (recommended retail price) at time of release jump from £80 per bottle to £16,000 per bottle. There are many within the industry (including ourselves) that believe the market cannot sustain the exponential growth that we have experienced recently. A quick glance at the Rare Whisky 101 Apex 1000 Index shows the rise in value of the single malt market since 2008.
While the current trend in the whisky market certainly indicates that things seem to be slowing, the value of Bowmore and Black Bowmore in particular are still high. As expert whisky brokers Mark Littler can help you sell your bottle and ensure you get the best price for your bottle.
Please use the valuation form to send us the information on your bottle in order for us to offer you a no obligation valuation on your Black Bowmore. You can also read our guide to selling your whisky online.
How We Can Help You Sell Your Whisky
Simply fill in the form below and we will put you in contact with a specialist whisky retailer. If your bottle is suitable they will make you an offer directly for your bottle. This is perferable for those wanting a quick sale, or for those who are not prepared to take the risk that auctions entail. There is no charge for our assistance if you accept a private sale.
Alternatively we can help you sell your bottles through auction. With close to 30,000 bottles being sold at auction every month you have to be sure that your bottles are being sold in the right auction to achieve the highest price. There is no charge for our assistance selling at auction
Free Specialist Whisky Valuations
Please use the form below to submit images of your bottle and receive a free, no-obligation valuation from a specialist auctioneer. We will also actively seek the highest offer from our network of private collectors to help you sell your whisky.
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Whisky Valuation Tips
Are you looking to sell your whisky for the highest possible price? It might surprise you to learn that one of the most important actions you can take is to capture high-quality images of your bottles. This ensures we can offer you the best prices and accurately appraise your bottles. Here are our top tips for submitting images of your bottles:
- Stand the bottle upright so that we can clearly see the level of the whisky in the bottle.
- Do you have the original box? If so, place it next to the bottle in the photo.
- Capture the images in a well-lit room, ideally against a neutral background.
Black Bowmore History
Did you know that the first single malt to be marketed with in the UK was Glenfiddich in 1963. How the market has changed. But we need not go back to 1963 to realise what a change the single malt whisky market has gone through.
Black Bowmore was first released in 1993 at £80 per bottle, well before the market boom. The near black whisky (which takes its colour from the sherry casks) was considered expensive at the time of release, but this was at a time when the whisky itself (rather than the distiller) was front and centre.
2007 generally marks the start of the specialist whisky auctions. This coincides with the huge rise in marketing budgets by the distillers and the rise of a new form of collector; the investor. The fourth edition of Black Bowmore was released in this year too, at a cost of £2,400 per bottle.
The final edition of Black Bowmore shows the epic transformation of the market – being released at a whopping £16,000 per bottle. Was it worth this price? Critics widely cite the first three editions as being superior.
Care for your Black Bowmore
We all know the angels take their fair share of spirit from the casks (2% per year). However, true to the more grounded visions of the distillery in the early 1990’s, bottle seals were not necessarily the best. Sadly many of the early Black Bowmore editions suffer from evaporation as a result.
The reduced levels affects the value as the reduced alcohol level (as it is this which evaporates first as it is more volatile than water) has a big impact on the taste. We strongly recommend sealing your bottles using Parafilm strips; medical grade sealing tape which will stop any more evaporation. They are available here.
Black Bowmore Boxes
If you no longer have the original wooden box that came with your bottle you may well have lost thousands of pounds. Collectors pay the highest prices for bottles with their original boxes, some not even considering a bottle devoid of its original case.
The box for the final edition of Black Bowmore was hand crafted by carpenters and took 70 hours each to make.
Value
Demand for Black Bowmore is huge. We have clients across the UK and Far East looking for bottles.
However, as noted above the market is volatile. The results from auctions can be startling. One month a third edition might sell for £8,000, the next month another third edition will sell for £10,000 – with the same auction house.
The level makes a big difference, but so does confidence in the market and the whims of collectors.
If you would like a valuation of you bottle please send us images and we will be happy to help. You can use the form below, or send them directly to [email protected]
How We Can Help Sell Your Black Bowmore
Private Sale
Our brokerage service is a simple, stress-free way to sell whisky. We will broker the sale between you and one of our buyers. For this service, we charge a 10% commission (inc. VAT) of the final sale price of the item. This avenue is fast and simple. We will take care of everything for you.
Auction
At Mark Littler Ltd we can also help you to sell whisky via auction. We have teamed up with the country’s leading online whisky auctions to help you to sell whisky at auction without the hassle. This is a great option for lower-value bottles, or if you do not mind taking some risks.
Shop
The final option is selling your whisky through our one-of-a-kind online shop. On our shop, we broker the sale of high-value bottles for our customers. Your bottle will sit amongst rare and expensive whisky and our advertising campaigns aim to draw the eye of whisky collectors everywhere.
The history of Black Bowmore RRP
First
Edition
Release date: 1993
Bottles: 2,000
Age: 29YO
RRP: £80
Second
Edition
Release date: 1994
Bottles: 2,000
Age: 30YO
RRP: £90
Third
Edition
Release date: 1995
Bottles: 1,812
Age: 31YO
RRP: £100
Fourth
Edition
Release date: 2007
Bottles: 827
Age: 42YO
RRP: £2,400
Fifth
Edition
Release date: 2014
Bottles: 159
Age: 50YO
RRP: £16,000
Do You Remember This Story?
In 2020 we sold a vertical of Macallan 18 year old for Matthew Robson for £44,000!
The story went viral being covered from the BBC, to India, to the USA.
Matthew had been given a bottle every year from his father as a birthday gift and at the time of sale amounted to 28 bottles, all with their original boxes.
Now We Can Help You
It was a pleasure to work with Matthew, assisting him in obtaining the highest possible amount for his collection. Now, let us use our experience and connections to assist you.
“I was looking to sell my whisky collection of 28 bottles of Macallan 18 year old to fund the purchase of my first house, so I got in touch with Mark.
My father gave me 1 bottle each year for a birthday present so that by the time that I was 18 I would have 18 bottles of 18 year old Macallan. (Yes I’m that guy who was plastered over the media)
Mark did a great job of getting professional photos taken of them and creating a PR buzz around the collection and I even ended up on BBC breakfast news, lad bible, and various radio stations around the world.
At one point my story was the second most viewed story on BBC world wide news app for the whole weekend with over 2 million views.
Needless to say within a day or two of this PR Campaign there was numerous offers.
I would like to thank Mark for all his work and helping me with everything.”
What Is Your Whisky Worth
Do you want to know what your whisky is worth but don’t know where to start?
Use these guides to help you.
What Is Your Whisky Worth? – An in-depth look at the factors affecting your bottle’s value.
A Beginner’s Guide To Selling Whisky – Everything you need to get started selling your whisky.
How To Sell Whisky Online – A rundown of all the online selling options available.
Sell Your Whisky Today – A simple way to sell your whisky fast.
Macallan Specific Guides
The Complete Guide To Valuing Macallan Whisky – Selling Macallan? This is your starting point.
What Is Macallan Whisky Worth? – Unsure of your Macallan’s value? Begin here
