What Affects The Price Of Your Cadenhead Whisky
Do you want to know the value of your bottle of Cadenhead whisky?
We can value your whisky and help you find the best price for your bottle if you are looking to sell your Cadenhead.
Discover The Price Of Your Cadenhead Whisky With Mark Littler Ltd
Mark Littler Ltd specialise in the valuation and sale of bottles of Cadenhead whisky and can help you get the best price for your bottle.
We have brokered the sale of thousands of bottles of whisky and can use our expert industry knowledge to give you an honest, impartial price for your bottle of Cadenhead.
If you are looking to sell your whisky we can source no obligation offers from our international network of buyers. We can also advise whether an auction or private sale will be best for you.
Mark Littler Ltd are proud to offer the highest level of expert advice to our clients and we have over 250 independent, five-star reviews.
Please get in touch for a no obligation valuation on your bottle of Cadenhead.
Free Valuation Request
The History Of Cadenhead
Cadenhead was first established by George Duncan in 1842, at 47 Netherkirkgate in Aberdeen, making it the oldest of Scotland’s independent bottlers. He was joined almost 10 years later by his brother-in-law William Cadenhead.
Following Duncan’s death in 1858 William Cadenhead took ownership of the business and changed its name to William Cadenhead Limited. Although there is little documented about the life of George Duncan, Cadenhead was well known as both a vintner and a poet; he ran the company until his death in 1904, at which time he was succeeded by his nephew Robert W. Duthie.
It was under Duthie that the company became most famous for independent whisky bottling. It was Duthie who started to vat malt varieties for blends rather than just singles. As a result, branded whiskies like Putachieside and Heilanman were born and the slogan ‘By Test the Best’ was used in advertising for the company on concert programmes, buses and the curtains at theatres.
Unfortunately, Duthie was hit by a tram whilst en route to a meeting with his bank manager; given that he had no family, following his death Cadenhead passed to his sisters. The sisters had little knowledge of the company but shared a desire to keep it running, thus they appointed long-term Cadenhead employee Ann Oliver to manage the business.
Oliver was known for her eccentricities; she refused to move with the times, which led the company into some trouble and left them with a warehouse bursting with whisky gunnels of no discernible value. To help clear their debts, they held a Christies fire sale of the collection from which they made millions
When Oliver retired, J & A. Mitchell took over the business and moved operations from Netherkirkgate to Campbeltown. Nowadays, in addition to the high-end, non-coloured and non-chill-filtered single malts, Cadenhead has tasting rooms and shops in Edinburgh and London.
What To Look For
Cadenhead Dumpy
The Dumpy series has arguably one of the most diverse designs in the Cadenhead collection with over 300 different labels recorded, however it is rumoured that there are up to 400 types in existence. The Dumpy is famed for its black label with bold white font, bordered by either white or gold Scottish thistles.
Traditionally bottles have a gold screw cap with a smaller label that sits at the bottle neck. The larger label outlines the owner at time of production, the location (Netherkirkgate, Campbelltown, Aberdeen etc.) the volume and proof. The Dumpy was originally bottled at 46% ABV, except during 1989-1991 when they were produced a Cask Strength.
A bottle of 20-year-old Clynelish 1965 recently sold for £13,000.
150th Anniversary and Authentic Collection
The 150th Anniversary collection was produced in 1992 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Cadenhead distillery in Netherkirkgate. They formed part of the Authentic Collection, started in 1991, which consisted of a selection of incredibly rare irish whiskies from closed distilleries across the country.
They are presented in traditional 70cl bottles with a stopper cork, sealed with the usual Cadenhead gold. Labels are in their trademark black design with white font, flanked with the thistle illustration. Following two years bottling the Authentic Collection at 46%, in the 1990s Cadenhead began to favour the Cask Strength bottling.
Cask Strength
In contrast to the Authentic Collection, the Cask Strength series chose not to include the usual details, such as age, month of distillation and bottling date. Instead they opted to add the cask number. This decision makes the Cask Strength bottles unique within the Cadenhead brand.
Another discerning feature of the Cask Strength bottles are the labels, diverging from the traditional black background with gold font, these bottles are designed with a white label including a black and white illustration of the Cadenhead distillery and includes a black and red font. It does however retain the gold foiled stopper cork. Interestingly there was a mistake made in the printing of the Allt-a-Bhainne labels, in which the second ‘L’ was missed from ‘Allt’, which makes these bottles particularly remarkable.
The vast majority of Cask Strength bottles date from the mid-nineties with proofs ranging between the 55-65% ABV.
An Ardbeg Cask Strength bottle recently sold for £3,355.
The Six Factors That Affect The Price Of Cadenhead Whisky
There are six factors that will affect the price of your bottle of Cadenhead. These are the age of the whisky, the bottling date, the vintage, whether it is a single cask edition, the level of the whisky and the condition of the label and box.
Age of Whisky
This refers to the number of years the whisky has spent maturing in the cask, not how long it has been in the bottle. The age is indicated on the label and can vary from 5 to over 30 years old.
Bottling Date
This relates to when the whisky was bottled. As bottles from a specific year are consumed, the remaining bottles become rarer, so a ‘standard’ malt released in the 1980’s can become sought after.
Distillation Year
The distillation year refers to the specific year in which the whisky was distilled (made). It is one of the most important factors that can impact the price of your bottle of Cadenhead.
Label & Packaging
The label on a bottle of Cadenhead is very important and if it is damaged in any way then this will have a negative impact on the value. A bottle without its original box could be worth up to 30% less.
Level
The level of the whisky has a large impact on the value. It should be into the neck (the narrow part). As alcohol is more volatile than water it is the alcohol that will evaporate first, which damages the flavour.
Single Cask Bottlings
Single cask bottlings are generally more sought after, as by default they are unique. Look out for numbers on your bottle like XXX/250, which would indicate a single cask edition.
The Process of Selling Your Bottle Of Cadenhead
The process to get a no-obligation quote for your bottle of whisky is easy.
Send us details about your bottle directly via email or use the form below.
We contact our international network of customers for the best offers.
If you decide to proceed with an offer we issue you with a contract.
Send us your bottle. We have a fully insured courier service available.
We complete the sale with the buyer and send your funds via BACS.
What is the price of your Cadenhead whisky?
In order to provide you with an accurate valuation please provide as much of the below information as you can.
There is more information about each section below the form.
Bottle Selling FAQ
-
The easiest way for us to give you a price for your bottle of whisky is to send us a photograph of your bottle. The picture should be of the bottle standing up, please include the box if you have it.
We use the photograph to check:
- The condition of the bottle, label and box
- The level of the spirit, as this has the biggest effect on value and varies even if the bottle has not been opened
Please send you images to [email protected] or use the contact form below
-
Selling your whisky with Mark Littler Ltd is the same process as selling at auction, except you know the price you are going to achieve beforehand.
The process is simple:
- Once you have accepted an offer, we issue you a contract which you return with your bottle. You can use our fully insured courier service to send us your bottle (see below).
- Once we receive the bottle we arrange a meeting with the buyer and complete the sale.
- Once the sale is complete we send you the balance minus our commission, and postage charge if you decide to use our courier service. This is usually between 1 – 5 days after receiving the bottle.
Our commission is 10%, including VAT.
-
Once the contract has been signed you send your bottle to Mark Littler, you can arrange this yourself, or you can use our fully insured courier service.
Our courier service includes all packing material and is insured up to £40,000. It also includes a pre-paid return postage label and an instruction sheet on how to pack your bottle.
Once packed you simply drop the parcel at your local post office.
The cost for this service is £15.
-
When we have completed the sale we send the balance via BACS using the details you provide us in the contract.
Payment is usually between 1 – 5 days of receiving your bottle, the average is within 48 hours.
“I found Mark’s details online after looking to sell a collectable bottle of whisky. I was going to use a well know auction site but Mark secured an offer higher than the highest estimation from any auction house, within days, even after the 10% commission was deducted. Communication was perfect; punctual, to the point and polite. Collection and delivery were taken care of by Mark and instruction was clear and easy to follow. Payment was received to my bank within days of posting the bottle. I can’t recommend Mark enough; he runs a tight ship gets top end offers from his clients and delivers quickly.”
Rod Fountain, via Google
“Mark has been very helpful in helping me sell a bottle of whisky which was given to my father many years ago. He was very professional and was always quick to reply to my questions. Not knowing anything about whisky, Mark was there to offer some good advice and I believe he is very knowledgeable about his work. The sale was done very [quickly], and the money was in my bank account the next day. I would highly recommend his services.”
Kim Hendrickx, via Google
“Wow, what a refreshing change it was to meet Mark. He was the consummate professional with an approachable and warm personality who clearly had an in-depth knowledge of his subject which he used to give me a first-class service when I wanted to sell a whisky collection. For anyone who is considering any similar specialist whisky transactions I can certainly recommend him without reservation.”
Duncan Chambers, via Google
Have you ever wondered what your bottle of Single Malt or Blended Scotch Whisky is worth?
Use this guide to find out more or get in touch using the form below for a free valuation.
The History Of Cadenhead
Cadenhead was first established by George Duncan in 1842, at 47 Netherkirkgate in Aberdeen, making it the oldest of Scotland’s independent bottlers. He was joined almost 10 years later by his brother-in-law William Cadenhead.
Following Duncan’s death in 1858 William Cadenhead took ownership of the business and changed its name to William Cadenhead Limited. Although there is little documented about the life of George Duncan, Cadenhead was well known as both a vintner and a poet; he ran the company until his death in 1904, at which time he was succeeded by his nephew Robert W. Duthie.
It was under Duthie that the company became most famous for independent whisky bottling. It was Duthie who started to vat malt varieties for blends rather than just singles. As a result, branded whiskies like Putachieside and Heilanman were born and the slogan ‘By Test the Best’ was used in advertising for the company on concert programmes, buses and the curtains at theatres.
Unfortunately, Duthie was hit by a tram whilst en route to a meeting with his bank manager; given that he had no family, following his death Cadenhead passed to his sisters. The sisters had little knowledge of the company but shared a desire to keep it running, thus they appointed long-term Cadenhead employee Ann Oliver to manage the business.
Oliver was known for her eccentricities; she refused to move with the times, which led the company into some trouble and left them with a warehouse bursting with whisky gunnels of no discernible value. To help clear their debts, they held a Christies fire sale of the collection from which they made millions
When Oliver retired, J & A. Mitchell took over the business and moved operations from Netherkirkgate to Campbeltown. Nowadays, in addition to the high-end, non-coloured and non-chill-filtered single malts, Cadenhead has tasting rooms and shops in Edinburgh and London.
Mark Littler Ltd specialise in the valuation and sale of bottles of whisky and can help you get the best price for your bottle. Contact us for a free valuation using the form below, and read on for more information on your bottle.
Free Valuation Request
What To Look For
Cadenhead Dumpy
The Dumpy series has arguably one of the most diverse designs in the Cadenhead collection with over 300 different labels recorded, however it is rumoured that there are up to 400 types in existence. The Dumpy is famed for its black label with bold white font, bordered by either white or gold Scottish thistles.
Traditionally bottles have a gold screw cap with a smaller label that sits at the bottle neck. The larger label outlines the owner at time of production, the location (Netherkirkgate, Campbelltown, Aberdeen etc.) the volume and proof. The Dumpy was originally bottled at 46% ABV, except during 1989-1991 when they were produced a Cask Strength.
A bottle of 20-year-old Clynelish 1965 recently sold for £13,000.
150th Anniversary and Authentic Collection
The 150th Anniversary collection was produced in 1992 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Cadenhead distillery in Netherkirkgate. They formed part of the Authentic Collection, started in 1991, which consisted of a selection of incredibly rare irish whiskies from closed distilleries across the country.
They are presented in traditional 70cl bottles with a stopper cork, sealed with the usual Cadenhead gold. Labels are in their trademark black design with white font, flanked with the thistle illustration. Following two years bottling the Authentic Collection at 46%, in the 1990s Cadenhead began to favour the Cask Strength bottling.
Cask Strength
In contrast to the Authentic Collection, the Cask Strength series chose not to include the usual details, such as age, month of distillation and bottling date. Instead they opted to add the cask number. This decision makes the Cask Strength bottles unique within the Cadenhead brand.
Another discerning feature of the Cask Strength bottles are the labels, diverging from the traditional black background with gold font, these bottles are designed with a white label including a black and white illustration of the Cadenhead distillery and includes a black and red font. It does however retain the gold foiled stopper cork. Interestingly there was a mistake made in the printing of the Allt-a-Bhainne labels, in which the second ‘L’ was missed from ‘Allt’, which makes these bottles particularly remarkable.
The vast majority of Cask Strength bottles date from the mid-nineties with proofs ranging between the 55-65% ABV.
An Ardbeg Cask Strength bottle recently sold for £3,355.
The Six Factors That Affect The Price Of Cadenhead Whisky
There are six factors that will affect the price of your bottle of Cadenhead. These are the age of the whisky, the bottling date, the vintage, whether it is a single cask edition, the level of the whisky and the condition of the label and box.
Age of Whisky
This refers to the number of years the whisky has spent maturing in the cask, not how long it has been in the bottle. The age is indicated on the label and can vary from 5 to over 30 years old.
Bottling Date
This relates to when the whisky was bottled. As bottles from a specific year are consumed, the remaining bottles become rarer, so a ‘standard’ malt released in the 1980’s can become sought after.
Distillation Year
The distillation year refers to the specific year in which the whisky was distilled (made). It is one of the most important factors that can impact the price of your bottle of Cadenhead.
Label & Packaging
The label on a bottle of Cadenhead is very important and if it is damaged in any way then this will have a negative impact on the value. A bottle without its original box could be worth up to 30% less.
Level
The level of the whisky has a large impact on the value. It should be into the neck (the narrow part). As alcohol is more volatile than water it is the alcohol that will evaporate first, which damages the flavour.
Single Cask Bottlings
Single cask bottlings are generally more sought after, as by default they are unique. Look out for numbers on your bottle like XXX/250, which would indicate a single cask edition.
The Process of Selling Your Bottle Of Cadenhead
The process to get a no-obligation quote for your bottle of whisky is easy.
Send us details about your bottle directly via email or use the form below.
We contact our international network of customers for the best offers.
If you decide to proceed with an offer we issue you with a contract.
Send us your bottle. We have a fully insured courier service available.
We complete the sale with the buyer and send your funds via BACS.
What is the price of your Cadenhead whisky?
In order to provide you with an accurate valuation please provide as much of the below information as you can.
Bottle Selling FAQ
-
The easiest way for us to give you a price for your bottle of whisky is to send us a photograph of your bottle. The picture should be of the bottle standing up, please include the box if you have it.
We use the photograph to check:
- The condition of the bottle, label and box
- The level of the spirit, as this has the biggest effect on value and varies even if the bottle has not been opened
Please send you images to [email protected] or use the contact form below
-
Selling your whisky with Mark Littler Ltd. is the same process as selling at auction, except you know the price you are going to achieve beforehand.
The process is simple:
- Once you have accepted an offer, we issue you a contract which you return with your bottle. You can use our fully insured courier service to send us your bottle (see below).
- Once we receive the bottle we arrange a meeting with the buyer and complete the sale.
- Once the sale is complete we send you the balance minus our commission, and postage charge if you decide to use our courier service. This is usually between 1 – 5 days after receiving the bottle.
Our commission is 10%, including VAT.
-
Once the contract has been signed you send your bottle to Mark Littler, you can arrange this yourself, or you can use our fully insured courier service.
Our courier service includes all packing material and is insured up to £40,000. It also includes a pre-paid return postage label and an instruction sheet on how to pack your bottle.
Once packed you simply drop the parcel at your local post office.
The cost for this service is £15.
-
When we have completed the sale we send the balance via BACS using the details you provide us in the contract.
Payment is usually between 1 – 5 days of receiving your bottle, the average is within 48 hours.
Testimonials
“I found Mark’s details online after looking to sell a collectable bottle of whisky. I was going to use a well know auction site but Mark secured an offer higher than the highest estimation from any auction house, within days, even after the 10% commission was deducted. Communication was perfect; punctual, to the point and polite. Collection and delivery were taken care of by Mark and instruction was clear and easy to follow. Payment was received to my bank within days of posting the bottle. I can’t recommend Mark enough; he runs a tight ship gets top end offers from his clients and delivers quickly.”
Rod Fountain, via Google
“Mark has been very helpful in helping me sell a bottle of whisky which was given to my father many years ago. He was very professional and was always quick to reply to my questions. Not knowing anything about whisky, Mark was there to offer some good advice and I believe he is very knowledgeable about his work. The sale was done very [quickly], and the money was in my bank account the next day. I would highly recommend his services.”
Kim Hendrickx, via Google
“Wow, what a refreshing change it was to meet Mark. He was the consummate professional with an approachable and warm personality who clearly had an in-depth knowledge of his subject which he used to give me a first-class service when I wanted to sell a whisky collection. For anyone who is considering any similar specialist whisky transactions I can certainly recommend him without reservation.”
Duncan Chambers, via Google