Learn how to value your whisky bottles to get the best sale in the UK market. Photo: Mark Littler LTD.
Valuing whisky bottles for sale in the UK can seem like a daunting process. A simple search of retailers and auctions will produce vastly different prices for the same bottle. So how do you know what is achievable? In this post we run through the key points to know when valuing whisky in the UK and how to position yourself to get the most profitable sale.
What Determines The Value Of Whisky Bottles?
The value of a single bottle of whisky can vary between tens of pounds to over two million! The vast majority of bottles are worth less than £1,000, and generally the base value is going to be determined by a combination of factors, including:
- Brand – premium versus standard distilleries and or series.
- Age and vintage – older, earlier whisky is usually worth more.
- Release period – modern versus vintage.
- Type of whisky – including single malt or blended and scotch versus Japanese, American, Irish etc.
- Condition – including packaging and fill level
When a valuer looks at your whisky bottle they will be able to tell very quickly the broad bracket of value. If you want to learn more about valuing a whisky bottle yourself then read on.
What To Look For When Valuing a Bottle Of Whisky
Not all whisky is collectable. Single malt generally has the biggest secondary market and the highest values. Whereas blended whisky does not usually have much of a value, even for older, vintage releases. Whisky (or whiskeys) from certain nations are more sought after than others but there are growing secondary markets for whisky other than scotch as well.
The distillery is usually the quickest indicator of value, with bottles from some distilleries generally worth more than others. However even within the premium distilleries (like Macallan, Springbank, Dalmore etc.) they have released a range of series across a spectrum of prices.
Macallan is a great example here as values can range from over 2 million pounds down to less than £100 across their full range of historic and modern releases.
After distillery then, the age and vintage of the bottle and the release period are next most important. Older age statements, earlier vintages, and vintage (roughly pre-2000s) are most sought after and therefore most valuable. Values for limited edition bottles, cask strength or single cask releases also tend to be higher.
The Best Way To Value Your Bottle
As well as contacting a specialist broker like Mark Littler Ltd you can also value your whisky bottle yourself online. If you are familiar with the whisky market and confident that you can identify your bottle from the details on the label then there are a few online resources you can use to get a valuation.
Specialist online auction houses usually have their historic auction results available for you to search online. The issue with going direct to an auction house is that you can only search one auction at a time, and they might not have sold your bottle recently. That means you need to search a lot/all auctions and that can be very time consuming.
There are also databases that collate auction data for you to search everything in one place. These are usually paid subscriptions but can offer a much quicker way to search a lot of different auction houses and compare results.
However, there is no set way for auction houses to describe bottles. That means you still need to try a few variations of your search to make sure you find something. It can also be quite overwhelming when you have certain types of bottles where micro variations in labels can mean the difference between a £100 and £5,000 bottle (Laphroaig 10 year old we mean you!).
The value of a bottle of whisky is dependent on a number of factors, including condition. The damage to the label on this bottle does impact its market value. Photo: Mark Littler LTD
Condition and Value
Condition is another complicating factor when comparing the value of bottles of whisky. The bottles of whisky that are most valuable in today’s market are often vintage. However when these releases first came out there wasn’t a significant secondary market for whisky so the closures were not designed for long term storage.
The biggest impact on the condition of your whisky is going to be the fill level, which can drop in older bottles due to imperfect seals. Improper storage can also cause discolouration, fading or marking of the label.
If you’re researching value yourself then this adds an additional complication when using a database as usually these don’t show photos, just a name and auction result. Which means clicking in each listing to view and compare the condition of individual results.
Use Retail Valuations With Caution
If you have searched for the value of your whisky bottle online you may also have seen retail prices. It is important to know that this is not usually a reflection of what you as a private individual can get for the same bottle.
Retailer prices are usually around 40% to 60% higher than auction values. This is because of the additional cost retailers have to cover (20% VAT, corporation tax, their own overheads etc.), so make sure they don’t give you unrealistic expectations over your whisky’s value.
When To Get A Second Opinion On Your Whisky’s Value
While valuing your whisky yourself can be a good place to start, if you have a high value, unusual or very old bottle then it can be worth getting a professional opinion on the value of your whisky.
“Since 2016 my aim with Mark Littler LTD has always been to provide independent, no-obligation valuations for whisky bottles and other collectable alternative assets so that our customers can achieve the best results. We work with private buyers and auction houses to make getting a complete valuation as easy as possible,” explained Mark Littler who founded Mark Littler LTD following eight successful years in the auction industry.
As an independent brokerage the team at Mark Littler LTD will put you in touch with auctions and private buyers. This gives you an accurate view of the value of your bottle based on the current market and demand.
For individual bottles please use the form below. Or if you have a large collection of bottles that you would like valuing then please feel free to get in touch via email or call to discuss options.
Sell Your Whisky Today
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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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 including all the online selling options.
How To Sell Whisky Online – A guide to getting a valuations and selling your whisky.
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
