In what’s being hailed as a one in a billion discovery, a castle trustee in Scotland has stumbled upon a collection of what’s believed to be the oldest whisky in the world.
After looking behind a cellar door in Blair Castle, Penrith, Scotland, Bertie Troughton, who’s the resident trustee of the 750-year-old landmark, discovered the whisky at the back of a shelf.
Distilled in 1833 and bottled in 1841, the antique, 40-bottle collection is almost 200 years old, making it the oldest known whisky on the planet.
Speaking of the discover, Bertie said the trustees are delighted with the rare find – so much so that they plan to build an exhibition with the bottles they retain:
‘Blair Castle is fortunate to have one of the best archives of any historic house in Scotland and it’s been wonderful to see the story of these fabulous bottles come to life in the archives,’ said Bertie.
“Whisky has always been a huge part of the history of Blair Castle and we will be building an exhibition around the bottles we keep after the auction so that all who visit Blair Castle can see it and hear the history of this incredible whisky.”
Under The Hammer
How much the castle plans to keep remains to be seen, as each bottle is estimated to fetch around £10,000 when they go up for auction which could make cashing in very tempting indeed!
Upon discovering the haul, Blair Castle trustees sampled the whisky with an expert, before they contacted Whisky Auctioneer who’ll put it under the hammer soon.
‘Offering the world’s oldest scotch whisky at auction is truly a once in a lifetime occurrence,’ said Joe Wilson at Whisky Auctioneer
‘I’m fortunate to be well acquainted with old and rare liquid, as Whisky Auctioneer handles some of the world’s rarest whisky bottlings.
‘This, however, is a transcendent discovery that is sure to capture not just the imagination of the whisky industry but also those well beyond.
‘Distilled in the 1830s, the whisky was made during a fascinating period when whisky production was experiencing massive change following the 1823 Excise Act, making it a particularly exciting find for those interested in the history and heritage of the Scotch whisky industry.’
Did Queen Victoria Sample The Whisky
Adding to the mystique of the unearthed treasure, some historians have claimed the whisky may have been enjoyed by a young Queen Victoria. The outgoing Monarch was known to frequent the castles of Scotland.
And while she’s better known for her connection to Balmoral Castle, she did spend time at Blair Castle after borrowing it for a family ceremony and befriending the 6th Duchess of Atholl who resided there.
Discussing one particular three-week stay in 1844, the Blair Castle Household Book mentions the consumption of whisky by the Queen, meaning there’s at least a chance it was from the very same collection.
How much the collection sells for remains to be seen, but if you’re someone involved in whisky investment then the chance to own something so special may prove extremely tempting!