Fancy yourself a whiskey enthusiast? Turn your nose up at Fireball, and balk at the thought of mixing some drugstore ginger ale into your rye?And what better way to show the savviness of your taste than with the sophistication of age? Aged whiskey, that is. Maybe your liquor cabinet is replete with bottles of Yamazaki 12 Year Single Malt, Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 15 Year Bourbon, Glenlivet 18 Year Scotch. But hell—that's child play. A true whiskey-lover would have bottles that date back not just to the era of the Backstreet Boys, but to a time before Prohibition.
Maybe that's the argument that can be made in regards to a rare, century-old bottle of Irish whiskey that will be auctioned off on April 6 in Dublin.Considered to be one of the oldest remaining bottles of whiskey of its kind, the bottle of Allman's Pot Still Irish whiskey was bottled in 1916 at a distillery called Nuns Island in Galway for one Captain R.E. Palmer, with the whiskey itself made by Allman's Bandon Distillery in West Cork. Both distilleries, unsurprisingly, are long gone. But as Metallica would say, the memory remains.
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The centenarian whiskey resurfaced last year at a London auction, where it was picked up by a collector named Willie Murphy who is now its part-owner. According to Murphy, there are even older bottles of Irish whiskey out there, but this particular bottle has a rather cool tale behind it.
As described in its Adams listing, the bottle was "strangely proximate to the turbulent politics of its age." The owner of the Allman's distillery, Richard Allman, was a Liberal MP (member of Parliament) during the time of Ireland fighting for governmental independence as Charles Stewart Parnell gained traction for his Home Rule movement. The distillery was founded in 1826, and in 1886, was described by English journalist Alfred Barnard as "the most successful rural distillery in Ireland," with the second-largest malting facility in the country behind Guinness. It survived the Irish potato famine, gained a massive following in Scotland, and was one of the first distilleries to use imported sherry-seasoned casks from Cadiz, which is now considered common practice in whiskey-making. But the triple punch of World War I, Prohibition, and increased competition from other distilleries eventually closed the Bandon distillery in 1925, and the last shares of Allman's were sold off in 1939.With whiskey back in vogue again in the early 21st century, many whiskey-makers are keen on emulating antiquated styles—including Irish single pot still whiskey, of which this pricey bottle is a prime example. Single pot still whiskey is characterized by being made with green unmalted barley and batch-distilled in a pot still; consider it the heritage stuff that brings a tear to the eye of suspendered, mustachioed whiskey-makers around the world.
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The bottle is expected to fetch between 6,000 and 10,000 euros at auction on April 6, the equivalent of US $6,825 to $11,392, according to Adams. But the Irish Times estimates that it could go for more like 15,000 euros, equal to more than $17,000.Sure, it's a hefty price to pay. But didn't you say you loved whiskey? Some might call this bottle priceless.As for what it might taste like at this point… well, that's not mentioned in the listing. And maybe for good reason.
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FAQs
Post bottling, whisky does continue to change and evolve on it's own over time, especially if it's opened and exposed to oxygen, or different storage conditions such as temperature, but is generally safe for consumption, even after 100years!
What is the $2.8 million dollar bottle of whiskey? ›
says it has sold a bottle of The Emerald Isle triple-distilled Irish single malt whiskey for $2.8 million to American whiskey collector Mike Daley. That surpasses the price tag on the previous recordholder, a bottle of The Macallan 1926, which went for $2.7 million at an auction held by Sotheby's in November 2023.
How long can you keep an unopened bottle of whiskey? ›
While whiskey doesn't necessarily expire, it does start to lose flavor and elements after it is opened. An unopened bottle of whiskey will last indefinitely if stored in proper condition. After opening a bottle of whiskey, you have as long as two years or as few as six months or less to drink it before it goes bad.
Are old bottles of whiskey worth anything? ›
Most collectible bottles are over 10 years old and value usually increases with the age of the whisky. Whisky over 30 years old is the most sought after as it is the rarest. Any whisky bottled at over 50 years old is highly desirable and a very limited number of distilleries have released whisky over 50 years old.
Does Jack Daniels go bad if unopened? ›
Does Liquor Expire? Unopened liquor has an indefinite shelf life. Opened liquor lasts about a year or two before it goes bad, meaning it starts losing its color and flavor. Don't use a liquor for well drinks if you won't use the whole bottle within two years.
Can you drink a 50 year old bottle of whiskey? ›
Stored correctly, a bottle of whisky can pretty much last forever. However, there are several factors that come into play when it comes to perfectly preserving a dram. The lighting, temperature, humidity conditions, and whether you have opened the bottle will have an impact on the taste of the liquid inside.
Which is the No 1 expensive whiskey in the world? ›
Isabella's Islay Usd 6,200,000
A bottle of Isabella's Islay is the most expensive whiskey that money can buy. The price tag of more than 6 million dollars that comes with a bottle of this whiskey is because of the decanter that contains it. It features 8,500 diamonds, 300 rubies and exquisite white gold.
What's the most expensive whiskey ever sold? ›
A rare bottle of Scotch whisky sold for a record-breaking £2.2 million ($2.7 million) at auction over the weekend. The Macallan Adami 1926 spent 60 years aging in sherry casks before being bottled in 1986. Only 40 bottles were made.
What is the $50000 bottle of whiskey? ›
Macallan and Bentley teamed up to design an unusual horizontal bottle for their new high-end spirit. Macallan and Bentley have unveiled a $50,000 bottle of whisky. Not long ago, the five-figure price tag alone would have been headline worthy.
Does old unopened whiskey go bad? ›
Whisky lasts indefinitely. So even if you have an unopened bottle from the '70s, it can still be opened and consumed a decade from now. It may slightly change its taste over time, but it won't spoil. Some whisky houses put a “best by” on the bottle, but that's usually just for formality.
Over time, the flavour profile of the whisky – so carefully curated by the distillery – will start to change and deteriorate. The overall alcohol content will alter, and the colour may also begin to fade. Whisky doesn't expire and it won't necessarily taste bad, but it will taste very different.
How can you tell if whiskey has gone bad? ›
If the color has faded significantly, this is a sign that your bourbon is no longer at its peak, usually due to light exposure. Second, check the smell. Bourbon that has spoiled might smell moldy or sour. Finally, evaluate the taste.
How much is a 100 year old whisky worth? ›
A version of The Macallan 1926 was sold by Sotheby's in 2019 for $1.8 million, a record for any bottle of wine or spirit. The appearance of three different bottle variations of the whisky at auctions in 2018 and 2019 led to the record being broken three times.
What whiskey goes up in value? ›
Investment quality whisky must usually have been aged in a barrel for at least a couple of decades. Irish whiskey can also be a good investment. Macallan is very popular among investors, but there are plenty of other highly regarded distilleries to consider.
How much is 100 year old Scotch? ›
Bottle of 100-year-old Scotch whisky could fetch $1.4 million at auction.
How much is 50 year old whisky worth? ›
50-year-old whisky is almost the holy grail in spirits terms. Very few casks of whisky will reach 50 years old and still be drinkable, representing a tiny, tiny fraction of a percent. Several 50-year-old whiskies retail for in excess of £5,000, and finding one for less than £1,000 these days is somewhat of a rarity!
What is the maximum age of whiskey? ›
Macallan “The Reach” 1940: This is considered to be the oldest whiskey in terms of time spent aging in the cask. It was aged for 81 years before bottling, and the first one in the collection sold for $340,000 at a 2022 Sotheby's auction.
Is 100 year old wine safe to drink? ›
The best wines can be stored for more than 100 years, but most great wines will reach their peak before they turn 50 years old.
