Sometimes, the best discoveries happen by accident. While digging through some boxes at Spirits Sourcery HQ over the weekend, I stumbled upon something that gave me goosebumps, a first-edition whisky almanac from 2002.
At first glance, it might just look like a small, worn book. But what makes this remarkable is that it used to be the go-to guide for whisky collectors, especially for buying vintage The Macallan releases. Originally priced at just £10, today it's a collector’s item worth around £200 at online auctions.
What makes this find truly special isn’t just its rarity. It’s packed with insights from whisky legends—people whose names still command respect in the whisky world today. Some of these individuals have become good friends of mine, which makes leafing through this book all the more nostalgic. But here’s where things get really interesting: when I flipped to pages 26 and 27, I was floored. The Fine & Rare releases post-1964 were listed for under £1,000. Even more jaw-dropping? A bottle from 1926 was priced at just £20,000.
The memories this stirred were vivid. I remember visiting the old distillery site, where these treasures were quietly stored. There was no grandeur to the setting—just a small, unassuming room, almost like a humble broom cupboard. Yet inside, rows of bottles sat quietly gathering dust, waiting to be rediscovered. It was a time when magic wasn’t in the marketing but in the experience of being there, surrounded by history.
Finding this guide is a beautiful reminder of how much has changed and yet, how much has stayed the same. It’s the stories, the people, and the passion that make this industry so special. Whether you’re sipping on a rare vintage or just cracking open a new release, there’s always a sense of discovery waiting around the corner.
Comentarios