Legendary Private Collection Glenlivet single malt in Glasgow sale
A legend of the world of single malt Scotch whiskies, the Private Collection Glenlivet 1943, aged for 70 years, goes under the hammer at a Glasgow auction house this week.
One of the rarest Scotch whiskies ever bottled, the unique spirit has an auction estimate of between £30,000 and £40,000. It was distilled at the height of the Second World War in 1943, at a time when only a handful of distilleries in Scotland were producing whisky.
History of Private Collection Glenlivet
On January 14, 1943 a sherry cask made of European Oak was filled with spirit by Gordon and MacPhail’s senior partner, John Urquhart.
For the next 70 years the whisky was carefully matured, first at the Glenlivet distillery and then at Gordon & MacPhail’s warehouses in Elgin.
In 2013, following the careful 70-year maturation process, Stephen Rankin, a current director and great grandson to John Urquhart, started the long awaited task of releasing the spirit from Cask 121 into 42 specially created hand blown decanters.
Rare whiskies
Commenting on the auction, McTear’s Whisky Expert, Graeme Maxwell, said: “We have seen some exceptional bottles come through the doors at McTear’s over the years and there is no doubt this sits as one of the most magnificent whiskies we have had the privilege to auction.
“The Private Collection Glenlivet 1943 is revered amongst whisky connoisseurs and we expect the bottle to attract considerable interest in the lead in to our Rare & Collectable Whisky Auction.”
“Graeme continued: “The creation of this stunning single malt has been a true family affair, with generations of the Urquhart family ensuring that the finished product takes its rightful place as one of the finest single malt whiskies on the planet.”
The Private Collection Glenlivet 1943 is not the only memorable whisky to feature in McTear’s Rare & Collectable Whisky Auction. The 235 lot sale will feature rare examples of Macallan, Springbank, Dalmore, Bowmore and Highland Park, amongst others.
The sale takes place on August 17.