In what can be called one of the biggest discoveries of recent times, a rare collection of whiskey bottles have been discovered from a castle.
As per the reports, this accidental discovery was made at Blair Castle in Perthshire, Scotland, where a collection of whiskey bottles, believed to be distilled over 180 years ago, has been found. Bertie Troughton, the resident trustee at Blair Castle, stumbled upon approximately 40 bottles in a nondescript cellar room in late 2022.
The ‘bin book,’ documenting the cellar inventory, indicated that the whiskey was casked in 1833, distilled the same year, and bottled in 1841. If validated, this find would make it the oldest-known whiskey in existence.
Blair Castle, with its origins dating back to 1269, stands in the heart of Atholl Estates and holds a rich history as the traditional seat of the Duke of Atholl. The castle hosted a young Queen Victoria in the mid-1800s, known for her friendship with the 6th Duchess of Atholl.
Records suggest whiskey consumption during her stay, hinting that the recently discovered whiskey might have been enjoyed by the Queen and her consort, Prince Albert.
Previously, the oldest-known whiskey, if we go by the Guinness World Records, was Baker’s Pure Rye Whiskey from 1847. However, the Blair Castle discovery has surpassed this record. An online auction will likely take place in November, featuring 24 of these bottles, each estimated to fetch around 10,000 pounds.
Whisky Auctioneer, based in Perth, will conduct the auction, considering it a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. Reports suggest that the remaining bottles will be showcased in the palace for visitors.
Joe Wilson, chief curator and spirits expert at Whisky Auctioneer, described the opportunity to auction these bottles as extraordinary. Angus MacRaild, a specialist in old and rare whiskies and co-founder of Kythe Distillery, deemed the whisky tasting a great honor. He emphasized the unparalleled significance of this Scottish distilling artifact in terms of provenance and preservation.
The accidental unearthing of this exceptional whiskey collection adds a remarkable chapter to the history of Scotland’s liquid gold.