We've all spent a few bob on alcohol over the years with the only return on investment being a pounding headache and dodgy tummy the morning after. However, according to the UK's largest whisky-only specialist Whisky Shop, buying whisky needn't be consigned to a night down the pub. In fact, they argue, there's no better time than the present to invest in rare and old bottles of Scotch whisky with the top 1000 bottles of Single Malts increasing in price by over 13% in the past year alone. Perhaps one of the best examples of whisky as an investment is the colourfully named Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch 1. A distillery exclusive, the Balvenie burst onto the scene in 2010 and would set you back a 'mere' £150; fast forward three years and it's now going under the hammer (not literally!) for £2,000. I'll drink to that.
Let's take a look 4 of the best, and potentially most lucrative, rare whiskies to invest your money in today:
Bowmore 1989 23 Year Old
It's important to remember that a whisky purchase should be looked upon as a long, rather than short, term investment. Whilst it's more than likely that you'll see some short term gains, you're looking at waiting ten to twenty years before seeing the best returns on your investment so patience is the name of the game! At £380, this brand new Bowmore may seem a little pricey but, if you have the resolve to keep it for 10+ years, this little vintage beauty could make you a lot of money.
Glenmorangie 30 Year Old Oloroso Cask
Along with the Malaga wood finish, this particular bottle is the oldest ever to be released by Glenmorangie at 30 years old. Five years ago, it was yours for as little as £140. Owners can now expect at least five times that amount at auction with a minimum of £700 to be expected. Discontinued releases, like this one, are where you are likely to see the best profits so keep that in mind when considering a purchase.
Dalmore 50 Year Old 10cl
At a mind-boggling £648 for 10cl, this Dalmore is certainly for the more serious players. It is not sold by the bottle but, with its younger sibling the 46 year old Constellation selling at £20,000 a bottle, this stuff truly is like liquid gold. A sound investment... if you can afford it!
Aberfeldy 16 Year Old Ramble
Whilst Aberfeldy may not traditionally be the first distiller to come to mind when considering rare, valuable whiskies, this shot out of the leftfield may well be a risk worth taking. It's an exclusive, single batch release that's cask bottled at cask strength so all signs point towards it being a winning investment and, at £120 a bottle, it's the cheapest of the lot!
Whisky can be an expensive past time but this lot certainly prove that there's money to be made from investing in the 'right' whiskies at the right time. Whilst returns may not be immediate, if you've got the patience and an eye for a good dram, investing in whisky could well be the smartest round you've ever bought.