The world’s largest private whisky collection went under the hammer last week by a Perth auctioneer.
Whisky Auctioneer, an online auction house based in Inveralmond Industrial Estate, started taking bids on ‘The Perfect Collection’ on Friday, February 7.
‘The Perfect Collection’ is the largest private collection of whisky to ever go on sale, with an estimated price tag of over £1 million.
It was built by the late Richard Gooding, an American private collector from Colorado who travelled extensively to Scotland with his pilot to search for the most coveted whisky bottles.
Thousands from all across the world are expected to take part in the auction, which includes over 3900 bottles.
Because the collection is so large, the auction is being split into two, the first of which got underway on Friday and includes 1949 bottles.
Amongst the first bottles to go under the hammer is a rare Macallan 1926 Valerio Adami 60-Year-Old and Springbank 1919 50-Year-Old, and bottlings from some of Scotland’s lost distilleries such as an Old Orkney Real Liqueur Whisky from the 1930s from Stromness Distillery.
Iain McClune, founder of Perth-based Whisky Auctioneer, said: “The Perfect Collection by Mr Gooding is making whisky history.
“Amongst the over 3900 bottles is the largest collection of The Macallan ever to go to auction, including the limited opportunity to acquire the 1926 Valerio Adami and 1926 Fine and Rare 60-Year-Old bottlings.
“It is with great pleasure that we present ‘The Perfect Collection’ by Mr Richard Gooding part one.
“Featuring some astonishingly rare and iconic bottlings, many of which have scarcely been seen before on the secondary whisky market, it is sure to excite much interest from across the globe.
“For me it is the diversity within ‘The Perfect Collection’ that is perhaps the most exciting aspect.
“The breadth makes it an opportunity accessible for all - from those new to whisky collecting to the seasoned connoisseur looking to crown their collection, there is something here for every whisky lover.”
Other bottles include a number of Macallans from the Fine and Rare series and Lalique range, examples of Springbank’s 1960s vintage local barley series and a number of early 20th century vintage whiskies, including Longmorn 1939 Mayor, Sworder and Co and Talisker Berry Brothers and Rudd 1930s collection.
Until recently, the collection had been housed in Mr Gooding’s ‘pub’, a dedicated room in his Colorado family home designed to showcase each individual whisky.
The first half of the auction will run until Monday, February 17 at whiskyauctioneer.com
The second part of the auction will run from Friday, April 10 until Monday, April 20 and will include all the remaining bottles from ‘The Perfect Collection’, including The Macallan 1926 Fine and Rare, Glenfiddich 1937 Rare Collection 64-Year-Old and The Balvenie 1937 Pure Malt 50-Year-Old.
