Critic
Where to Find Super-Old Scotch Whisky at a Fraction of the Price
Welcome to the world of independent bottlers, where big age statements don’t require small fortunes.
Illustration: María Jesús Contreras
When hunting for superb single malt Scotch, connoisseurs look for many key elements. A bargain isn’t one of them.
Demand for well-aged whiskies has become insatiable, squeezing supply and resulting in astronomically inflated pricing. Consider the first release of Black Bowmore: A 29-year‑old expression could be purchased for £80 (about $266 in today’s dollars, accounting for inflation) when it was released in 1993. Now that same Scotch can set you back £27,500. It’s hardly an outlier. A 1928 Macallan retailed at £50 in 1983 and sold in July on Whisky Auctioneer for £92,000.