South Africa makes whisky history
On October 23 single malt whisky from distilleries all over Scotland will come under the hammer at a once-in-a-lifetime auction at Summer Place in Johannesburg.
One of the whiskies is 36 years old and others were made in distilleries that have closed in recent years and will never be fired up again.
It is expected that interest in the auction and the whiskies that will come under the hammer will be enormous and even attract buyers from overseas.
The market for single malt whisky in South Africa is small, but the passion of the enthusiasts is such that Cape Town-based GuinnessUDV - which markets a number of the finest - has thrown its full weight into what amounts to a sale of liquid gold.
The event will make headline news and one of the reasons for this is that some of the whisky comes from the last casks that exist. Quite simply there is no more 30-year-old Brora and 24-year-old Port Ellen. And there never will be, as both these distilleries have closed. The bottles that will be auctioned are from the last few remaining casks and South Africans should feel proud that they are being given a unique buying opportunity.
Bidding is expected to be faster and more furious than at wine auctions, but potential buyers are expected to include wine purchasers because of the link between wine appreciation and single malt whisky. As origin, climate terroir, ageing and oak are factors in the creation and development of many great wines so they play a similar role in the distilling and maturation of great single malt whisky. Sales figures for and interest in single malt whisky in France are evidence of this and some of the great wine enthusiasts in South Africa are known to enjoy Scotland's liquid gold. Single malt whisky is the product of a single distillery in exactly the same way as an estate wine is the product of a single estate. To the uninitiated who may believe it's an acquired taste, enthusiasts are quick to point out that the nose and taste of whisky from distilleries just a few kilometers apart can be completely different. The ingredients in each whisky are however exactly the same: malted barley, yeast and water. To the romantic, they are the earth, the water, the fire and the air of Scotland.
As part of the promotion for the auction and single malt whisky in general, an expert on rare malt whiskies, Dr Nick Morgan, GuinnessUDV's London-based global marketing director for its premier malt whiskies, visited South Africa in July.
The purpose of the visit, his first to South Africa, was to conduct tastings of some of the whisky that will be auctioned in October.
"South Africa is one of the top whisky markets in the world and has a highly developed drinks industry. This is why we have chosen this country as the venue for the first Rare Malts Auction. The South African liquor industry is one of the most advanced globally and consumers are very sophisticated and demand good quality and variety."
The 11 different single malt whiskies to be auctioned are rare and unusual cask-strength malts that have developed to perfection in barrels that have rested quietly for decades. At 36 and 30 years, some are older than some readers of this magazine. And also beyond the age that is generally recognised as the peak of perfection for most single malts held in casks, but they have defied the pundits to be outstanding examples of old single malt whisky.
"These rare malt whiskies are literally liquid gold and offer a unique investment opportunity. Like fine vintage wines, they hold their quality and their value increases by the year. The fact that they are so rare and have such interesting histories makes them significant investment items," Dr Morgan says.
But for the single malt enthusiast who attended the tasting he conducted in Cape Town, the pleasure that came from the tasting glasses was enough. Single malt whisky is meant to be savoured and enjoyed - and they savoured and enjoyed every drop from samples of four that will be auctioned.
Rynard van der Westhuizen, GuinnessUDV's whisky category manager in South Africa, says the auction is a South African initiative but has already generated international interest. "These are the rarest whiskies available in the world and we are very excited that the rare malt auction in Johannesburg will be a global first."
He expects buyers to be whisky lovers, collectors and traders. It is anticipated that the rarest will fetch around R5000 a bottle and there are reserves of R2000 on some bottles but prices may will be significantly higher on the night.
Guests at the event will enjoy a dinner and entertainment before being invited to bid on mixed cases or single selections of Scotland's liquid gold.
The world's first auction of rare malt whiskies was held:
When: At a whisky dinner on October 23 2002
Where: Summer Place, Johannesburg
