Amazing whisky hoard picked up by Market Rasen couple for a song going to auction

The collection extends to 38 bottles, almost all of them single malts, ranging from internationally famous names through to some of the lower profile distilleries whose creations are less well known to all but connoisseurs of fine whisky.

The couple, who come from the Market Rasen area, were offered the entire collection for just £100 by someone who was having a clear out and wanted to get rid of it.

James Laverack of auctioneers John Taylors said: “The deal was apparently a complete fluke. The young couple had actually gone along to buy some other things when the chap asked if they might also be interested in the whisky.

“They were astonished to discover that just one of the bottles they had acquired was a 12 year old Lagavulin, an Isle of Islay single malt, which usually sells for £700-£800.

“The collection also includes a pre-Royal Warrant bottle of Laphroag – so called because it predates the distillery getting a Royal Warrant from Prince Charles in 1994 – a single malt that experts have said is ‘as good as whisky can get’ that also retails for hundreds of pounds.”

James added that in addition there are special bottles of Glenfiddich, the single malt that has won more awards than any other whisky, and Glenmorangie, which claims to be Scotland’s favourite malt, as well as many highly rated Speyside malts including Glen Rothes, Glen Keith, and Glen Moray.

The collection is being sold in 13 lots that are being predicted to make as much as £2,000.

The auction catalogue is available on the firm’s website (www.johntaylors.com). The viewing sessions at the Eastgate Saleroom are on Sunday and Monday (April 12 and 13) from 1pm-3pm. The auction starts at 10am on Tuesday (April 14) and is to be webcast live with online bidding through thesaleroom.com, easyliveauction.com and johntaylors.com.