World's largest whisky collection expected to sell for more than £8 million

9 December 2019, 12:17

The world's largest private collection of whisky is going under the hammer, with the haul expected to fetch up to £8 million.

The "perfect collection" includes very rare bottles from The Macallan, Bowmore and Springbank distilleries.

It is made up of more than 3,900 bottles and contains the most expensive bottle of whisky in the world, a 1926 Fine and Rare Macallan which recently sold for £1.5 million.

Other favourites of the auction include a Springbank 1919 50-year-old ( £180,000-£220,000) and The Macallan 50-year-old Lalique Six Pillars Collection (£90,000-£100,000)

It was owned by Richard Gooding, a former PepsiCo bottling magnate who spent decades building it before his death in 2014.

He would regularly travel from America to Scotland in his private plane to source special bottles at auctions and distilleries.

The businessman also kept thousand of bottles in his own "pub", a room in his Colorado home specially designed to keep the collection.

The collection will be sold over two auctions in February and April next year.

Mr Gooding's widow Nancy said: "It was clear to us as a family that collecting Scotch was one of Richard's greatest passions, an endeavour that spanned over two decades.

"He loved every aspect of it, from researching the many single malt distilleries to visiting them and tasting their whiskies.

"He was always so pleased to acquire the bottles that he was searching for over the years, his mission was to collect a bottle that represented every single distillery but his favourite was always Bowmore, with his preferred whisky being Black Bowmore.

"Richard truly loved and was proud of his collection and enjoyed sharing it with friends and fellow Scotch lovers in his 'pub' at home."

Iain McClune, Whisky Auctioneer founder, said: "There's never been a private sale of a collection like this ever before at auction - more than 3,900 bottles from one private collector.

"It's the largest collection by value, by volume as well, and it's very exciting to be part of that, to bring this to Whisky Auctioneer and to the wider public.

"What's exciting about this collection is Mr Gooding really developed and built an extensive range of whiskies across the whole Scotch Whisky industry and from other countries as well."

He continued: "It really comprises everything from independent bottlings from closed distilleries, from the big brand names like Macallan and Bowmore and so on. It's a wonderful opportunity.

"There's 1926 Fine and Rare Macallan which recently became the most expensive bottle of whisky sold in the world.

"There's also the 1926 Valerio Adami. These are two of the most legendary, most expensive whiskies ever produced.

"Over several decades, Mr Gooding spent his time really putting together what was considered the perfect collection of whisky in his eyes and it really does show."