Here at Potteries Auctionwe sell a lot (get it) of whisky, wine, and spirits in our auction rooms. Your favourite old tipple can reach soaring prices as the hammer goes down. Some bottles are collectible, other vintage years make wines popular, and even films or TV programs can help to raise the profile of a particular spirit. This means you can sell collectible alcohol at auction. Keep reading to find out how much the content of your drinks cabinet could be worth.
What Type of Alcohol is Collectible?
The most popular types of collectible alcohol include:
- Vintage wines
- Collectible whisky
- Fine spirits.
We’ve seen all sorts of alcohol cross the auction threshold at our auction house in Stoke-on-Trent. It may even surprise you to hear the miniatures and even non-alcoholic drinks can be popular in our sales too. Whilst the standout products are whisky, and rare wines, it’s always worth considering if your unused drink gifts or unwanted drinks are collectible.
A great example is a collection of various bottles of spirits including Finest old Demerara rum, James Norris Burslem, Hobsons black beer, Leeds and various ports that appeared in one of our Antique, Rare Pottery and Fine Art Sale. It was given an estimate of £40-£80, yet as the hammer crashed down, it sold for an incredible £580. Proving, it’s not just wine, whisky and spirits that are collectible and popular at auction. But a surprise lot of beer and rum really got bidders excited.
What Collectible Alcohol is Popular at Auction?
We’ve listed three of the most popular types of collectible alcohol at auction and we’re showcasing some of the highest prices we’ve seen.
Of course, whisky is number one on our list. It’s popular for many reasons, but this lot of Geo. Roe & Co Fine Old Irish Whiskey with the cork still intact had a mega sale price of £2,400. This alone makes it worth checking your kitchen cupboards for any hidden or forgotten bottles!
It can be hard to predict if a wine is rare, or valuable, it’s why our experts are best placed to help you identify and value your bottles. This means when a popular or collectible wine comes to the auction room, it’s often in demand. This lot is a great example. We saw a collection of French wines and spirits, including, 2 x Chateau Clerc Milon 2009 75cl, 2 x Chateau Palmer 2008 75cl, 2 x Chateau Sigognac and 2 x Beaune Greves Premier Cru 2014 75cl, sell for a huge £320. After being given an estimate of £40-£80, even our valuers were surprised by the way this lot took off!
Spirits can be a surprising hit in the auction room, and they can be very collectible. This 1960s Bottle of Lemon Hart (at an eye watering 70% proof) Rum sold for a neat £120! It’s why it’s worth considering all spirits and not just whisky.
How to Buy Vintage Alcohol at Auction
If you’d like to buy collectible alcohol at auction, then you’ve come to the right place! Whether it’s for a special occasion, a birthday gift, to mark an anniversary or to indulge in something a little extra deluxe, then we here at Potteries Auction can help.
There are a number of ways you can bid on any upcoming alcohol lots with Potteries Auctions, including in person, online and over the phone. Please contact us to arrange beforehand if you’d like to come and bid in person or via telephone, or bid online from the comfort of your home with The Saleroom and Easylive Auctions.
It’s not just sealed and safely stored bottles that bring in bidders. This lot which included a large quantity of alcohol – fortified wines, spirits, and unusual liqueurs. With over 25 unopened assorted bottles, including oak aged gin, vintage port, together with 28 opened and part bottles of similar items. Sold for a great price of £65. Although, we do recommend opened items are for decorative use only, as age and quality can be unknown.
How to Sell Collectible Alcohol at Auction
If you have been clearing out your garage, or your drinks cabinet, and you’ve uncovered some items to sell at auction, get in touch and we can help you with a valuation. You don’t want to end up throwing away a potentially valuable bottle of sprits, or wine, when you could have had a hassle-free sale with Potteries Auction.
Talk to our team of experts who will be able to give you an accurate auction estimate on your collectible alcohol and recommend the best auction for your piece. You can join us at one of our valuation days every Tuesday. Email us for an appointment enquiries@potteriesauctions.com or call us on +44 (0)1782 638100 Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm.
If you can’t come in and see us in person but would like to submit items for auction or valuation, send us an email to enquiries@potteriesauctions.com with details and a photograph and one of our experts will provide information and auction estimates. Alternatively, give us a call on 01782 638100 to arrange an appointment.