 |
Increasingly popular: Over twelve months, 43,458 bottles of single malt Scotch whisky were sold in the UK on the open market |
INTERNATIONAL. The rare whisky market significantly outperformed many other asset classes – including wine and gold – in 2015, according to Rare Whisky 101 figures.
The leading index for Scotch whisky, the Rare Whisky Apex 1000 Index, closed 2015 up +14%, outperforming wine (Liv-Ex -0.42%), gold (-10.44%), and many of the world’s leading equity indices (FTSE 100 -4.93%, NASDAQ 100 +9.75%, S&P 500 +0.7% and Shanghai Composite +9.4%).
According to the figures published by the whisky analyst, broker and investment company Rare Whisky 101, the total value of rare whisky bottles sold at auction in the UK in 2015 hit record levels of £9.56 million, exceeding the £7.64 million achieved in 2014 by +25%.
Over twelve months, 43,458 bottles of single malt Scotch whisky were sold in the UK on the open market, an increase of 9,460 bottles and a +28% increase on 2014. The company noted that 2009 saw just 4,072 bottles sold throughout the entire year.
Rare Whisky 101 said the value of Japanese whisky rose sharply in 2015, with the Rare Whisky Karuzaiwa Index increasing nearly +75% in nine months. “Bottles which originally sold for £350 twelve months ago were achieving more than £3,000 on the secondary market,” it said. “However, the last three months of the year saw a dip of -6% reflecting a pricing correction which is set to continue into 2016.”
 |
Strong growth: How the Rare Whisky Apex 1000 Index compared with other asset classes |
Macallan maintained its position as the number one traded distillery on a volume and value basis, accounting for nearly 10% of the market for all bottles sold and 23% of the total value. The next closest distillery from a volume and value perspective is Ardbeg with an 8% share of both volume and value.
Whisky investment analyst and Co-founder of Rare Whisky 101 Andy Simpson commented: “The recent growth in the rare whisky market has exceeded all our forecasts. The coming year promises to bring even more supply to the market as new auction houses appear.
“While the sustainability of these volume increases could be called into question, we know for certain that the true rarities will only become rarer. Should demand remain constant or increase, as is fully expected, Scotch’s credentials as a viable collectable and alternative asset class continue to look particularly robust.”
 |
Market dominance: Macallan maintained its position as the number one traded distillery on a volume and value basis |
 |
Andy Simpson and David Robertson (pictured) launched Rare Whisky 101 in 2014 |
