ONE of the oldest whiskies in the world has been discovered hidden in a Scottish castle.
The whisky, believed to have been distilled in 1833 and bottled in 1841, was found behind a cellar door at 750-year-old Blair Castle in Perthshire.
Experts said the scotch is one of the oldest in the world.
Around 40 bottles of the whisky were discovered in late 2022 by Bertie Troughton, resident trustee at Blair Castle.
The age and origin of the whisky has been verified by research in the castle’s archives, as well as carbon dating carried out by the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre.
Troughton said discovering the story behind the bottles had been a “wonderful” experience.
He said: “Blair Castle is fortunate to have one of the best archives of any historic house in Scotland and it’s been wonderful to see the story of these fabulous bottles come to life in the archives.
“Whisky has always been a huge part of the history of Blair Castle and we will be building an exhibition so that all who visit Blair Castle can see and hear the history of this incredible whisky.”
A total of 24 bottles will be auctioned individually between November 24 and December 4 by Perth-based business Whisky Auctioneer.
Joe Wilson, head curator and spirits specialist at Whisky Auctioneer, called it a “transcendent discovery”, claiming that the bottles contain the “world’s oldest scotch whisky”.
Wilson continued: “I’m fortunate to be well acquainted with old and rare liquid, as Whisky Auctioneer handles some of the world’s rarest whisky bottlings.
“This, however, is a transcendent discovery that is sure to capture not just the imagination of the whisky industry but also those well beyond.
“Distilled in the 1830s, the whisky was made during a fascinating period when whisky production was experiencing massive change following the 1823 Excise Act, making it a particularly exciting find for those interested in the history and heritage of the Scotch whisky industry.”
Further information about the auction can be found here.
