Instant success for rare Auld Acquaintance
whisky is expected to sell out within months of its release - just
like its two predecessors.
The third limited edition bottling of Bunnahabhain Islay single malt Scotch whisky, Bunnahabhain Auld Acquaintance 1968, has met with instant success, with more than a third of the limited number of just 2002 bottles already sold, despite the £100 (€158) price tag.
The latest limited edition of the whisky, which is also affectionately known as Hogmanay (the Scottish expression for the New Year's Eve celebrations), was filled to cask on 31 December 1968 and was officially launched at the Islay Jazz Festival last month.
Much of the three-day event takes place in Islay's seven distilleries. The event is sponsored by Black Bottle, a blended whisky, made from the seven single malts distilled on the island.
The pre-launch success of the Hogmany 1968 follows similar sales patterns for the two earlier limited editions of Bunnahabhain, the 1965 and 1966 limited editions, both of which sold out within weeks of release.
With whiskies of this sort already considered collectors items, Bunnahabhain's distillery manager John MacLellan said he expected the Limited Hogmanay Edition to sell out within months.
'The bright packaging and clever timelines theme of the 1968 bottling will guarantee another success for Bunnahabhain, but what will really sell this product is the quality of the contents.
"There is increasing interest in Islay single malts and especially one such as this from one of Scotland's finest distilleries," he claimed modestly.
The Bunnahabhain Auld Acquaintance 1968 has a cask strength of 43.8 per cent abv and will sell at £100 per 70cl bottle.
