One of the common consumer observations we get relayed to us is how auction prices are always cheaper than retail prices. So, we wanted to rebuff this myth a little; yes, retail prices can seem higher on occasion, but this often due to the price the retailer paid to acquire the bottle and the current market demand or trend on said bottle.
On the other hand, we monitor auctions carefully every month and it surprises us to see just how many bottles sell at auction for a higher price than they are going for on reputable retailer sites, where, as a buyer, it would also likely give you more protection and convenience. Likewise, shipping from retailers would be delivered in a matter of days, some auctions state that deliveries to the likes of the US could take up to 5 weeks!
It can be said that buying at auction gives the user a better chance of acquiring a ‘bargain’, but it is important to note the rising buyer’s premiums and additional costs, such as shipping, insurance and credit card fees. In response to this, you could also suggest that there are bargains to be found on retail sites if the buyers are savvy enough and proactively speculating ahead of certain trend curves.
Below, we have compiled a list of bottles that have sold (or are currently selling) at auction, where the realised prices have been higher than identical bottles on retail sites: -
Brora 1972 22yo, Rare Malts Selection 61.1% Bottling
This bottle contains one of the finest whiskies ever released ...or so at least the experts tell us!
This 22 year old Highland single malt was laid to rest at the now-silent Brora distillery in 1972 and bottled for United Distillers' Rare Malts Selection in the mid-1990's.
A hugely collectible malt that received a brilliant 96 points from the experts at WhiskyFun.
Auction Sale Price incl. fees before shipping/insurance: £7,020 (Whisky Auctioneer Sep 2025 – currently live and rising)
The Whisky Vault Price: net £6,250. Buy Here.
Potential Saving of £750+
Port Ellen 17yo, Douglas Murdoch Cask Strength
This exquisite 17 year old Islay malt from Port Ellen was bottled at a cask strength 59.5% ABV by Douglas Murdoch & Co. Ltd of Glasgow.
Bottled approximately around the turn of the Millennium, this classy Port Ellen was awarded a huge 92 points from the WhiskyFun experts.
Auction Sale Price incl. fees before shipping/insurance: £1,957 (Whisky Auctioneer Aug 2025)
The Whisky Vault Price: net £1,250. Buy Here.
Potential Saving of £700+
Blair Athol 1995 20yo, The Vault Ltd Edition
This well-sherried Highland single malt Scotch whisky was laid to rest at the Blair Athol distillery in November 1995, where it remained undisturbed for 20 long years before being bottled in May 2016 especially for The Whisky Vault by celebrated independent bottlers Douglas Laing & Co. Ltd from their Douglas McGibbon stocks.
A superb malt that is one of just 180 bottles taken from sherry cask number 11163, bottled at a natural cask strength of 51.8% ABV.
Auction Sale Price incl. fees before shipping/insurance: £243 (Whisky Auctioneer Aug 2025)
The Whisky Vault Price: net £125. Buy Here.
Potential Saving of £115+
Macallan Private Eye
This bottling was brought out to celebrate the Private Eye, a popular British satirical and current affairs magazine, 35th anniversary in 1996 and was restricted to a Limited Edition of 5,000 bottles, all individually numbered (with this particular offering being bottle number 2862).
A vatting of Macallan casks, including one from 1961 - the magazine's first publication year, the bottle has a unique stencilled label created by the famous cartoonist Ralph Steadman.
The history, design and of course the excellent whisky inside mean this continues to be a hugely collectible Macallan.
Auction Sale Price incl. fees before shipping/insurance: £4,140 (Scotch Whisky Auctions Jul 2025)
The Whisky Vault Price: net £4,000. Buy Here.
Potential Saving of £140+
Clynelish 1972 50yo, G&M Private Collection
This outrageous 50 year old Highland single malt work of art was laid to sleep at the Clynelish distillery on the 16th May 1972 and bottled by Gordon & MacPhail for their revered Private Collection on the 7th November 2022.
Drawn from refill American hogshead number 5335 at a natural cask strength 58% ABV, this is one of only 135 very limited bottles that comes housed in a gorgeous decanter with fine oak presentation case and COA.
Auction Sale Price incl. fees before shipping/insurance: £5,962 (Whisky Auctioneer Mar 2025)
The Whisky Vault Price: net £4,791.67. Buy Here.
Potential Saving of £1,150+
Glen Grant 1965 54yo, G&M Private Collection
This outstanding, long-aged 54 year old Speyside single malt was laid to sleep at the Glen Grant distillery on the 8th March 1965 and bottled for Gordon & MacPhail's Private Collection range on the 19th December 2019.
Filled from single refill sherry butt number 1676 at a natural cask strength 42.9% ABV, this uber-exclusive release is one of just 336 decanters that comes housed in a beautifully crafted wooden presentation case with tasting notes and COA insert.
Auction Sale Price incl. fees before shipping/insurance: £4,140 (Whisky Auctioneer Oct 2024)
The Whisky Vault Price: net £3,750. Buy Here.
Potential Saving of £490+
Springbank 12yo, 100 Proof Christmas 2002 Private Bottling
It’s beginning to look a look a lot like… Christmas 2002 with this fascinating 12 year old from Springbank!
Matured in Madeira wood and bottled at 100 proof (57% ABV) exclusively for the Shareholders, Directors and staff of J&A Mitchell Co. Ltd, the Springbank distillery proprietors.
Exceptionally rare, it is believed that only 66 bottles of this precious liquid were ever produced. The rear of the bottle and the carton are both hand-signed by the then General Manager, Frank McHardy.
Auction Sale Price incl. fees before shipping/insurance: £1,900 (Whisky Auctioneer Mar 2025)
The Whisky Vault Price: net £1,875. Buy Here.
Potential Saving of £25+
Glen Albyn 1975, Cadenhead’s Cask Strength – Cask 3344
This excellent Highland single malt was laid to rest at the Glen Albyn distillery in 1975 and bottled by Wm Cadenhead for their white label Cask Strength series during the 1990's.
Filled from single cask number 3344 at a natural strength 59.1% ABV, this rare expression from another of Scotland's lost distilleries.
Auction Sale Price incl. fees before shipping/insurance: £1,104 (Whisky Hammer Jun 2025)
The Whisky Vault Price: net £833.33. Buy Here.
Potential Saving of £270+
Lagavulin 1990 20yo, The Syndicates Bottling
This cask strength 20 year old Islay single malt was distilled at Lagavulin on the 3rd September 1990 and bottled at 48.1% ABV, from cask number 4395, on the 22nd September 2010 for The Syndicate's series.
These limited selected bottling's from 'The Syndicate' were sourced from the deepest, darkest depths of the Lagavulin distillery warehouse and then bottled over at the Bruichladdich distillery.
Auction Sale Price incl. fees before shipping/insurance: £690 (Whisky Auctioneer Jan 2025)
The Whisky Vault Price: net £625. Buy Here.
Potential Saving of £65+
Macallan 30yo, Sherry Oak, Blue Label US Import
A very highly sought after Macallan 30 year old Blue Label single malt that was matured exclusively in Sherry oak casks and bottled in the late 1990's.
This particular 75cl bottling was specially imported for the US market by Remy Amerique Inc. of New York and comes in great condition complete with original blue wooden presentation case.
After achieving a cracking score of 90 points from WhiskyFun, this was the final expression of the sherried 30 year old before the introduction of the Fine Oak range.
Auction Sale Price incl. fees before shipping/insurance: £6,026 (Sotherby’s Whisky Auction Mar 2025)
The Whisky Vault Price: net £5,000. Buy Here.
Potential Saving of £1,026+
So, there we have it, some proof that it’s always worth shopping around first before making that final bid at auction!