A number of years ago we picked up one of the oldest bottles of whisky we had ever seen, heard or come across. This was a V.O.B. Special Blended Scotch whisky that was bottled for Charles Mackinlay & Co. of Leith and supplied toThe Houses of Parliament.
The label states that it was supplied for the House of Commons Refreshment Department on the 22nd December 1885, an incredible 140 years ago! It was bottled by Alexander Gordon & Co. Ltd, who presented the bottle to Chas Mackinlay & Co. to offer to the governmental department.
In regards to the provenance of the bottle, we have little doubts to its authenticity. We acquired it over two decades ago from an elderly lady in Nottinghamshire, where she informed us that it had been in the family since her mother was presented it in 1904. The bottle, capsule and label are in quite decent condition considering the lengthy period this bottle has been around. It is something we have never really known what to do with, therefore it has remained in the depths of the vault at The Whisky Vault towers since we obtained it.
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The full transcript on the bottle reads as follows: -
“House of Commons Refreshment Department – December 22nd, 1885.
Dear Sirs, we have much pleasure in testifying to the uniform high class quality of the V.O.B. S.P.C.L. SCOTCH WHISKY you now supply to this department, and which we have used here for the past five years.
Amongst the Members it is universally liked and appreciated, and we consider ourselves fortunate in having selected such a whisky.
We are, dear Sirs, yours truly,
ALEXANDER GORDON & CO. LIMITED.
To Messrs Chas. Mackinlay & Co., Leith”
It’s a quite astonishing piece of history, one that I don’t believe has ever been seen on any whisky market previously. Please feel free to add to the discussion below if you have anything further of relevance to add to the discussion.