Cover: the Macallan 60-Yar-Old 1926 sold by Sotheby’s on 18 November 2023 for £2.2 million
The market for collectible whisky bottles is constantly growing, attracting enthusiasts and investors from all over the world. The brand of a renowned distillery, specialized in the production of exclusive spirits, even of distilleries that have been closed for years, affects the price and the prerogative of the bottle to be a real investment tool capable of ensuring important returns in the short and medium term.
However, with the increase in the value of bottles and the entire market of collectible and investment distillates, the problem of counterfeiting has also emerged, from which it is necessary to defend oneself in order not to see capital through away that was thought to be well allocated in a profitable investment activity. Checking the authenticity of bottles is crucial.
Verifying the authenticity of a bottle of whiskey has become a crucial step for collectors and dealers, as fraud can result in significant economic losses and damage the reputation of the market.
Signs of Authenticity
The first clues that should arouse suspicion are related to the provenance and documentation pertaining to the bottle: the first line of defense against counterfeiting is the provenance of the bottle. Authentic high-value bottles are often accompanied by detailed documentation that includes the bottle’s history, certificates of authenticity, and in some cases, original receipts. Buying from companies that professionally operate in the field of investment spirits can significantly reduce the risk of buying a fake product.
In this regard, we quote from an article on ScotchWhisky.com’s website, dated August 7, 2017: “According to experts, the $10,000 measure of vintage Macallan 1878 Scotch whiskey purchased at a hotel in St Moritz nine days ago was a fake. The anonymous Chinese guest paid 9,999 francs ($10,277) for a 2cl shot of single malt at the Devil’s Place bar at the Hotel Waldhaus am See in St Moritz, Switzerland, on July 29. Serge Valentin, an experienced collector and founder of the website Whiskyfun, raised a number of issues related to the bottle, including the condition of the label’s cap and paper (“too new”) and the accuracy of many details on the label. All fakes have those artificially aged corks to make them look old, but they don’t have what all the real ones have, a natural “maturation” of the cork that makes them shrink after decades. <<I don’t blame the bar at that hotel, and they shouldn’t be judged because they’re victims too>>”
Figure 1: an article on the Wito web www.scotchwhisky.com examines a case of “famous” counterfeiting among fine whiskies
This shows that counterfeiters have been in the fine whiskey business for a long time before you become interested in investment whiskey and decided to read this article.
Visual Examination to Check the Authenticity of Bottles
A thorough examination of the bottle can reveal many clues to its authenticity. Labels, seals, and caps should be checked for any signs of tampering or forgery. Original labels are often made from high-quality materials and printed using techniques that are difficult to replicate. In addition, the level of the liquid in the bottle and the condition of the glass can provide additional clues. Collector’s and investment whisky bottles are filled with extreme care and, therefore, the fill level will be identical between different specimens of the same series or edition.
A drop in the level can certainly be physiological for bottles filled and sealed many years ago, thanks to the transpiration of the cork, for this reason it is, once again, difficult and insidious to distinguish, for the untrained eye, an authentic bottle that has suffered the signs of time, from a counterfeit one on which those same characteristics have been artfully reproduced that are normally the prerogative of an original piece with decades of rest in the vault or in a protected cellar.
Content Analysis
In some cases, it may be necessary to resort to scientific techniques to confirm the authenticity of the whisky. Chemical analysis of the contents can identify the age of the whisky, distillation methods, and specific characteristics that match those stated by the manufacturer. Although expensive, these analyses can provide definitive proof of the authenticity of the product, but they are destructive of the integrity of the bottle, which makes it lose its “investment-grade” prerogative. It will, therefore, once again be appropriate to rely on companies that deal with the allocation of investment spirits bottles, which have tools and skills to ensure the complete authenticity of the bottles you intend to buy.
Figure 2: A level below the neck (under neck) should not necessarily be frightening: it is generally synonymous with an authentic bottle, very old, in which the evaporative action of time has reduced its content. Of course, the quantity of product also affects the value of the bottle, so it is preferable to find specimens with a high level of
Protective Measures
Counterfeit whiskey bottles are a growing problem. Forgery techniques are becoming more and more sophisticated, making fraud detection an increasingly complex task. Some counterfeiters are able to perfectly replicate labels and seals, even using original bottles of less prestigious brands to contain inferior quality whiskey.
To combat counterfeits, many distilleries are taking advanced security measures. Some use technologies such as QR codes, holograms, and other security features on labels that allow for instant verification via smartphone. In addition, blockchain is being explored as a solution to trace the provenance and ensure the authenticity of each bottle.
Of course, this protocol, which involves the use of current and highly advanced technologies, is not applicable to very old pieces (i.e. those whose bottling date is years or decades ago) with very high value, because the mere application of stickers with microchips or other tracking devices would result in an alteration of the original configuration of these bottles.
There is no authenticity without counterfeiting
The authenticity of collectible whiskey bottles is a crucial aspect of maintaining the integrity and value of this market, as well as making it safe for the investor and free from scam risks. The travail of counterfeiting that occurs in high-value whiskies is reminiscent of what has been happening in the watch industry for over fifty years (just think of the invasion of counterfeit Rolexes, as well as Audemars Piguet and other luxury chronograph brands): for this reason, once again, it is vitally important to rely on professionals who have the necessary skills to protect your capital from scams, Putting aside the do-it-yourself, especially if it is your intention to invest significant sums in this highly profitable sector.
As the challenge of counterfeiting grows, collectors and dealers must become increasably savvy and vigilant. Through a combination of documentary checks, visual examinations and advanced technologies, to check the authenticity of bottles it is possible to ensure that precious bottles of whiskey remain authentic and appreciated over time.
Why invest with The Spirits Club?
Our expertise is to identify the labels suitable for investment purposes and capable of generating profits above the market average.
- Investment in rare and prestigious bottles worldwide
- High experience in the search and availability of bottles
- Product and management transparency
- Exclusive ownership of the investor
- Pool of experts at the top of world collecting in spirits
- Portfolio managers experienced in the management of luxury assets
- Ongoing advisory approach to investors
- Indication of the best moment of liquidation of the product
- Possibility to liquidate at any time in case of need.
