Officially known as the Commonwealth of Australia, Australia is the largest country in the Australian continent. It consists of the Australian mainland, the island of Tasmania, and several other smaller islands.
The main reason why people buy whisky is to enjoy its taste. People want to try different flavours and styles or train their tongues to get used to the taste of whiskey.
Not all people buy whisky for drinking. Some also purchase this classic alcohol for investment. When you think of rare whisky, Australia offers high-quality and collectible whiskies that are perfect for drinking and investment.
Why rare whisky is a good investment
Interest in whisky has been steadily growing for the past years. One reason is increasing wealth in the Far East, a place where whisky is seen as a luxury and a symbol of sophistication.
Demand for high-quality whisky has been increasing in all parts of the world, especially in the UK and US markets. In 2014, it was recorded that super-premium whiskies priced above USD 30 garnered an accumulated 300 million worth of revenue. This trend indicates that the revenues brought by premium whisky sales will continually increase in 2022.
How to know the proper whisky to invest in
Before you go about buying your whisky, you should first be aware of some criteria to look for when looking at investment-grade whisky.
- Rarity. Obviously, the rarer the whisky, the more collectible it is. Whisky companies release limited whisky runs, and these releases are popular by nature. Some of these rare whiskies are from “silent distilleries” or those that have closed down. Whiskies from these distilleries are very popular among collectors as only a handful of those whiskies exist.
For example, Diageo, a drink conglomerate that owned Port Ellen in Islay, have been selling the remaining Port Ellen products in the market for the past 17 years or so. Their 2016 releases amounted to USD 3,400 a bottle.
- Collectability. Before you buy whisky, you also have to contrast the rarity against the brand’s recognition. Naturally, recognizable brands are more collectible than rare bottles with very little recognition. Official bottles have better resale value than independent bottles despite having identical properties like the same brand or year of distillation.
Remember that demand for whisky is also driven by how whisky tastes and is not about the rarity or packaging. Just because a bottle of whisky is a limited edition or a collector’s item doesn’t mean that it will hold value.
- Collectible range. Distilleries release special edition whisky bottles that form a whole collection, and owning a complete set of these special edition whiskies significantly increases the bottles’ value.
Things that you should know before buying whisky
Like collecting or investing in any other items, whisky is not safe from forgeries. Although there is a lot that is easy to spot, some forgers can recreate a replica of the whisky. This is the reason why you should do your research and ask experts for advice when making purchases, especially if you haven’t been buying whisky for that long.
Also, be wary of already opened bottles. The instant seal is one of the first things you should check before buying a bottle. Once the seal is broken, the bottle’s value drops significantly.
When you are looking to invest in rare whisky, Australia can offer you various options for bottles that are worth your time and money. Investing in rare whisky is appealing after knowing and reading the profits you can get off it. But, whisky investment is a challenging business. Therefore, it would be best if you always maintained a business-minded perspective so that you can get the returns you expect from your investment.
