The Whisky Club's Guide to Rare Whisky
Welcome to the world of rare whisky
Rare whiskies are the crown jewels of the whisky world. They are often unrepeatable releases, long‑aged treasures, and once‑in‑a‑lifetime drams that collectors dream about. Whether crafted from ultra‑old casks, produced in tiny batches, or tied to iconic distillery milestones, these whiskies represent the highest levels of scarcity, history and craftsmanship. In this guide, we’re taking a look back at ten of the rarest whiskies ever featured by The Whisky Club.
What is a rare whisky?
A whisky is classified as rare if it is difficult to obtain. This could be because it was released in tiny quantities; released in limited locations; has been around so long that many of the bottles have been consumed or collected; or has a story so compelling that there was a huge clamour to buy it when it was released.
Whisky enthusiasts agree that there is nothing better than the feeling of seeing a very rare whisky on a menu with an astronomically inflated price tag knowing that you managed to get your hands on a bottle. Whisky collectors also agree that seeing such whiskies knowing you missed out can bring a tear to your eye. So, we’re not quite sure if this list requires a trigger warning for unexpected euphoria or sudden pangs of regret.
Either way, here's a rundown of the 10 rarest whiskies the Whisky Club has brought to our Members.
Want to know more? For a deeper dive into the world of rare whisky, check out the FAQs at the bottom of this article.
Pappy van Winkle is at the top of the rare Bourbon category.
It's been at the centre of a perfect storm when it comes to collection-grade American whiskey. Released annually for sale in very small quantities, it contains some of the oldest Bourbon stocks in the world, and “Pappygate” (a heist where 200 bottles were stolen from the Buffalo Trace distillery) was featured in a true crime Netflix documentary driving hype and a clambering for bottles.
Whisky Club Members had the opportunity to purchase the legendary 20 year old expression back in 2022. It scored 99/100 in the World Spirits Challenge.
Pappy Van Winkle 20 Years Old specs
Age: 20 years old
ABV: 45.2%
RRP: On sale for $6000, if you can find it
Price for Whisky Club Members: $1950
Ardbeg is arguably the most collectible whisky from Islay.
Nobody can hold a candle to Ardbeg regarding single cask, small batch or Islay Festival releases. We'd go as far to say that only The Macallan has as much clout in the collectible Scotch category.
This outrageously rare single cask was bottled at natural cask strength of 56.5% ABV.
We managed to secure 3 bottles of this 22 year old Second Fill Oloroso Sherry Cask #0050 back in 2022 exclusively for our Members.
Ardbeg Second Fill Oloroso Sherry Cask #0050 specs
Age: 22 years old
ABV: 56.5%
RRP: $6,000
Price for Whisky Club Members: $5,500
Read more: Ardbeg Second Fill Oloroso Sherry Cask #0050
Lark 30th Anniversary Edition - created exclusively for The Whisky Club
Lark is the first name in Tasmanian whisky and their limited releases over the last few years have got collectors very excited.
It’s not often that you find yourself in the epicentre of a new world whisky revolution, but for anyone in Tasmania, that is exactly where you are.
The modern Australian whisky industry was founded by Bill Lark in 1992, so to celebrate, we collaborated with them to release a celebratory 30th Anniversary Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky in 2022. Head Distiller Chris Thomson and his team delved into the bond stores to build a base of Seppeltsfield Tawny casks before adding Apera, Bourbon and Rum casks to the mix. The twist? This one had Tasmanian peat smoke running right the way through it – the true flavour of the land. If you want to taste the beginnings of whisky in Australia, you have to start with Lark.
Lark 30th Anniversary Edition specs
Age: NAS
ABV: 52.5%
RRP: Not for sale outside of The Whisky Club
Price for Whisky Club Members: $220
Read more: Lark 30th Anniversary Edition
Ardnahoe is the newest built distillery on Islay and this was their first ever release.
Inaugural releases by their very nature are unrepeatable. The rarest of the rare. So when a new distillery opens in Scotland, the countdown begins to their first release. The curiosity and expectation increases exponentially when this release comes from the world’s most famous whisky island: Islay. So when we managed to secure the first release from Ardnahoe Single Malt Scotch Whisky exclusively for our Members, it’s fair to say we got a little excited.
Ardnahoe Inaugural Release specs
Age: 5 years old
ABV: 50%
RRP: $165
Price for Whisky Club Members: $165
Read more: Ardnahoe Inaugural Release
Fuji Gotemba distillery is rarely available outside of Japan.
Only 3000 bottles were made of the Fuji 50th Anniversary release. The whisky included liquid from the inaugural distillation in 1973 plus whisky from the 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s and 2010s. Fuji Gotemba distillery has become a Japanese whisky icon sitting in the shadow of Mount Fuji, and is famous for producing a light, clean and fruity spirit which has aged with grace: Japanese single malt history in every drop.
Fuji 50th Anniversary specs
Age: NAS
ABV: 52%
RRP: $500
Price for Whisky Club Members: $500
Read more: Fuji 50th Anniversary Edition
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Johnnie Walker House "Willow" The Casks Edition is a welcome and rare addition to the versions of Johnnie Walker Blue Label on the market.
There is only one name when it comes to collectible Scotch blended whisky: Johnnie Walker strides ahead due to their range of pricepoints, reputation for quality and celebrity collaborations. Each porcelain bottle was etched with global landmarks to commemorate the brands global heritage and reach. Truly beautiful vessels. And the contents were even more impressive: Johnnie Walker Blue Label, but bottled at a punchy 55.8% ABV.
Johnnie Walker House “Willow” The Casks Edition specs
Age: NAS
ABV: 55.8%
RRP: $650
Price for Whisky Club Members: $400
Benriach 1966 brought their fruity and complex character to the forefront in the oldest whisky they have every released.
For every younger whisky you drink, you deprive the world of an older one. What we are trying to say is that old whisky is rare by its very nature. And discovering one that has survived five decades in cask, growing more complex and fruity while maintaining balance between distillery character and cask integration is an uncommon occurrence. This was the first ever 50 year old Benriach ever bottled, a single Bourbon cask filled in 1966, yielding only 37 decanters. We can't imagine being one of the lucky owners.
Benriach 1966 - 50 years old specs
Age: 50 years old
ABV: 44.5%
RRP: $50,000
Price for Whisky Club Members: $48,000
Read more: Benriach 1966 – 50 years old
Glenfarclas 70 years old is the oldest whisky from one of the most traditional distilleries in Scotland.
Glenfarclas is a distillery steeped in history. It has been making its robust, Speyside single malt scotch whisky at its family owned and operated distillery for five generations. With many whiskies of age, you can often see the different flavour profiles that evolved as technology at the distillery advanced. We are willing to wager that this whisky would have been distilled in almost exactly the same way as today. If you want to taste history, we recommend any Glenfarclas release. If you want to taste legacy, then finding one of the 262 bottles of this 70 year old is the best way to do it. It's the oldest whisky ever sold from this iconic site.
Glenfarclas 70 years old specs
Age: 70 years old
ABV: 42.9%
RRP: On sale globally for $40,000
Price for Whisky Club Members: $35,000
Read more: Glenfarclas 70 years old
Glendronach 50 Years Old showcased how their robust spirit works perfectly with sherry casks, even after five decades in cask.
The Glendronach is a single malt whisky made for long-term maturation. Their saxophone stills give a weighty new make spirit with notes of blackberry and malted barley. If combining this spirit with Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks is The Glendronach’s daily ritual, then having the patience to leave it for five decades is their superpower. This whisky was a combination of Oloroso and Pedro Ximinez casks from 1971, married together and finished in a single Pedro Ximénez cask yielding just 198 bottles. A testament to the skill of Dr Rachel Barrie, this release is an example of the exquisite care she takes of Glendronach’s most valuable stocks. Some have called it The Macallan of the future. We couldn't possibly comment.
The Glendronach 50 years old specs
Age: 50 years old
ABV: 43.8%
RRP: $39,999
Price for Whisky Club Members: $39,500
Read more: The Glendronach 50 years old
Bushmills 2012 Burgundy Cask - created exclusively for The Whisky Club
Bushmills 2012 Burgundy Cask is our most sought after Irish whiskey so far.
Every whiskey created exclusively for the Club is rare by definition, only being released for sale to our Members. But few of these releases have caused as much of a stir as Bushmills 2012 Burgundy Cask. This Irish single malt whiskey was created exclusively for The Whisky Club and went on to score 96 points at the IWSC in 2023. It was also voted as 2022's Whisky of the Year by our Members. It sold out fast, meaning the only places you can get it now are either at your mate's house (if they bought two and are working through them slowly), or through random global auction houses where singular bottles are on sale for well over double the original price.
Bushmills 2012 Burgundy Cask specs
Age: 10 years old
ABV: 51.8%
RRP: $340+ if you can find one
Price for Whisky Club Members: $135
Read more: Bushmills 2012 Burgundy Cask
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Here at The Whisky Club, we source whisky from all over the world and bring you all of the background and stories that come with them. This was a list containing 10 of the rarest whiskies selected for our Members. To find out more about upcoming releases and how we select our whiskies, you can join for free here.
Read on for more in depth information regarding rare whisky. If you have further comments or questions, feel free to reach out to us.
Rare whisky FAQs
Why are rare whiskies so valuable?
Rare whiskies are valuable due to a number of factors including:
- Scarcity - how many were made?
- Geography - where were they released for sale?
- Legend - is there a compelling production story that threatened the creation or release of the whisky?
- Hype - do they have a story that captured the public's imagination or some form of celebrity endorsement?
- Age - for every 12 year old single malt on sale, we have deprived ourselves of an older age statement. So older may not mean better (that's subjective), but it will definitely mean rarer.
All of these factors add to the perceived sale value of any release.
How does The Whisky Club access rare whiskies?
The Whisky Club works directly with the best whiskymakers in the world to curate a world-class selection of rare whiskies for our Members. Some are rare when we seek them out, others have rareness thrust upon them. Finding them for you is all part of the service.
Can I buy rare whiskies from The Whisky Club without a subscription?
Only our Members can buy whisky from the Club. Membership is free and there's never any obligation to order rom our catalogue allowing each member to curate a whisky cellar that matches their personal tastes. The right place to find the rarest Scotch whisky is right here at The Whisky Club.
Are rare whiskies good for investment?
Some rare whiskies will appreciate in value, but the secondary market is volatile. Our whisky research team do like to point our Members towards what we would consider collectible distilleries or releases, however you should only buy whisky you can afford to drink. We believe that all of our whiskies are spectacular to open and enjoy.
How often are rare whiskies featured in the Club?
We will have rare whiskies available throughout the year for our Members. Every whisky created exclusively for the Club is by nature rare due to the limited number of bottles we create. They are created in a singular batch with one of the best whiskymakers on the planet, never to be repeated. So look for our badge on the label, and you have guaranteed rarity. And there's only one place these are sold.
How do I know if a whisky is rare or collectible?
Rare whisky is often attributed to scarcity, so check how many bottles were created and when. As for collectability, it depends on what type of collection you want to curate.
Scarcity: A single cask will often only yield 100 to 1000 bottles with other small batches producing only a few thousand units globally.
Collectibality: Whiskies from a single distillery, region or style can form the basis of a great whisky collection.
We'll give you all the information we can about each release so you can decide if it fits in your whisky cellar. And you can contact us for assistance with any of our releases, past or present.
Can I store rare whiskies long-term?
Yes, rare whiskies will last long term. Being a distilled spirit, whisky has no expiry date. Closed bottles should be stored upright out of direct sunlight and turned every few months to keep the cork moist. An open bottle may lose character over a lengthy period of time, but we're talking months if not years.
What’s the difference between rare and limited-edition whiskies?
A limited edition whisky is one that has a limited run of bottles, but may be repeated in future. A rare whisky is one that can never be repeated in its exact format again. Single casks, anniversary drams, extremely old expressions and inaugural releases are all rare, whereas an annual release or a small batch release that follows a house style is more limited. For more information, check out The Whisky Club's guide to limited edition whiskies.
Do I need to be a whisky expert to enjoy rare whiskies?
You don't need to be a whisky expert to enjoy rare whiskies. In our opinion, you need to know two types of whisky: those you like and those you have not tried yet. Remember, everyone had their first whisky once. Every subsequent whisky whether a Macallan or a Jack Daniels is part of the conversation and individual experience. The Whisky Club is for all levels of enthusiasm and interest in whisky. Let us guide you on your flavour journey.
Why subscribe?
- Access to whiskies created exclusively for Members of The Whisky Club
- Early access to global whisky releases from the world’s greatest distilleries
- Tasting notes and information on each whisky you order
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- Discounts at our Clubhouses around Australia
- No hidden fees, no minimum orders