One of the world's most ancient whiskies, believed to be nearly two centuries old, is poised for auction after its discovery within a Scottish castle.

The remarkable whisky was uncovered concealed behind a cellar door at Blair Castle, a 750-year-old estate located in Perthshire and the historic seat of the Dukes of Atholl.

This particular Scotch, touted as one of the planet's oldest, is presumed to have undergone distillation around 200 years ago and might have even been sampled by a youthful Queen Victoria. It's said that the young queen, during a visit to the castle, developed a taste for the whisky and honey concoction known as Atholl Brose.

Around 40 bottles of this exceedingly rare beverage were stumbled upon in late 2022 when Bertie Troughton, a resident trustee at Blair Castle, chanced upon them in the castle's cellar. It is believed that these bottles were initially distilled in 1833, bottled in 1841, and subsequently rebottled in 1932.

The family sampled these bottles, and local experts conducted tests to confirm their authenticity. Archives within the castle provided supporting evidence of the whisky's origin in the early 19th century, and carbon dating conducted by the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre further validated its age.

A total of 24 bottles will be offered individually for sale through the Perth-based enterprise, Whisky Auctioneer.

Joe Wilson, head curator and spirits specialist at Whisky Auctioneer, asserts that these bottles contain the "world's oldest Scotch whisky" and deems the opportunity to auction them as "truly a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence." Wilson expressed, "I'm fortunate to be well acquainted with old and rare liquid, as Whisky Auctioneer handles some of the world's rarest whisky bottlings. This, however, is a transcendent discovery that is sure to capture not just the imagination of the whisky industry but also those well beyond."

He further emphasized the historical significance of this whisky, which was produced during a period of significant transformation in the whisky industry following the 1823 Excise Act. Wilson believes that this discovery will particularly appeal to those interested in the rich history and heritage of the Scotch whisky industry.

Blair Castle's archives, referred to as "bin books," included detailed cellar inventories. One such record, dated July 23, 1834—approximately one year after the whisky was initially casked—mentions casked whisky stored in the cellar.

The record reads: "Bin 65 – Store Whiskey – 72 bottles = 40 Gallons in wood."

Mr. Troughton remarked, "Blair Castle is fortunate to have one of the best archives of any historic house in Scotland, and it's been wonderful to see the story of these fabulous bottles come to life in the archives. Whisky has always been a huge part of the history of Blair Castle, and we will be building an exhibition around the bottles we keep after the auction so that all who visit Blair Castle can see it and hear the history of this incredible whisky."

Angus MacRaild, a specialist in old and rare whiskies, is among the select individuals who have had the privilege of sampling this unique spirit. He described it as having "a flavor profile that strongly involves medicinal characteristics without any notable or pronounced peat smoke."

The bottles are scheduled to be auctioned from November 24 to December 4.

For more information about Whisky Auctioneer and to express interest in the auction, please visit: whiskylink.co/Blair-Castle. Photo by David Monniaux, Wikimedia commons.