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Bidding advice
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Closed
04 Nov 2024
Bottle Details
Port Ellen 12 Year Old James MacArthur Cask Strength 59% / Scoma
James MacArthur & Co were founded in 1982 and are a no-frills independent label, focussed on bringing lesser-seen and often closed distilleries to the market. Their simple approach and fine selection of cask strength and single cask whiskies has earned them an army of fans amongst connoisseurs across the world.
Bottled for Scoma in Germany, this is one of the rarest and most sought-after bottlings of Port Ellen, one of a handful of (fairly ordinary on the surface) Scotch whiskies to have gained a near-mythical status simply due to the quality of the liquid.
Bottled a few years after the distillery's closure, this expression was released by James MacArthur at 12 years of age. This 'dark sherry' version is legendary, and scored an impressive 98 points from Serge Valentin on WhiskyFun.com.
For decades Port Ellen was the lost jewel in the Islay crown, closed down by DCL (now Diageo) in 1983 due to an oversupply of peated whisky for blending and a perceived lack of interest in it as a single malt. However, it developed a legendary status over the years and in 2017 Diageo eventually announced plans to re-open it. The work was completed in 2024, and the first spirit was distilled in March that year. A very rare 12 year old bottled for attendees of the visit of Queen Elizabeth II in 1980 is believed to have been the only distillery bottling produced in its first years of operation. Diageo have bottled more since, but it is the independent companies that have given the whisky world the best chance to sample this sought-after single malt.
Age
12 Year Old
Region
Islay
Auction results
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Frequently asked questions
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The value of a bottle can change based on supply and demand, so it’s important to get an up-to-date valuation. At Whisky Auctioneer, we provide accurate valuations based on the latest market trends.
For a free, no-obligation valuation, simply complete our quick and easy Seller Form, and we'll get back to you with an estimate.
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When browsing the bidding history for a specific lot, you will see that all bids are anonymised and only display a date and time stamp.
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Whisky Auctioneer makes it easy for whisky enthusiasts and collectors worldwide to buy and sell whisky through our monthly online auctions.
For Sellers:
- Our expert Client Service team provides free valuations and support on safely getting your bottles to our offices in Perth, Utrecht or London.
- Once received, your bottles are authenticated, professionally photographed, and listed in the next available auction (or an auction of your choice).
- After the auction closes, you’ll receive payment within 21 working days, with seller fees deducted from the final amount.
For Buyers:
- Browse and bid on an exceptional selection of whisky from around the world.
- If you win, you’ll be notified by email and have 72 hours to complete payment.
- Choose to have your bottles shipped, stored, or collected. Buyer fees are applied at checkout.
Whether you’re selling rare vintages or looking for your next great bottle, our online auctions provide an effortless, trusted, and exciting way to buy and sell collectible whisky online.
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You can find all the details about the fees involved in buying wine at auction on our Buyer Fees and Payment Terms page.
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We use a structured bidding system to ensure a fair and smooth auction process.
Whether you set a maximum bid or manually place a single bid, the system will automatically increase your bid according to the following increments outlined in the table below.
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Our monthly auctions end from 7:00 PM (UK local time) on the closing date. If a bid is placed after 7:00 PM on any lot, the entire auction will be extended by an additional two minutes.
The auction will end once all bidding has ceased for two minutes. Based on previous auction activity, the auction will continue for several hours and is most likely to finish between 9pm - 11pm (UK local time).
