Glenfiddich 1937 Rare Collection Whiskey: Taste, Price, Auction Results

The Glenfiddich distillery is famous for crafting luxurious whiskies, and the 1937 Rare Collection is one of its finest single malt Scotch bottles!

But what’s so special about this whiskey?

Let’s check out the Glenfiddich 1937 Rare Collection Vintage Reserve in detail — its price, the tasting notes, serving tips, and auction results. We’ll also explore the auction results for other bottles. 

You’ll also discover why it’s worth investing in whiskey and how to invest in the finest whiskey casks through Vinovest.

What Makes the Glenfiddich 1937 Rare Collection Whisky Special?

The story of the Glenfiddich 1937 Rare Collection whisky began in 1937 when King George VI was crowned. 

This single malt whiskey was distilled in cask 843 at the Glenfiddich Distillery in Speyside, Scotland. Currently, the Glenfiddich distillery is owned by William Grant & Sons — a family-owned Scottish company that distills Scotch whisky and other spirits.

In 2001 (64 years later), Malt Master David Stewart declared that the Scotch whisky should be bottled. Although its distinct strength (from years of evaporation) should’ve been depleted, this expensive whiskey had an exceptional and unrepeatable quality. 

Interestingly, the 1937 Glenfiddich Rare Collection was discovered to be an unexpectedly slow-maturing whisky. In fact, ten successive malt masters patiently observed cask 843 and regularly tasted the single malt whisky. 

Only 61 bottles were produced from cask 843 — making it the oldest and rarest whiskyever released by the Glenfiddich Distillery.

How Much Does a Bottle of Glenfiddich 1937 Rare Collection Whisky Cost?

The average price for a 750ml Glenfiddich 1937 Rare Collection bottle is around $157,520 in 2023. This hefty price tag is due to the exceptional rarity of the Glenfiddich Collection 1937 Vintage Reserve.

Glenfiddich 1937 Rare Collection Whisky: Tasting Notes and Characteristics 

Now, let’s take a closer look at the tasting notes and characteristics of the 1937 Glenfiddich Rare Collection single malt Scotch whisky.

• Color: Rich, antique bronze
• Flavors: Sweet syrup flavors with oak, cedar, and bitter chocolate notes
• Aroma: Complex aromas of oak and charred heather with poached pear, chocolate toffee, and cinnamon notes
• ABV (Alcohol by Volume): 40%
• Finish: Sweet lingering smokiness of oak and tobacco, leaving you with a warm and toasty feeling 

How do you serve this whiskey?

Glenfiddich 1937 Rare Collection Whisky: Serving Tips and Food Pairings

To enjoy this whisky to the fullest, serve it at room temperature.

Why?

According to Nick Savage (a Master Distiller), whisky’s palate profile becomes volatile at room temperature — offering you an incredible drinking experience. 

But unlike red or white wine, pairing whisky with food isn’t as straightforward – because it has a much higher alcohol content than wine. 

But here some tips to consider when pairing food with a single-malt whisky: 

• Avoid bitter and spicy foods or meals loaded with garlic because they’ll destroy some of the whisky’s flavors. 
• Pair your whiskey with any food cooked with fat. When you eat and sip the whisky, its flavors will dissolve in the fat and give you a remarkable tasting experience. 

Auction Results for the Glenfiddich 1937 Rare Collection Whisky

The super rare 64-year-old Glenfiddich whisky is a collectors dream. And when it comes to auction results, it has broken a few records. 

• In 2012, a whisky auctioneer sold the 1937 Glenfiddich Rare Collection bottle for $71,000 at a Christie’s auction in London, United Kingdom.   
• In 2016, another bottle sold for $87,300 at a Bonhams Whisky Sale in Edinburgh — almost double its pre-sale high estimate. The sale of the 1937 Glenfiddich Collection bottle set a Scottish auction house record for the highest price for single malt whisky. 

Without a doubt, these auction records reflect the exceptional rarity of the 1937 Glenfiddich Rare Collection and its great appeal to collectors.

So, how do other whiskey bottles perform at auctions?

Auction Results for Other Investment-Worthy Whiskeys

The whisky industry is rich with many other investment-worthy bottles. 

In 2021, online auction house The Whisky Auctioneer (founded by Iain McClune) sold “The Perfect Collection” by Mr Gooding for a staggering $9,100,000. It’s a private vintage collection with over 3,900 bottles.

Here are some other highlights from the Whisky Auctioneer 2021 auction sale: 

• The Macallan 1926 Fine & Rare 60 Year Old whiskey sold for $1,400,000.
• The Macallan 1926 Valerio Adami 60 Year Old (a Macallan fine whisky) sold for $1,000,000.
• The Balvenie 1937 50 Year Old Pure Malt whiskey sold for $21,710.
• A bottle of the Dallas Dhu 1921 Private Cask 64 Year Old spirit sold for $21,855.

Here are a few more stellar auction results from the whisky industry:

• In 2022, a bottle of The Macallan Fine & Rare 50 Year Old single malt Scotch whisky sold for $32,500 at Sotheby’s auction.
• In 2021, a collection of fine Black Bowmore whiskies sold for $563,000 at the Sotheby’s live spirits auction in Asia.
• In 2019, an online auction sold a miniature bottle of Old Orkney single malt Scotch whiskey for $4,823. This spirit from the long-closed Stromness Distillery is believed to be the most expensive whisky miniature ever sold at auction.
• In 2018, a bottle of the second edition of the 30-year-old Black Bowmore single malt whisky sold for $16,673 at an online auction held by Whisky Auctioneer.

Why Should You Invest in Glenfiddich 1937 Rare Collection and Other Whiskeys?

Besides its impressive auction performance at the 2016 Bonhams Whisky Sale, the 1937 Glenfiddich whisky shows a stable price appreciation.

The price of the Glenfiddich 1937 Rare whisky increased substantially by about 47%, from $135,226 in March 2021 to $198,242 in April 2022. So, this bottle clearly deserves a spot in your investment portfolio.

A 2022 Knight Frank Wealth Report states that rare whisky is the highest-performing luxury investment. It showed a 428% growth over the last decade — outperforming other assets, like cars (164%) and wine (137%). 

And if you want to invest in whiskeys, pick casks instead of bottles to add diversity to your portfolio.

Why?

According to a 2021 Forbes report, the average annual return on a rare whisky cask is about 12%. Moreover, you can buy whisky casks at a much younger age, and hence, at a much lower price than matured whisky. The liquid will only get better and more valuable over time. 

Ready to start investing in the world’s finest whiskeys? 

Invest in Top-Notch Whiskey Casks Through Vinovest

Vinovest (a full-stack, AI-powered whiskey investment platform) provides a simple and secure way to invest and build an enviable collection of high-return whiskeys. 

The platform helps collectors and fellow scotch lovers to buy and invest in some of the top American, Scotch, and Irish whiskey casks.

The platform has many benefits, including:

• Hassle-free ownership: Vinovest authenticates, stores, and insures your whiskey casks. The best part is that you can sample your whiskey once per year.
• Spend less for more: You can avoid intermediaries and extra commissions while investing through Vinovest
• Expert assistance: Vinovest's expert advisers will guide you toward creating a successful portfolio. 

Clearly, whiskeys of exceptional rarity can significantly add value to your investment portfolio. 

So, just sign up with Vinovest and start exploring the finest whiskey casks from the United Kingdom and all over the world.