wsky1

Buyer's guide · 2026

How to buy Imperial at auction

138 recent Imperial lots tracked across six major auction houses. Median hammer: £150. This page shows where it sells, when it's cheapest, and what you actually pay after buyer's premium.

Where Imperial sells

Auction-house breakdown for Imperial — last 24 months. Pick the house with the most lots for the best chance of finding what you want; consider buyer's premium when comparing hammer prices.

Auction houseLotsMedian hammerBuyer's premium
Scotch Whisky Auctions97£15012%
whisky.auction28£12013.5%
Whisky Hammer13£22012.5%

When to buy Imperial

Months with the lowest median hammer prices over the last 24 months. Quiet auction months often see softer prices as fewer buyers compete.

Lower prices

Apr

Median £100 · 9 lots

Lower prices

Jun

Median £140 · 18 lots

Lower prices

Jul

Median £145 · 22 lots

Busiest months are also worth knowing — more lots = more inventory: Aug (27), May (23), Jul (22).

Recent Imperial hammer prices

Last 12 outcomes across all houses — real evidence of what bottles cleared for. Click through for full price history.

LotHouseHammerSold
Cutty Sark Imperial KingdomScotch Whisky Auctions£4027 Oct 26
Cutty Sark Imperial KingdomScotch Whisky Auctions£3014 Oct 26
A’Glac Charrann (Imperial) 27 Year Old Secret SpeysideScotch Whisky Auctions£27012 Oct 26
Imperial 1995 19 Year Old The UltimateScotch Whisky Auctions£1505 Oct 26
Imperial 1979 Gordon & MacPhailScotch Whisky Auctions£2305 Oct 26
Imperial 1995 19 Year Old First CaskScotch Whisky Auctions£1505 Oct 26
Imperial 1969 Connoisseurs Choice Mini 5clScotch Whisky Auctions£205 Oct 26
Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial Champagne 75clScotch Whisky Auctions£1526 Sept 26
Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut Champagne 75clScotch Whisky Auctions£2522 Sept 26
Imperial 1998 Gordon & MacPhail For Robert Graham WhiskiesScotch Whisky Auctions£15019 Sept 26
Imperial 1997 Gordon & MacPhailScotch Whisky Auctions£24019 Sept 26
Imperial 1995 20 Year Old SignatoryScotch Whisky Auctions£17019 Sept 26

Buyer's checklist for Imperial

  1. Verify provenance. For bottles over £500, ask for receipts, original photos, and ideally a seller who is named on the auction house's verified accounts list.
  2. Check fill level. Low shoulder fill on a 25+ year old bottle is normal; mid-shoulder isn't. Loss of liquid is permanent.
  3. Inspect closures. Wax-dipped seals can hide damage. Loose corks risk evaporation. Reputable houses photograph closely — ask for higher-res images if not provided.
  4. Compare hammer to wsky1 median. If a lot is >15% above our 12-month median, you're either bidding on something special (book, presentation case, signed) or overpaying.
  5. Add buyer's premium + VAT. Your total is hammer × (1 + premium %) + any VAT. For a £1,000 hammer at Bonhams (27.5%) with UK VAT on the premium, your real cost is closer to £1,330.
  6. Shipping & insurance. International shipping of spirits is restricted; many houses use specialist couriers. Get a quote before you bid, not after.

More on Imperial

→ Full Imperial catalog→ Is Imperial a good investment?→ Buyer's guides for other distilleries
Track Imperial price changes — free for 3 bottles

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