wsky1

Buyer's guide · 2026

How to buy Rare at auction

43 recent Rare lots tracked across six major auction houses. Median hammer: £440. This page shows where it sells, when it's cheapest, and what you actually pay after buyer's premium.

Where Rare sells

Auction-house breakdown for Rare — 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 Auctions43£44012%

When to buy Rare

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

Aug

Median £420 · 11 lots

Lower prices

Sep

Median £430 · 12 lots

Lower prices

May

Median £440 · 8 lots

Busiest months are also worth knowing — more lots = more inventory: Sep (12), Aug (11), May (8).

Recent Rare hammer prices

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

LotHouseHammerSold
Rare Malts Glenury Royal 1970 28 Year Old 75clScotch Whisky Auctions£90021 Oct 26
Rare Malts Glen Albyn 1975 26 Year OldScotch Whisky Auctions£40021 Oct 26
Rare Malts Millburn 1975 25 Year OldScotch Whisky Auctions£44027 Sept 26
Rare Malts Glenury Royal 1970 29 Year OldScotch Whisky Auctions£54027 Sept 26
Rare Malts Hillside 1970 25 Year Old 75clScotch Whisky Auctions£50022 Sept 26
Rare Malts Glenlochy 1969 26 Year Old 75clScotch Whisky Auctions£95022 Sept 26
Rare Malts Glendullan 1974 23 Year OldScotch Whisky Auctions£34022 Sept 26
Rare Malts Glen Mhor 1979 22 Year OldScotch Whisky Auctions£38022 Sept 26
Rare Malts Glen Albyn 1975 26 Year OldScotch Whisky Auctions£42022 Sept 26
Rare Malts FActs, Figures & Taste Book Ulf BuxrudScotch Whisky Auctions£2522 Sept 26
Rare Malts Coleburn 1979 21 Year OldScotch Whisky Auctions£36022 Sept 26
Rare Malts Banff 1982 21 Year OldScotch Whisky Auctions£50022 Sept 26

Buyer's checklist for Rare

  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 Rare

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

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