Investment help - Macallan Diamond Jubilee or Brora 35yo

[eelbrook]

I've narrowed down my medium-term investment target to one of the above two. But I can't afford both.

The Macallan strikes me as more iconic. However, the Brora 35yo seems much scarcer.

Which would you pick please?

[drPete]

You will still get the B for retail (1500 or so bottles)"?, the big Mac (2012 bottles) will be near to double...... but long term, who knows? I never pay more than retail or buy at auction so this colours my view somewhat. I would grab a Brora and wait for the next limited Mac (or something else) rather than buying it for £550+ where some of the gains have already been made.
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Talisker 18 - the rest are just details

[Quaich1]

[Archer]

As drPete says picking up bottles like these at the price they are relesed at is the best thing to do. There will be no short term gain in these bottles at the price you will pay now. I am sure they will increase in price in the long term but by how much, that is the gamble. If i had to choose one as a long term investment it would be Brora and keep watching for new limited release Macallans in the future and pick them up at the release cost price.

[albo]

Depends on how quickly you want a retun, but I'd go for the Macallan, as others have said the initial price increase has alrady been had and I don't see it going upwards in price for a while, at least not significantly, however, once she is no longer with us, I can see a massive price kick for this.

[k1ranki]

Agree with a lot of the comments made already. You really have to get bottles when they are released and take a punt on what you think may appreciate. Both of these items have been released and unless you could get one at the initial cost price, you are going to make very little in the short to medium term, they have already appreciated.

Brora is becoming as iconic as Port Ellen but auction values have been moving about quite a bit recently. Macallan just seems to appreciate over the long term, you only have to look at the Charles/Diana Royal wedding bottle selling recently for £1800 and values for the 18 year old. So at the moment on balance for the long term, I would go with Macallan, as it has a more established worldwide reputation amongst collectors and more positive auction history

However if I was spending around £500 on whisky I would be tempted not to put all my eggs in one basket with one bottle. I am constantly amazed by how well some of the recent bottlings of Arran, Ardbeg (best all round short term gainer), Bowmore, Highland Park Lagavulin and Balvenie . Buy two or three med priced bottles and spread the risk of your punt.

Have a look at some up and coming alternatives. Tips for future stars would include St Magdalene, Glenugie and Hillside, maybe they would be a more worthwhile punt for the long term? Flora and Fauna bottles will also become more desirable in the future as the Rare Malts are now.

Also worth having a look at non distillery bottlings. Have noticed that many of these, for top distilleries, are making a good return eg Ardbeg, Port Ellen, Brora and Bowmore.

Best advice is to read a lot and start looking at SWA results, as a good barometer of where the market is going.