Arran Founders Reserve

[fryman]

Hello,

I have just picked up my consignment of 5 cases of Arran Founders Reserve.
I have read here and elsewhere, that other bond holders had difficulty actually getting what they were expecting, as none was "available", with a lesser value product being substituted by the distillery. ie 10 year old Arran malt etc.
As I recall, this malt was bottled after only 6 years maturation.
The bottles I have, are identical to the original, but also bear the words " aged 14 years"
I don't doubt this will be a superior malt with the extra years in the cask, but to my mind it is not original Founders.
I cannot find this 14 yr old Founders anywhere online, and as my original bond purchase was partially as an investment, I am slightly concerned as to the actual value of this malt.

I have just emailed Arran to see what they have to say on this matter,( their reply I will certainly share with you), but in the meantime if anybody has had a similar experience, I would be interested to hear from you.

Thank you,


John

[Charlie]

It is the first i have heard of a Arran 14 year old founders reserve, i take it it was recently bottled. I wonder if it is nothing more than the standard core range 14 year old with the words founders reserve on the label to appease bond holders. I thought the founders reserve was distilled in 1995 so it should be 15/16 byears old now. Maybe i have it wrong. I would love to hear what Arrans response is.

[fryman]

HI,

After a couple of emails to head office, this seems to be the final reply.

"The Bond holder's agreement was that the Blended product delivery was to be taken in 1998 with the Malt in 2001. Many bond holders for one reason or another did not take delivery in 2001 of the Malt. For this reason a decision was taken to bottle a 10yo Founders Reserve in 2006 to satisfy the remainder of the bond holders. Again this year a bottling of 14yo Founders Reserve took place. I am sorry that you missed out on the Founders at 6years but all bond holders were contacted at that time to take delivery."

Now If this 14 year old bottling is just for the few stragglers like myself, and if you assume that this bottle will not be produced for anyone else, would it be the case that this issue would be the most collectable of all, due simply to the low numbers produced??



John

[Samson]

John it would seem to me that this will be the most collectable of all. I would suggest tucking this one away for a few years unless you are looking for some profit now

[hutchy]

I have also just inherited 18 bottles. There was 60 bottles in total split with myself and brothers. Any idea of the value as i now realise the 14yr old hich i have is the one talked about here. any help on the would e appreciated as im looking to sel them on. Thanks

[Kava]

I haven't come across any Arran Founders Reserve 14 year old at auction but the earlier Founders Reserve bottlings didn't fetch a great deal. I think most sold for around £50 at auction then you would have had auction costs to consider, i think many bottles ended up getting drunk because by the time auction and postage costs were considered it wasn't worth selling. Having said that since Arran released some Founders Reserve 10 year old to bond holders whisky prices have risen so the 14 may do better at auction.

Still could be a very good investment for the future but to sell a load at one time may flood the market and reduce your return. It is difficult to put a value on it just depends on the bidders on the day at auction, i would say £40 to £100.

[Cleo Prellwitz]

I am just now trying to pick up my Founders Reserve whisky, and the distillery is telling me the same thing - they are out of stock. They are offering me Arran 18 year old single malt and I am researching to compare the value. Retail prices for the Founders Reserve seem to be in the 75-100+ pound range these days., with the 18 yo about not far off. What have others done - accepted the offer that Arran put forth?