Rare whisky collection auctioned

The collection includes rare bottles from across Scotland

A rare collection of about 3,000 bottles of whisky is to go under the hammer at auction later this year.

The bottles are the legacy of a late US whisky enthusiast and is said to be the largest and most varied yet to appear at auction.

Californian Willard Folsom spent 18 years gathering Scotch malts after reading a newspaper article about them.

Whisky from Orkney to Speyside to the Lowlands is represented in the collection.

It features many commemorative bottles which will never be released again by distillers.

Martin Green, whisky specialist for Bonhams auctioneers, said: "In over 20 years of conducting whisky auctions, this is the most exciting collection I have ever handled.

"Many of the bottles included in the collection will never be released again or repeated by the whisky industry and so the sale of the collection provides the opportunity to buy many collectables of the future."

Mr Folsom's love affair with whisky began in 1988 when was inspired to try his first single malt by an article in USA Today.

The former United Airlines worker toured Scotland with his family to build up his collection. He died last year at the age of 64.

The whisky will be auctioned by Bonhams in Edinburgh on 18 November, with any remaining stock sold in New York and Hong Kong next year.