Unique whisky to go under hammer

Richard Paterson fills the Dalmore Oculus Baccarat crystal decanter

A unique whisky is expected to raise up to £20,000 when it is auctioned next month.

The Dalmore Oculus is said to be one of the most precious whiskies ever to come up for sale.

It has been assembled from some of the most exceptional whiskies of the past 140 years, and is therefore the first and last of its kind.

The whisky will go under the hammer at an auction held by Bonhams in Edinburgh on 18 November.

The unique expression of the Dalmore Oculus was created by master-distiller Richard Paterson, who drew on his four decades of experience to create it.

It is said to have been assembled with a rich spicy and orange zest core alongside the taste and smell of dried fruits, ripe bananas, treacle toffee and almonds.

Alongside these elements, rare malts selected from vintages distilled in 1868, 1878, 1922, 1926 and 1939 add a depth of flavour.

'Truly exceptional'

Finally, to intensify the whisky, an incredibly intense oak, spice and bitter dark chocolate was added to the mix alongside the whisky's "capstone" - a judicious amount of a highly-revered 64-year-old blend which offers notes of coffee, aromatic spices and citrus zest.

It will be presented for sale in a Baccarat crystal decanter.

Mr Paterson said: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the Dalmore Oculus is without doubt a truly exceptional expression.

"This is the most exquisite expression I have personally crafted with all the loving reference it so richly deserves to seduce the most discerning and sophisticated plates imaginable. I am confident it will appeal to epicureans, investors and collectors".

Alongside the Dalmore Oculus, Bonhams will also be selling the first section of the largest single-owner collection of whisky ever to appear at auction.

The 3,000-strong Willard S Folsom Collection of Old and Rare Single Malt Whiskies has been amassed over an 18-year period and features wide ranges of Ardbeg, Bowmore, Dalmore, Glenfiddich, Laphroaig, Springbank, Kinclaith, Killyloch, Ben Wyvis, Glen Grant, Glenmorangie, The Glenlivet, Strathmill, Mortlach and The Macallan.