Strange Finds

Rare and Unusual Whiskey Finds From Around the World

By Richard Thomas

Woodford Reserve for $175? Puh-leeze!

One habit all true whiskey lovers share is checking out the shelves of liquor stores, duty free shops, and bars at every opportunity. Usually just a quick, innocuous glance to see what’s there, sometimes that habit reveals something totally unexpected or even shocking, like finding a bottle of Old Rip Van Winkle in a gas station in the middle of nowhere, and priced at only $40. Whiskey lovers who travel, having come across so many more shelves to give the once-over to, are even more likely to have a short tale of a bizarre, lucky, or outrageous whiskey find or two. And like any good yarn, these stories of strange whiskey finds deserve sharing.

Ludo Ducrocq, Grant’s Global Brand Ambassador

“I remember buying an Indian whisky which had an expiry date. I actually got our lab to analyse it before I tasted it, just to be on the safe side!”

Sam Simmons, The Balvenie’s Global Brand Ambassador and blogger “Dr. Whisky”

“I found a stash in a small off-licence just up from where I live in London. Nothing too crazy valuable, but some strange oldies that I loved dusting and perusing. Old Chivas, old Jonny Walker, Bell’s Islander, tons of Bells decanters, old Glenlivet, old Glenfiddich, just fun, different era stuff. What I left with were two 80s silkcreen label Highland Park 12s for £40.”

Richard Thomas, Owner-Editor of The Whiskey Reviewer

“I stumbled over a bottle of Woodford Reserve in an upscale liquor store in my old neighborhood in Lisbon, Portugal. It specialized in wine and port, but had a good whiskey section. Woodford Reserve is a rare enough find in Portugal, but what made it ridiculous was the price: €132 (about $175)! This is for a whiskey that goes for $35 in the States, and even stuff like the Yamazaki 18 Year Old is only about €100 here. Crazy, insane mark-up there.”