Research in Blair Castle archives and carbon dating technology suggest
the contents date back to the early 1800s.
Whisky Auctioneer, which is based in Perth, said the whisky was probably
distilled in 1833 and bottled in 1841 and then rebottled in 1932.
Twenty-four of the bottles will go on sale in November.
After the discovery of the bottles at the back of a shelf, local whisky
experts sampled them.
Researchers are studying the
archives of Blair Castle and Atholl Estates, which include cellar inventories
known as "bin books".
They found extensive references to the production of whisky and aqua
vitae, especially in the early 19th Century.
Researchers also discovered that Queen Victoria and Prince Albert stayed
three-weeks at Blair Castle in 1844 and that they probably drank this whisky.
Angus MacRaild, an old-and –rare-whisky specialist and co-founder of
Kythe Distillery, said it was a great privilege to taste the whisky.
"This is a profoundly historic whisky and a remarkable example of
Scottish distilling. It is frankly astonishing that it still has freshness,
natural strength and power after two centuries."
Carbon dating by the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
also supported its 19th Century origin.
Bertie Troughton, the Blair Castle resident trustee who made the
discovery, said: "Blair Castle is fortunate to have one of the best
archives of any historic house in Scotland and it's wonderful to see the story
of these fabulous bottles come to life in the archives.
"Whisky is a huge part of the history of Blair Castle and we will build
an exhibition around the bottles we keep after the auction so that all who
visit Blair Castle can see it and hear the history of this incredible whisky".
Blair Castle
Images from Whisky Auctioneer
Article from BBC
