Whisky Galore Bottle Up For Auction

[Lewis]

A bottle of whisky recovered from the wreck of a cargo ship which inspired the film Whisky Galore is to go up for auction. Diver Bob Pert retrieved the undamaged bottle in a search of the SS Politician, which sank in the Outer Hebrides in 1941 while carrying about 240,000 bottles.

Islanders celebrated with the looted alcohol, hiding the whisky before government officials could find it.

The 1949 comedy film Whisky Galore! was inspired by their raids on the wreck.

The Daily Mirror commissioned a team of divers including Mr Pert to find the SS Politician in 1970, and the team brought back six undamaged Ballantine Scotch whisky bottles.

Mr Pert, 61, of Seaford, was allowed by the Receiver of Wrecks to hold on to the only uncontaminated bottle, which has remained unopened ever since.

He said a couple of inches of whisky had evaporated through the cork, but it would still be drinkable because the seal was intact.

It will go up for auction today at auctioneers Gorringes in North Street, Lewes. It is expected to fetch £1500.

Lewis

[Alastair]

Hi Lewis

I saw in the Scotsman website that it sold for £2,200 yesterday. It was bought by the family of Tam Burt a teenager from Dollar, Clackmannanshire who was fascinated by the story of the wreck which he had studied in school for his Advanced Higher.

The site said it could be one of fewer than 20 still in the hands of collectors.

Alastair