A matter of interest...

[Whiskyisart]

I have always wondered and recently debated with a friend over the number of whisky collectors/investors in the world or even the number of different bidders participating at a big whisky auction e.g. SWA or Whisky.Auction.

Does anyone have any data or insights into this? Just how niche or mainstream is this passion of ours?

Surely must be hundreds of thousands?
_________________
Whisky is a form of art.

https://www.instagram.com/whisky_is_art/

[Uncle Bobby]

Extremely difficult to calculate I would imagine.
What I can suggest is that there are more and more people coming onto the scene all the time, many of whom are only in it to make a fast buck. I hesitate to call them "collectors".
Casual conversations with some of the auction house people would indicate a booming market and recent prices would back this up. One guy told me they havn't even scratched the surface in China yet.
I have read a few articles that investors are turning to art, wine, whisky and classic cars as alternative investments due to poor returns elsewhere.
I'm just glad I started collecting 30 years ago or so when it was relatively easy to procure bottles. There is too much competition nowadays for limited bottlings and the quality and pricinb can leave a lot to be desired.
If I hadn't already done so I wouldn't choose to be a collector or investor today.

[Whiskyisart]

Yeah it is interesting. I was reading the annual report for 2019 on whiskystats.net and it is definitely a booming market! I know some people are in it for varying reasons but as a relatively new collector I still find it fun, just have to be realistic with what bottles I go for. Jealous of those of you who have been collecting since I was 2!!

I’d be so keen to know size, in your conversations with the auction houses do the suggest how many bidders or members they have?
_________________
Whisky is a form of art.

https://www.instagram.com/whisky_is_art/

[Addie]

I would be interested to see the likes of SWA reveal how many bidders fight it out for each bottle, its anyones guess but I doubt they will reveal it.

[Uncle Bobby]

Only thing they've conceded to me is that they send to every corner of the world.

[Whiskyisart]

Haha all so secretive, you would think their registered bidder/member numbers would be available somewhere?
_________________
Whisky is a form of art.

https://www.instagram.com/whisky_is_art/

[Rd_xb]

There were some details about the recent daftmill auction by WA - https://www.whiskyauctioneer.com/news/almost-%C2%A335000-raised-support-scottish-independent-whisky-bars-daftmill-distillery-auction

said there were 252 bids across Japan, the USA, the Netherlands, Germany and the UK

not very representative - but still a data point.

[Whiskyisart]

Good find, that is so much lower than I’d expected but I guess it was a relatively small/niche auction. It doesn't tell us whether that is 252 bidders or 252 bids by 50 people which is most likely.

I feel the mystery on the number of participants in our game might never be lifted!
_________________
Whisky is a form of art.

https://www.instagram.com/whisky_is_art/

[Paulm]

I hope they drink it and don’t just stash it away, such a waste