£300 for a wee shot of very old scotch?
(Source: www.bbr.com )

A bottle of whisky - believed to be the oldest in existence worldwide at over 150 years old is to go under the hammer next month by Bonhams London Auctioneers. It is expected to fetch up to £10,000 or £300 a shot. The bottle belongs to a family from Northern Ireland .

The bottle's label reads "Glenavon Special Liqueur Whisky Bottled by the Distillers". Charles MacLean, Bonhams' consultant and world authority on whisky, said that the Glenavon Distillery was licensed to a John G Smith in 1852 and closed down in 1858 to consolidate with Smith's nearby Glenlivet Distillery in Spayside .

The bottle is slightly smaller than the familiar 75cl, and made from olive-green glass. The liquid appears to be pale gold. Charles MacLean said the appearance of the whisky shows great promise for a superbly developed liquid, but hoped it would never be tasted. "It is crucial the cork and closure is sound, and in this case, the liquid level is astonishingly high, almost to the neck, which suggests evaporation is minimal."