The Collection Chronicles Part 1
To celebrate Whisky Month, we’ll be introducing The Collection Chronicles, a series uncovering interesting stories about The Diageo Claive Vidiz Scotch Whisky Collection, housed here at The Scotch Whisky Experience. If you visit us and take one of our tours, or private experiences, you will be lucky enough to see The Collection first-hand. Make sure you look out for some of the bottles we highlight in this series.
In the 1970s, Claive Vidiz, a founding member of the Brazilian Association of Whisky Collectors, began to source and purchase Scotch whisky of varying type, cost, and rarity. Over the span of 35 years, he amassed an impressive 3,384 bottles.
In 2006, The Collection was purchased by Scotch whisky distiller, Diageo with a commitment to preserve its legacy and share it with an international audience. It was decided that this would be best achieved by locating it here at The Scotch Whisky Experience in the vibrant heart of Edinburgh.
Throughout this series, we will explore some of the oldest and unique bottles in one of the world’s largest collections of Scotch whisky with an additional entry highlighting bespoke collection experiences guests can enjoy here in Edinburgh.
Let’s rewind back to the 1970s, when Claive was given six single malts by a business colleague who visited him in Brazil from Scotland. These original six bottles (Glenlivet 12 years, Glenmorangie 10 years, Lagavulin 12 years, Laphroaig 10 years, The Macallan 12 years and Strathisla 12 years) were rare finds at the time overseas. As a result, Claive decided to keep these bottles sealed, and The Collection began!
James Buchanan's
Among the most distinguished pieces is a bottle of James Buchanan’s, dating back to 1897. The company was established in 1884 by the very man himself who was a whisky entrepreneur. The smooth blend quickly gained popularity, travelling from Scotland to London to Latin America. Now owned by Diageo, James Buchanan’s continues to be celebrated worldwide.
John Dewar's
The second oldest gem in The Collection is a bottle of John Dewar’s, estimated to be from 1904 or 1905. Founded in 1846, Dewar’s has evolved from a small wine and spirits merchant shop in Perth, into a world-renowned name in blended Scotch Whisky. Interestingly, Claive purchased this bottle for $150 from a New York liquor store – the same store where he picked up his favourite bottle, The Dimple Pinch for $1000.
The Dimple Pinch
The Dimple Pinch was among the first-ever special editions of Scotch whisky. Encased in pure silver and presented in a handcrafted wooden box, it came complete with its own certificate of authenticity. At the time of this release, in 1969, it was the most expensive limited-edition bottle of Scotch Whisky on the market.
In our next blog, we’ll be looking at some of the most unique bottles in The Collection.