The Collectors: Zac Lam's Whisky Collection Is A Look Back Into Time

Zac Lam views whisky as the ultimate collectible, a time capsule that, with every uncorking, offers a unique journey impossible to replicate.

What factors do you prioritise when selecting whisky for your collection?

I prioritise taste and rarity. Setting aside the price/value proposition, my fundamental approach is to collect what I enjoy. Ultimately, a collection serves two purposes: either selling bottles whose prices have appreciated so much that I am content to let them go or finding a special occasion to indulge in the bottle and savour the fruits of my collection.

Can you share examples of specific bottles that have marked pivotal moments?

The first one is the 2007 bottling of a 1976 Tomintoul, which holds significance as
the first birth year whisky I acquired. I have a preference for bourbon casks, and this 31-year-old whisky offers excellent value.

Another noteworthy bottle is the single cask bottling of a 1995 Aberlour 21 Year Old. This holds sentimental value as the first cask I ever bottled. It’s a bourbon cask Aberlour, which is a rarity as Aberlours are typically sherried whiskies. This 1990s gem offers fantastic value for a drinking whisky that has become increasingly hard to find these days.

How do you navigate the balance between appreciating these bottles as investments and enjoying them for their intended purpose?

The ideal mindset for a whisky collector is to prioritise collecting what brings personal enjoyment. Focusing solely on value appreciation can diminish the pleasure of collecting, especially considering that the eventual beneficiaries may not share the same enthusiasm for whisky. That’s why I advocate enjoying the collection while collecting, as the intrinsic pleasure from an open whisky bottle surpasses its monetary value.

To enhance the potential for appreciation, rarity plays a crucial role, with limited editions or those carrying historical significance being sought after. On the demand side, strong brand recognition is vital for sustained value appreciation.

By collecting bottles that fulfil personal enjoyment and these criteria, a balance can be achieved. The decision to either savour or sell at a certain market value becomes a subjective choice for the collector.

Why Scotch versus other whiskies?

I prefer Scotch mainly because of the more nuanced and robust flavours compared to Japanese whisky, for example, which is usually more floral and lighter on the palate.

What is your one hot tip for a novice collector?

Buy what you would drink. In the long run, don’t presume that its value will increase, as this is unpredictable. However, if you genuinely love the whisky and have an emotional attachment to it, it can be justified as a worthwhile investment.