Croft Blend Fine Old Scotch Whisky
Lot number: 0510118
Winning bid: £2,000
The whisky that went to the First World War
This bottle of Croft Blend Fine Old Scotch travelled to the front line in France in 1914. It was never opened and the soldier, William Mill, brought it back to his home in Dumfriesshire, when the war ended. It has remained in the possession of his family ever since.
Mr Mill served with the 3rd Volunteer Battalion of the King's Own Scottish Borderers, and spent some time at the Volunteer Arms Hotel in Penpont in Dumfriesshire. During a stay here on 28th June 1908 he wrote the following on the back of a photograph of himself mounted on a horse:
“This is the first training of the Yeomanry under the new Territorial Act introduced by Mr Haldane, Secretary of State for War under Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman's Liberal Government. I joined the Yeomanry ( D Squadron which is recruited in Dumfriesshire) in 1906 after serving six years in the 3rd Volunteer Battalion of the King's Own Scottish Borderers and was promoted to full Corporal in 1907. The horse in this photograph was the one I rode in 1907 & 1908 trainings and he belonged previously to Charles Payne Esq. late Huntsman to the Dumfriesshire Fox Hunt, has (indiscernible) had harness on his back, and is a sure and safe jumper over anything, colour black and white prints.”
The bottle was produced between 1892 and 1913, as the glass bottle manufacturer, Cannington, Shaw & Co., were using a particular stamp format during this period which is present on the base of the bottle. Apart from that, nothing is known about this bottle and the whisky inside it. It is truly a mystery and despite casting the net far and wide for answers, through archivists, whisky writers, historical institutions and others knowledgeable individuals, not one single person has been able to shed any light on it.
No stated ABV or volume information.
There is also substantial deterioration of the foil wrap around the closure. We cannot offer shipment of this bottle. Retrieval of the bottle must be arranged by the buyer.