Scottish Maritime Museum bids successfully for eighty year old bottle of Whisky
The Scottish Maritime Museum has successfully bid for an eighty year old bottle of whisky salvaged from one of Scotland’s most famous shipwrecks!
Article Source: Scottish Maritime Museum
Last Updated: 5 October 2020 12:11
The Scottish Maritime Museum has successfully bid for an eighty year old bottle of whisky salvaged from one of Scotland’s most famous shipwrecks and the inspiration for the muchloved Ealing Studio comedy Whisky Galore!
The unlabelled bottle of blended whisky from the 1923 SS Politician, which ran aground off the Isle of Eriskay in 1941, was acquired by the Scottish Maritime Museum with the support of the National Fund for Acquisitions at The Grand Whisky Auction.
The rare find will become part of the Scottish Maritime Museum’s nationally recognised collection of maritime heritage which is housed in a former Victorian shipyard engine shed in Irvine, Ayrshire, and on the site of the world-famous William Denny Shipyard in Dumbarton.
The whisky, which is now believed to be undrinkable and which was one of 264,000 bottles stowed onboard the wartime cargo vessel, was recovered from the shipwreck by George Currie of Orkney in June 1987.
The North Sea diver and his work colleagues went looking for the wreck after completing a subsea cable repair between South Uist and Eriskay and the bottle was in his possession up until now.
Laden with goods to be sold to raise funds for the war effort, the 800 tonne SS Politician set sail from Liverpool on the 3rd February 1941. Bound for Kingston, Jamaica, and New Orleans, it was brimming with motor cars, bicycles, cotton, medicines, tobacco and around £145,000 in Jamaican bank notes.
It was, however, the fate of the contents of Hold Number 5, some 22,000 cases of the finest malt whisky from bonded warehouses in Leith and Glasgow, which inspired Compton Mackenzie’s famous 1947 novel Whisky Galore!
Two years later, Mackenzie’s romantic comedy featuring the ‘SS Cabinet Minister’ and the islanders of ‘Great and Little Todday’ was made into the enduringly popular Ealing comedy starring Gordon Jackson, Joan Greenwood and Basil Radford.
The lot acquired by the Scottish Maritime Museum also includes a diving helmet worn by the diver George Currie who recovered the whisky bottle, two bricks being carried as cargo on the ill-fated vessel and a poster from the 2016 remake of Whisky Galore! which featured Eddie Izzard, Gregor Fisher and James Cosmo.
Receiving the eighty year old bottle of whisky, David Mann, Director of the Scottish Maritime Museum, says:
“This bottle of shipwrecked whisky may be small in size but the colourful story behind it provides us with a powerful and enthralling link with our cultural and social maritime past.
“Intact and in good condition, which is amazing considering 46 years submerged in
saltwater, the bottle complements our nationally recognised collection of Scottish shipbuilding, boatbuilding, engineering and design perfectly.
“It will play a leading role in helping us tell the stories behind the collection and exploring our social and cultural relationship with the sea with visitors.”
Abigail McIntyre, Senior Curator at the Scottish Maritime Museum, adds:
“We are thrilled to add this bottle of whisky which has become so imbedded in Scottish island folklore to the collection.
“There are so many fascinating topics we can explore with our visitors through it, from island life during the war period and underwater archaeology and recovery through to challenging our understanding and portrayal of smuggling in Scottish waters.
“The wreck of the SS Politician had a profound effect on the life of the islanders of Eriskay, many of whom felt keenly the injustice of being prosecuted. As well as looking at the impact of the shipwreck generally, we will also explore maritime laws and their implications through this wonderful new artefact.”
The bottle of whisky will initially go on show in the Scottish Maritime Museum’s Boatshop exhibition space where it will be free to view.
In 2023, it will feature in the Museum’s ‘Smuggling and Swashbuckling’ exhibition where it will help stimulate conversation around alternative views of smuggling.
Image: Abigail McIntyre, Senior Curator at the Scottish Maritime Museum, pictured with an eighty year old bottle of Scottish whisky salvaged from the 1923 SS Politician, one of Scotland’s most famous shipwrecks and the inspiration for the much-loved Ealing Studio comedy Whisky Galore!
The whisky bottle, which was acquired by the Scottish Maritime Museum with the support of the National Fund for Acquisitions at The Grand Whisky Auction, will become part of the Museum’s nationally recognised collection of maritime heritage along with the diving helmet worn by George Currie from Orkney who recovered the whisky bottle, a brick being carried as cargo on the ill-fated vessel and a poster from the 2016 remake of Whisky Galore, all acquired as part of the auction lot.
Issued on behalf of the Scottish Maritime Museum by Joanna Harrison
Sponsored Links
Latest Glasgow News
Pizza Punks is coming to town with an all new door to door delivery service
Pizza Punks Glasgow have revealed a revolutionary new service, door to door delivery, and to celebrate, the pizza scene disrupters are offering 50% off your first order!
READ MORE
Reward offered for return of Elvis artwork stolen from The Clutha Bar in Glasgow
The Clutha Bar and local artist Moe Rocksmoore are appealing for the safe return of Elvis, a much-loved artwork created by children and young people from Glasgow and Renfrewshire schools.
READ MORE
Book Tales: Storytelling through the lives of readers past and present
This November, the University of Glasgow and The Mitchell Library invite you to explore the rich and historical life of books in a series of engaging Being Human Festival.
READ MORE
First Bus gives Remembrance free travel for all Armed Forces, veterans and cadets
First Bus is offering free travel for all veterans and UK Armed Forces personnel travelling to Remembrance Day activities of Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day.
READ MORE
Scotland Meats Germany
Scotland's favourite beer, Tennent's Lager, has unveiled the world's first ever Square Wurst - a Scottish classic with a German twist - to mark the launch of Tennent's Bavarian Pilsner.
READ MORE
Cineworld Glasgow Silverburn unveils luxury recliners and immersive 4DX experience
Cineworld Glasgow Silverburn has just completed a major transformation, introducing luxury recliner seating and an immersive 4DX auditorium!
READ MORE
Scottish Ensemble brings warmth to wintry nights with Concerts by Candlelight tour
Concert by Candlelight, Scottish Ensemble's celebrated long-running winter tour, returns for eight awe-inspiring performances in intimate settings around Scotland this December.
READ MORE
Crossbasket Castle unveils festive events for 2025
As the festive season approaches, five-star Scottish castle, Crossbasket Castle, has unveiled its calendar of seasonal events and experiences.
READ MORE
Feel the festive cheer at Dobbies Charity Christmas Shopping Night
Dobbies is encouraging customers to come along to their nearest store and to be the first to shop exclusive Black Friday offers at its late-night shopping event, in aid of Alzheimer's Research UK.
READ MORE
Autumn Offers at Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts Collection
Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts Collection have launched new offerings designed to inspire cosy autumn getaways and early festive escapes across Scotland.
READ MORE
Mowgli Street Food unveils its Christmas feasting menus
Mowgli Street Food restaurants have launched their special Christmas menus - a vibrant celebration of Indian home-style cooking, made for sharing.
READ MORE
The Superlative Collection to host charity fashion show in collaboration with Smart Works Scotland in Princes Square
The Superlative Collection are taking over Glasgow's iconic Princes Square, on Friday 21st November, to host a charity fashion show in collaboration with Smart Works Scotland.
READ MORE
KENJI to open first Scottish store at Silverburn
Silverburn, Scotland's leading retail and leisure destination, will welcome Scotland’s first KENJI store this December.
READ MORE
Aldi calls on schools in Glasgow to sign up for healthy eating programme
Aldi is inviting schools, parents and guardians in Glasgow to sign up to its Get Set to Eat Fresh programme, which teaches children about the importance of healthy eating.
READ MORE
The Scottish Excellence Awards are open for entries
Nominations are open for the highly anticipated Scottish Excellence Awards 2026, a celebration of Scotland's hospitality, foodservice and tourism sectors.
READ MORE
Sterling Home brings festive cheer with heartfelt Christmas donation
Leading furniture retailer Sterling Home is lighting up the festive season with a generous donation of Christmas decorations and furniture to children’s hospices and hospitals across Scotland.
READ MORE
Dobbies Garden Centres hosts free to attend winter gardening workshop for kids
Dobbies is hosting a free-to-attend monthly gardening workshop on Sunday 2 November, for children across the country to discover how they can encourage winter birds into the garden.
READ MORE
Double win for Rickshaw & Co. and Raja Rani Restaurant in Glasgow at the Asian Restaurant Awards
Two of Glasgow's most loved dining spots, Rickshaw & Co. and Raja Rani Restaurant, have achieved a remarkable double victory at the Asian Restaurant Awards 2025.
READ MORE
Omniplex Cinema Group acquires iconic Renfrew Street cinema
Omniplex Cinemas has announced the acquisition of Glasgow's iconic Renfrew Street cinema, the tallest cinema in the world, marking an exciting new chapter for the venue.
READ MORE
Design your own FORTY t shirt at two stores in Glasgow tomorrow
Glasgow's homegrown streetwear brand, FORTY Clothing, is marking a major milestone in style with a series of creative design events for its customers across its stores tomorrow.
READ MORE
Casting announced for The Enormous Crocodile at the Kings Theatre Glasgow
The Roald Dahl Story Company today announces the full cast for the wickedly funny family musical based on Roald Dahl's The Enormous Crocodile!
READ MORE
One more! A quarter of Scots say they will spend their extra hour in the pub as clocks go back
To celebrate, Innis & Gunn is hosting 'Sunset Sessions' at its three Taprooms in Glasgow and Edinburgh, with live trad music performances kicking off at 4.50pm - the exact time of sunset!
READ MORE
FIRST LOOK: GlasGLOW returns Miles Better with its biggest show yet
80,000+ visitors expected, with opening weekend sold out, as itison unveils epic new images!
READ MORE
Five March brings Samhain celebrations to Glasgow with a long table five course feast
Iconic Glasgow west end restaurant, Five March, is teaming up with Edinburgh Gin to mark the end of the harvest season with a Samhain celebration feast.
READ MORE
Cast announced for Citz festive retelling of Beauty and The Beast
A celebration of being bold and gloriously yourself, this year’s Citizens Theatre production of Beauty and The Beast is a family-friendly and funny new take on the classic fairytale.
READ MORE
Expanded River Island opens at Glasgow Fort, making it the largest branch in Scotland
As part of a major 'glow up' for the brand at Glasgow Fort, River Island has relocated its existing store within the centre to a larger, more modern unit, located between Superdry and BPerfect.
READ MORE
Solar powered Observation Wheel, the first in the world, will be unveiled in Glasgow this Christmas
The world's first solar power Observation Wheel is set to be unveiled at Glasgow's Winter Wonderland at St Enoch Square!
READ MORE
Buchanan Galleries welcomes seven retailers for Christmas shopping season
Seven exciting retailers are set to join city centre shopping destination Buchanan Galleries ahead of the festive season.
READ MORE
Halloween is just around the corner and The Ivy Glasgow has some scarily good things up their sleeve to help celebrate
This spooky season, take a stroll down the yellow brick road and into The Ivy Buchanan Street, Glasgow as it transforms into The Ivy Emerald City.
READ MORE
Potential changes to permitted development rights are putting beloved live music venues at risk
The public are urged to take part in the Scottish Government's consultation on planning laws, warning that the changes could put the country's live music venues and pubs at risk.
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links