Expert: Paul Wagner - 6/17/2007

Question
I have an unopened bottle of Mackie's Ancient Brand scotch, exported by White Horse Distillers Ltd.  It has what appears to be a stopper under foil & wire.  In addition to the tax stamp there is a sticker "US ARMY 93486 OPEN MESS.  Can you tell me anything about the bottle and its contents?

Answer
Hi April

The Mackie family owned the White Horse Distillery, and played a key role in the development of Scotch Whisky.  Here is a brief history of that story:

The story of White Horse Distillers can be traced back to 1742 on the misty island of Islay just off the West Coast of Scotland.  Sir Peter Jeffrey Mackie of Scotland¡¦s renowned family, figured prominently in White Horse¡¦s history. The Mackies were an old Stirling-shire family who had owned property in Edinburgh since 1650. The property was near one of the most famous of all ancient inns ¡V the White Horse Inn in the Canongate. Rich in highland history, the White Horse Inn has attracted famous literary and theatrical people and earlier had been a favorite rendezvous for Prince Charles Edward¡¦s cavaliers.

Additionally, all Edinburgh knew the White Horse Cellar was the starting point for the London stagecoach, therefore, a well visited destination. The legendary background of the White Horse Cellar inspired Sir Peter Mackie to choose the name ¡§White Horse¡¨ for his Scotch Whisky and highlight the historic ink on its back label. In 1924, the company was renamed White Horse Distillers, due in large part to the tremendous success of its famous Scotch whisky brand.


Today, White Horse Distillers is located in Port Dundas, Glasgow, Scotland.

And there is more...but I am afraid it doesn't exactly reference your bottle.  At a 2002 auction, this item was offered:

Mackie¡¦s Ancient Scotch-Early 20th Century

Old Highland Whisky. White Horse Distillers Ltd., Malt Mill Distillery, Isle of Islay, Argyll, London & Glasgow, 1742. Green coloured square angled bottle, screw cap, lead capsule embossed ¡§White Horse Distillers Ltd., Glasgow & London, Estd. 1742¡¨ around neck, ¡§Mackie¡¦s Ancient Scotch¡¨ on top. Rear label of guarantee by White Horse Distillers Ltd., Glasgow. In original carton. Level: 3.5 cm from base of capsule.  

Note that the closure is pretty different from yours...but the price was around 1,000 pounds!

Mackie's is no longer made, but I don't seem to be able to find a date when they stopped making it.  The tax stamp and seal date it from after Prohibition ( 1934) and that also meshes with when the Mackie's renamed the distillery.

What is your bottle worth?  That's harder to estimate.  I can't find any similar bottles to get you a comparable value, but I would guess it is between $100 and $250.

If the level is good, then it should be a very good shape, and should be perfectly drinkable!

Paul Wagner