Miniatures - era/value?

[bifter]

Hi forum, first post from me. I have a fair knowledge of whisky but not of miniatures. However I recently acquired four 50cl bottles (and a 50cl white port) for a tenner from a second hand/antiques shop. I don't expect these are worth much but the Littlemill must have some rarity value and the Old Parr and Dimple aren't readily available in the UK. I wondered if anyone could help me date the bottles. I had thought of putting the Littlemill aside for a decade or so and drinking the rest but if they will accrue or are old enough to have some small value I'll keep them.

[bkblankenship]

During the 1980's and up until the early 1990s ( ~1991 ), the LITTLEMILL mini was bottled in a CLEAR ROUND BOTTLE. After 1991 the bottle color changed to GREEN. I have bought several of these over the years and just last year bought one for ~US$10.00. Although LITTLEMILL is closed and demolished, I have not seen this mini go up in value over the 20 years I have been collecting minis. The label is in very good condition but it is beginning to see evaporation which is common with the LITTLEMILL mini. I suggest you wax the top to give it a better seal. Many distilleries used inferior screw caps to cut costs and LITTLEMILL was no exception. The BLAIR ATHOL screw cap was much better. The BLAIR ATHOL was bottled with two different labels in the 1980s and were discontinued when GUINNESS PLC ( now Diageo ) introduced their FLORA and FAUNA series of ~22 of their distilleries in 1991 with BLAIR ATHOL being one of the 22 released during 1991 - 1994. One mini had a label depicting the QUEEN'S VIEW near the village of BLAIR ATHOLL ( note the village is spelled with two "L's" and the distillery is spelled with one "L" ) and the other mini had the coat of arms label, which you have.

Both the LITTLEMILL and BLAIR ATHOL minis are unique in their packaging but were bottled in great numbers. They are not worth very much due to the fact that they are not rare, but they do possess an aesthetic value due to the bygone packaging.

[bifter]

Originally Posted by bkblankenship

During the 1980's and up until the early 1990s ( ~1991 ), the LITTLEMILL mini was bottled in a CLEAR ROUND BOTTLE. After 1991 the bottle color changed to GREEN. I have bought several of these over the years and just last year bought one for ~US$10.00. Although LITTLEMILL is closed and demolished, I have not seen this mini go up in value over the 20 years I have been collecting minis. The label is in very good condition but it is beginning to see evaporation which is common with the LITTLEMILL mini. I suggest you wax the top to give it a better seal. Many distilleries used inferior screw caps to cut costs and LITTLEMILL was no exception. The BLAIR ATHOL screw cap was much better. The BLAIR ATHOL was bottled with two different labels in the 1980s and were discontinued when GUINNESS PLC ( now Diageo ) introduced their FLORA and FAUNA series of ~22 of their distilleries in 1991 with BLAIR ATHOL being one of the 22 released during 1991 - 1994. One mini had a label depicting the QUEEN'S VIEW near the village of BLAIR ATHOLL ( note the village is spelled with two "L's" and the distillery is spelled with one "L" ) and the other mini had the coat of arms label, which you have.

Both the LITTLEMILL and BLAIR ATHOL minis are unique in their packaging but were bottled in great numbers. They are not worth very much due to the fact that they are not rare, but they do possess an aesthetic value due to the bygone packaging.

Great knowledge, thanks for the info.

The two blends are a bit scruffy but I wondered if the reference to Leith (as opposed to Edinburgh) on the Old Parr might help to date the bottle?