1932 Peter Dawson Scotch Whiskey

I have a bottle of 1932 Peter Dawson "Special" Blended Scotch Whiskey in a 4/5 quart glass bottle unopened. The label lists it as 86.9 Proof. It still has U.S.A. Internal Revenue Service and State of Minnesota tax stamps still in place. The bottle was found in an attic in a wooden crate.
I'm just trying to find out if it has any decent value. Could anyone help me out?

Hi Zehnderjc, welcome to the forum I am happy you could join.

I am researching this since it seems very hard to find any specific data on this. It is known that the value of a 1932 peter dawson scotch whiskey exists, but I've not yet found out about this specific whiskey you own.

I will let you know soon as i stumble upon something that is reliable in this context.

Hi Zehnderjc, pre Second World War bottlings are very collectable. McTear's the auctioneers here in Scotland http://www.mctears.co.uk have regular auctions and a bottle such as you have, especially if you still have the wooden case, could be worth around US$2000. Depending upon who is at the sale, it could go for a higher price.

I too am seeking information about a case of Dawson's Whiskey still in the case. Did you ever find all the info "your" were looking for, and the true valuation? Is there a simple way to find the age of
these bottles?

I just now started researching this ... 8 bottles, of which there used to be 10. 7 are still in the onionskin wrappers ... they have all the markers on the box and bottles ... everything in excellent condition.

I'm needing help in determining the value, and later on ... a buyer.

Thanks,

Franko

Good Morning!

I too am searching for info on 8 bottles of Dawson Scotch still in the crate. 7 are are still in the onionskin wrapper ... looks like the case held 10.

I have all the tax stickers, stamps and info on the crate, but am unable to determine the age and value. I'm researching this for
a friend here in St. Louis and he would like to eventually find
a buyer, if the price is fair.

FJ

Hello Franko, welcome to the forum. I think perhaps the link that Whiskytutor gave might help you ?

I have just returned from a trip to London where I stopped in every store that sold liquor to ask about Dawson whiskey. The response was that no one had ever heard of it. I had the same response in Ireland last year. I am not a whiskey drinker, nor ever researched this until now. My mother's family name is Dawson and I have always been told we are related to the clan that produced Dawson Scotch Whiskey......

Is this still being made? Apologies for being such a neophyte, but I would appreciate any information. Thanks!

I am Peter Dawsons Great Grand-Daughter.The Whiskey was brewed at Muir of Ord Distillery.I Have a Bottle of P.D. Old Curio C.1953 with a Julius Wile N.Y import label on it.

What was your Mothers first name? I am Peter Dawsons Great Grand Daughter.The Whiskey comes from The Muir of Ord Distillery in Scotland.

All I can tell you is that Peter Dawson whisky was a favourite drink of "The Saint", Simon Templar who was played by Roger Moore in the Tv series. Check it out in the books by Leslie Charteris. Cheers!

I too have a similar bottle as described above. My younger son wants to just drink it. I inherited it along with some other Probition era wiskey from my grandfather and want to know its approximate value. Should we drink it?

Any help appreciated.

David

Good Morning -

It's October 7 ... sorry for the slow response.

I actually "did" sell one bottle on Ebay for $96. I probably found the only buyer in the world though. That was a long time ago ... about the time of my original post.

I only went through one Ebay auction cycle, so who knows. It did sell.

Loophole ... you have to sell it for the bottle, not the alcohol inside. But yes, don't open it. People know what's going on.

FJ

Hi all,
Likewise, sorry for the slow response. Ebay is not the place to sell it. Contact McTear's in Glasgow, either e-mail Andy Bell on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 'phone him on +44 141 810 2884. You will get a MUCH better price by putting it into a whisky-specific auction. You can tell Andy that I recommended you speak with him.
Dawson's was established in 1882 and was a family business until it became a part of The Distillers Company Ltd (DCL) in 1925. As a family company, other than Ord distillery, they also owned Auchnagie & Towiemore distilleries - both now non-existent. They also had a part ownership in Balmenach in 1925.
As a part of DCL, they were licensees of Ord until 1962, when Dewar's took it over.
The company is one of the mothballed companies within Diageo. As far as I can gather, it is very unlikely that the Dawson brands will ever see the light of day again. But never say never.
Because of the age of your bottles and the unlikelihood of the brand's renaissance, you should get a decent price for them at auction.

Peter Dawson blended scotch is certainly available in some stores here in Northern Calfornia, marked as being from Peter Dawson Ltd. in Glasgow. On the reverse, it says "Imported by and bottled in U.S. for United Distillers, Stamford, CT" -- so in short, not "mothballed."

Hi there! Sorry for late response. I have always been curious about the Peter Dawson wiskey. My last name is Dawson, I live in Sweden and I have to always been told that I, in some way are related with the one who produced this whiskey. I have also been told that i am related to some Dawson who emigrated to Sweden a long time ago, later he became Swedens first "Whiskey agent". it would be really nice to have some resopnse! Thank you

Hello,

I have a silver pitcher engraved with the Peter dawson name. I have been told it was used for sampling various vats of product at specific stages of aging. I would sell it to anyone interested. Is the logo on your bottle simply the Peter Dawson name?

Sandy McAllister

Dear Sandy McAllister,

My wife is the great grand daughter of Peter Dawson.Her father, also Peter Dawson,was the son of Colonel Rupert Dawson,who in turn was the son of Peter Dawson, the founder of Peter Dawson whiskey. My father in law died very recently at the good age of 89.He donated a largish portrait of his grandfather to the distillery many years ago. I often wonder what happened to it. I think I have almost a full case somewhere as my wife's family used to be offered a case by the distillery every Christmas, before it closed.Once when visiting Buenos Aires, I spotted two bottles of the superior blend in the window of Los Molinos, a now long since gone marble clad famous tea rooms. Negotiations followed and I remarked that the seals were broken. I was assured they had the original contents, and having secured them for about $80, took them back the UK, after a journey of thousands of miles. I presented one to my father in law. He opened it, took a sip and said, "this is not Peter Dawson whiskey". That was the end of that and the bottle sat forlornly in a dusty high shelf for several years!About ten years ago,I went to Gibraltar and found a shop selling it for under £2 a bottle! It had been discontinued several years before. I have to say that I'm not a whiskey expert but it is certainly smooth and a great blend.

I'd be interseted in buying your Peter Dawson whiskey pitcher, due to the close family connection, if you are interested.If you are, please reply via the forum and I'll send you my email address.

Dear RM Guest
Your wife and I are related as I am also a great granddaughter of Peter Dawson on The Alexander Thomson Dawson side of the family. One of my sisters has a large portrait of the man himself and Jeannie,his wife which could be the portrait you mentioned. I also have a miniature portrait of him and his wife. My Father was James Mearns Dawson.

Dear Old Curio,
Great to hear from you.Would love to hear more. I've compiled a somewhat incomplete Dawson family tree.My wife's grand father, as mentioned before, was Colonel Rupert Dawson, late Scottish Horse. Looking at the Dawson family tree, Rupert's elder brother was "uncle Alex" Dawson(b.1885). He married Isabel Mearns.Is that your connection and was your father,James, one of their offspring? If so,I do not have that part of the tree and would be grateful to you for family information in updating it.I have the earlier lineage as well, which could be of interest. Interesting also to hear of the Dawson portraits. I've still got half a bottle of the Buenos Aires imported two, and a check of my wine cellar tonight revealed eight sealed bottles of Peter Dawson "Special" in their original PD box.You can email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

I am his Great grand daughter too! So who are you?

Hi there.

I am another of Peter Dawson's (whisky magnate) great granddaughters. I have two large portraits of Jeannie and Peter Dawson hanging in my house. These came from my uncle and aunt Peter & Ruth Dawson< Alexander Thomson Dawson's son and daughter in law. I am also James Mearns Dawson's daughter. I have also been gathering information from the internet regarding Peter Dawson's exploits. He sponsored a flight from England to Australia, which had many mishaps, he also gave whisky to Scotts Polar Expedition and there is a photo of this whisky being used to revive a horse which has swum ashore.

I'll buy it for $100.