Holy 2017 Salvation
50cl / 64.2%
£79.00
- Cask type: Virgin Oak
- Malt type: Single Malt
- Region: Taiwan
- Chilfiltered: No
- Coloring: No
Tasting Notes
Oak, Spices, Dried Fruits
Oak, Vanilla, Almonds, Pepper
Medium Finish, Woody, Spicy
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A cask strength, single Sherry Butt Islay malt, providing intense smoke and medicinal complexity via an acclaimed independent bottler.
At-a-Glance
| Field | Details |
| Distillery / Bottler / Country & Region | Undisclosed Islay Distillery / The Holy Grail Whisky Company / Scotland, Islay |
| Category | Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Undisclosed Origin) |
| Age / Vintage / Bottled | Non-Age Statement / Bottled 2017 |
| ABV & Size(s) | 58.3% ABV / 70cl |
| Cask / Treatment | Single Sherry Butt |
| Natural Colour | Yes, stated |
| Non-Chill-Filtered | Yes, stated |
| Cask Strength | Yes, 58.3% ABV |
| Bottle count / Outturn | 388 bottles |
| Intended channel | Specialist independent retail / Direct-to-consumer |
| Packaging | Standard glass bottle, high-quality, distinctive label art |
| Notes on discrepancies | Distillery origin is intentionally undisclosed, creating market appeal. |
Historical Context
The Holy 2017 Salvation was released by The Holy Grail Whisky Company (Holy), an independent bottler known for consistently sourcing high-quality casks and strict technical specifications. The spirit is identified as originating from an undisclosed Islay distillery and is part of the thematic "Salvation" series.
The high secondary market valuation, which typically ranges from GBP 250 to GBP 450, is a direct consequence of a calculated strategy combining extreme rarity and verifiable technical purity. The production was limited to a minuscule outturn of 388 bottles, ensuring profound scarcity. Furthermore, the commitment to Cask Strength (58.3% ABV), Non-Chill-Filtered (NCF), and Natural Colour appeals directly to the most discerning segment of the independent bottling market.
The decision to keep the Islay origin undisclosed creates a powerful 'Mystery Premium' in the market. This deliberate ambiguity allows collectors to speculate that the liquid originates from one of Islay’s most revered, highly phenolic distilleries.
Technical Specification & Variant Map
The definitive features of the Holy 2017 Salvation are rooted in its single-cask nature. It was bottled at a verified Cask Strength of 58.3% ABV, derived entirely from a Single Sherry Butt, yielding the total outturn of 388 bottles.
The choice of a Single Sherry Butt, combined with the inherently heavy phenolic character of Islay spirit, dictates the intense flavour architecture. This specific marriage results in a profile dominated by dark chocolate, powerful smoke, and savoury cured meat notes.
Documented variants
As a single-cask release, the 2017 Salvation has fixed specifications: 58.3% ABV and 70cl volume. There are no documented variants of this specific bottling.
Variant Matrix
| ABV | Volume | Market | Era cues | Relative desirability |
| 58.3% | 70cl | Specialist Retail / EU | Single Sherry Butt, Cask Strength | Very High (Extreme scarcity & specification) |
Packaging & authenticity checklist
The packaging employs a standard glass bottle format featuring the distinctive, high-quality thematic label art. Given the extremely limited outturn of 388 bottles, the risk of mass counterfeiting is inherently low.
Authentication should focus on confirming the integrity of the closure seal and verifying that the unique label design and bottle number (1-388) correspond precisely to known release data for the Salvation series.
Regulatory/terminology notes
The declaration of 58.3% ABV confirms the spirit was bottled at Cask Strength. The explicit purity statements of NCF and Natural Colour appeal directly to the collector base that demands the most authentic and unadulterated presentation possible.
Liquid Profile (from verifiable notes)
The liquid is characterized by a powerful fusion of intense peat smoke and concentrated sherry maturation notes.
Nose: The aroma is intense, dominated by medicinal smoke and powerful phenols, balanced by an underlying sweetness and the bracing quality of salt spray, reflective of its Islay origins.
Palate: It possesses a rich, highly viscous texture, enhanced by the high ABV. Dominant flavours include dark chocolate, distinct umami notes of cured meats, and powerful, sustained peat smoke.
Finish: The conclusion is exceptionally long, intensely dry, and heavily phenolic.
With water: Due to the high ABV, dilution is recommended. The addition of a modest amount of water is necessary to manage the high proof, allowing the complex layers of phenolic spice and the inherent sweetness of the spirit to fully articulate themselves.
Pricing & Market Dynamics (GBP)
The Original RRP is not generally available. Current availability is restricted to the secondary market. When available, current UK retail pricing typically ranges from GBP 350 to GBP 500 (incl. VAT). Recent UK and EU auction data consistently show hammer prices between GBP 250 and GBP 450.
Price Snapshot
| Channel | Date | Bottle spec | Price (GBP) | Notes |
| Auction (Low) | Recent | 70cl, 58.3% | 250.00 | Recent hammer price |
| Auction (High) | Recent | 70cl, 58.3% | 450.00 | Recent hammer price |
Pricing stratification: The pricing exhibits strong stability due to the fixed, low supply. Valuation is primarily dictated by the sustained collector demand for high-specification Islay malts.
Liquidity & sourcing note: Liquidity is high for the category. Sourcing this specific bottle is extremely difficult, requiring access to specialist independent bottling networks due to the initial 388-bottle outturn.
Distillery-Bottler Snapshot
The Holy Grail Whisky Company specializes in boutique releases by strategically combining demanding technical specifications (Cask Strength, Single Cask) with the market appeal of strategic ambiguity (Undisclosed Islay). This approach consistently secures high collector desirability.
Sourcing
Target formats-eras: The sole target is the authenticated 2017 70cl "Salvation" release.
Red flags to avoid: Non-original sealing or damage to the unique, numbered label are major authentication concerns.
Condition thresholds: Given its collector profile, a pristine label and perfect fill level are compulsory requirements for maximum valuation.
Margin-velocity expectations: High margins are achievable upon resale, but acquisition velocity is inherently slow due to extreme rarity.
