Whisky Galore bottle under hammer

[Neil]

BBC News - 03/12/08 
 
A Sussex diver who found a bottle of whisky on a cargo ship whose sinking inspired a film is hoping it will fetch more than £1,500 at auction!

Bob Pert retrieved the undamaged bottle in a search of the SS Politician, which sank in the Outer Hebrides in 1941 while carrying about 240,000 bottles. Islanders celebrated with the looted alcohol, hiding the whisky before government officials could find it.

The 1949 comedy film Whisky Galore! was inspired by their raids on the wreck.

The Daily Mirror commissioned a team of divers including Mr Pert to find the SS Politician in 1970, and the team brought back six undamaged Ballantine Scotch whisky bottles.

Mr Pert, 61, of Seaford, was allowed by the Receiver of Wrecks to hold on to the only uncontaminated bottle, which has remained unopened ever since.

He said a couple of inches of whisky had evaporated through the cork, but it would still be drinkable because the seal was intact.

Mr Pert said: "We spent three weeks searching for the wreck in the Eriskay Bay and were just about to give up when we were given a tip by a local as to its whereabouts.

"Diving technology in those days wasn't anywhere as sophisticated as it is now so we had our work cut out to find anything.

"We were literally on the last roll of the dice when we saw this case just sitting there.

"It was definitely a moment to celebrate when we actually found some bottles and came triumphantly to the surface with them."

But he added: "I'm more of a red wine man."

Auctioneers at Gorringes have said the bottle could fetch more than £1,500 at the auction in North Street, Lewes, on Wednesday.