A BOTTLE of whisky has sold at auction for a record-breaking amount.

The “legendary” Bowmore 1966 Samaroli Bouquet was bought for £51,611, far exceeding the previous record of £4200 set in 2014.

The auction was held online by the Perth-based Whisky Auctioneer and the bottle attracted more than 50 bids from around the world. The winning bid came from Hong Kong and the price includes a 10% buyer’s premium.

Sean McGlone, Whisky Auctioneer director, said: “It’s widely known that the Bowmore 1966 Samaroli Bouquet has legendary status within the whisky industry.

“We knew that there would be strong interest in its listing and that it would likely break the previous records, but it has exceeded all our expectations by fetching over £50,000.”

The whisky was created by Islay’s Bowmore distillery and renowned Italian bottler, the late Silvano Samaroli.

It was first bottled in 1984 and only 720 units were produced.