€ 1.100,00
Every whisky possesses a unique tale, though few are as extraordinary as this one. On January 21, 1941, British Forces successfully seized the fortified Libyan city of Tobruk from the Italian troops stationed there. Following the Italian surrender, His Majesty’s forces entered the city, accompanied by hundreds of barrels containing Scotch whisky, Jamaican rum, French Cognac, and Old Tom Gin.
However, on June 24, 1942, Tobruk was surrendered to General Erwin Rommel and his Axis forces.
Among the spoils claimed by Rommel were those barrels of liquor.
As Axis military triumphs began to wane, Rommel decided to transport the barrels aboard Axis ships destined for the Italian
city of Nettuno, near the port of Anzio, in order to safeguard them.
Then, on January 24, 1944, the Allies landed at Anzio, and after four months of fierce combat, the Germans
and Italians retreated from the region.
General Mark Clark assumed control of the area, along with the liquor.
General Clark had the liquor bottled at a small distillery in Nettuno known as Delva.
Subsequently, as the Allies achieved victory in Europe, in 1946, they established their occupation command in Linz,
Austria, and relocated the liquor to the ancient wine caves beneath the city.
In 1947, ownership of the liquor was transferred to the Austrian government, where it was used to entertain officers and dignitaries.
In 1976, the Austrians requested that HQ U.S. Army Europe remove “their liquor” from the wine caves, prompting the alcohol
procurement office to purchase what remained—several thousand bottles. Once these bottles were relocated from the caves,
they were made available for sale through Class VI stores in Western Europe, offering attractive pricing that resulted in brisk sales and consumption.
