Back in the bustling 1990s, Blackpool was a holiday haven. Wayne, running his off-license, simply sold what people wanted. Coronation St. in the heart of Blackpool was a hotspot for the Winter Gardens visitors, and beach-goers aplenty, miniatures were a hot item – the perfect pocket-sized treat.

Wayne quickly realised that people were coming to him for specific whisky miniatures. This piqued his curiosity, and he began diving headfirst into the world of whisky miniatures.

Trawling through the Yellow Pages, Wayne built connections and stumbled upon the fascinating world of Bell's Decanters. Relationships with Diageo workers blossomed, leading to the purchase and resale of their collections to a growing customer base who would now specifically travel to Blackpool to buy or sell their whisky collections.

Imagine a time when Diageo's Rare Malts Selection were a flat £25, regardless of the distillery! Wayne even bought his first bottle of Black Bowmore – which took a few years to sell at £99!

These early experiences shaped Wayne's deep appreciation for the nuances of whisky and the stories behind each bottle. It was a time of discovery, learning, and building a foundation of knowledge that continues to guide him today.

With the rise of the internet Wayne started selling his stock on Ebay. Recognising the potential of instantly connecting with a far greater audience than he could ever reach locally. This shift allowed Wayne to share his carefully curated selection with whisky enthusiasts across the globe. 

As Wayne's whisky knowledge deepened he began to specialise in sourcing hard-to-find whiskies and quickly became known for the rarities he sourced.

This pursuit led him to Scotland, long before online auctions were commonplace. Wayne frequently made the 400-mile round trip to attend quarterly auctions at McTears in Glasgow and Bonham's in Edinburgh – a true commitment to finding those special bottles.

In those days, the whisky community was a different world. Dealers like Wayne built relationships, trading bottles and honouring gentleman's agreements to avoid bidding against each other on specific items. However, as Wayne's reputation grew, his customers started attending the auctions too, which later lead Wayne to creating his own auction…

With the Dot-com boom, Coronation Wines became Whisky-Online Ltd. Wayne, driven by the possibilities of the online world, built his first website, whisky-online.com (also known as Whisky-Online Shop. As the business grew and the demand for mail-order increased, Wayne's wife Debbie joined the company on a full-time basis.

In 2006, they took another significant step and moved to larger premises on Charnley Road. Soon after, Wayne & Debbie's son, Harrison, also joined the company after leaving high-school.

Following in his dad’s footsteps, Harrison immersed himself in the world of whisky, learning about the vast range of expressions through miniatures and accompanying Wayne to auctions. He diligently recorded hammer prices in the catalogues, absorbing knowledge about the market and the different whiskies on offer. Unbeknownst to Harrison at the time, this careful note-taking and immersion was shaping his future career in the whisky industry.

Launched in 2012 as the first dedicated online auction platform created by a specialist retailer, Whisky-Online Auctions was built on a reputation for accessible, transparent, and knowledge-driven auction experiences.

Founded by Wayne, with a lifetime of experience in the auction world, Whisky-Online Auctions was born from a passion for sharing exceptional whiskies with collectors and enthusiasts. Offering a diverse range of old and rare whiskies, competitive fees, and, most importantly, specialist knowledge you can trust.

Despite the challenges of the online world, Whisky-Online Auctions has thrived, becoming a renowned source for some of the rarest whiskies on the planet. Known for sourcing truly exceptional and historically significant bottles – some so rare, they've never been seen before

In 2013, Harrison, driven by his keenness set up a side business: auctioning highly desirable whisky miniatures. Utilising the main auction platform, he overseen the sale of approximately 20,000 miniatures, with many achieving impressive four-figure sums.

With the reputation of the dedicated miniature auctions and the strong prices achieved, it was not long before he was attracting some of the best collections in the world.

Notably he auctioned the late Alex Barclay's extraordinary collection. The collection comprises over 5,000 miniatures and is considered one of the finest ever assembled, boasting a remarkable concentration of highly desirable and rare bottles that have never seen the light of day.

However, with Harrison's increasing focus on the main auction and retail business, we regrettably made the decision to discontinue holding dedicated miniature auctions.

Harrison's success and dedication were evident from the start. His innovative approach to modern technology made him an ideal candidate to work directly alongside Wayne making important decisions for the business.

Harrison was instrumental in moving the business forward. He had the valuable opportunity to learn directly from Wayne, absorbing a wealth of knowledge and experience in whisky valuations and ultimately helping run the business.

Beyond building upon Wayne's legacy by studying older bottles and learning how to date them, Harrison also took things to a new level. He helped develop a new system that would future-proof the auction platform, introducing detailed graphs of past sales history enabling users to see the trend of pricing over time in a snapshot, and helping to streamline administrative processes.

Harrison's appointment as Director in 2016 was a testament to his hard work and potential. He continues to be a valuable asset to Whisky-Online Auctions and Whisky-Online Shop.

November 2020 wasn't just another month on the calendar for Whisky-Online. It was a make-or-break moment, a pivotal point where the future of the company hung precariously in the balance. After navigating a particularly challenging period, the launch of the new retail website, Whisky-Online Shop, was more than just an upgrade; it was a lifeline.

The stakes were high. The previous platform was being decommissioned, leaving no room for error. The pressure to deliver a functional and engaging online experience was immense. And then, just three months before the critical launch date, the team found themselves in uncharted territory – without a developer.

That's when Harrison stepped up, embracing the challenge with a determination born of necessity. Armed with no prior web development experience, he took the reins, embarking on the painstaking and daunting task of building a new website from scratch.

This wasn't a carefully planned endeavour with expert guidance. It was a crash course in design, and e-commerce functionality. Armed with online tutorials, countless hours, and an unwavering commitment to the company, Harrison learned as he went, navigating the complex world of web development through trial and error.

With the clock ticking, Harrison faced a relentless race against time. He persevered, fuelled by the understanding that the success of Whisky-Online Shop hinged on his ability to deliver. He poured his heart and soul into the project, meticulously creating each page, exporting and importing products, images and integrating the necessary functionalities, and ensuring a user-friendly experience.

Finally, in November 2020, the culmination of Harrison's tireless efforts arrived. The new website, Whisky-Online Shop, was ready to go live. While perhaps not perfect, it was a testament to resilience, ingenuity, and the power of self-reliance. It was a functioning, breathing online store, ready to welcome customers and secure the future of Whisky-Online Shop.

What's even more remarkable is that, to this day, Whisky-Online Shop continues to operate with the same website Harrison built. Without the assistance of a dedicated developer Harrison is constantly refining and improving the platform on a daily basis.

Since 2008, Whisky-Online has been curating memorable whisky tasting events in their hometown of Blackpool. However, in 2018, they raised the bar, establishing a regular schedule of prestigious tastings at the iconic Imperial Hotel in Blackpool. These events brought together exceptional whiskies and hosted high-calibre guests from across the industry, including renowned figures like Ronnie Cox of Berry Bros. & Rudd and Fred Laing of Douglas Laing.

Each tasting typically featured a curated selection of six to nine whiskies, often complemented by thematic elements. Past events included vibrant Burns Night celebrations, complete with traditional Haggis, Neeps, and Tatties, perfectly paired with the chosen drams. These gatherings also incorporated a charitable element, with raffles of special whisky-related prizes benefiting local causes such as Blackpool’s Trinity Hospice.

The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 necessitated a shift in strategy. While physical gatherings were temporarily suspended, Whisky-Online adapted, embracing the digital realm with the introduction of Virtual Whisky Tastings. These online events proved to be a resounding success, allowing enthusiasts to continue their whisky journey from the comfort and safety of their homes.

Notable virtual tasting sessions included collaborations with exciting new distilleries like Ardnamurchan and Isle of Raasay, offering participants a glimpse into the future of Scottish whisky. A particularly memorable Burns Night virtual tasting featured the legendary Doug McIvor of Berry Bros. & Rudd, bringing his unparalleled expertise to a global audience.

After a brief hiatus in 2024, Whisky-Online is excited to announce the return of their whisky tastings in 2025, bigger and better than ever. The schedule includes a series of monthly online sessions, promising a diverse range of flavour profiles and distillery explorations. Moreover, exciting plans are underway for some truly special Old & Rare Whisky Tastings, offering a rare opportunity to sample some of the most coveted and historic drams in the world.

In July 2024 the whole team were thrilled to announce that after 18 wonderful years at Concorde House on Charnley Road, they moved to a new, larger location at Whitehills Business Park, Blackpool.

This exciting move will allow Whisky-Online to better serve their customers and continue to grow the business. It's particularly exciting for regular customers who collect bottles, as the new location is conveniently situated at the end of the M55 motorway, making it easier than ever to reach our HQ.

Today, Whisky-Online continues to thrive and has become a well-respected name in the world of whisky. With their extensive collection of rare and collectible bottles, they have become a go-to for whisky lovers looking to add something special to their collection. And with the recent boom in the whisky market, their auction house has become a hub for buyers and sellers alike, creating a community of whisky enthusiasts from all over the world.