The George in Leadenham, between Grantham and Lincoln, stocks 688 different brands, laying claim to one of the biggest whisky collections in England.

They range in price from �1.50 to �150 for a single tot.

Hotel owner Michael Wilgoose said the most expensive was a 1937 Pride of Strathspey.

Whisky buffs come here from all over the country and are usually happy to pay up to �30 a tot Michael Wilgoose

He last sold a glass last year, when the whisky was selling for �100 a tot.

Mr Wilgoose said: "The customer visited us especially because he wanted to try that whisky."

The half empty bottle - purchased in Scotland "quite a few years ago" - is kept in a locked case.

It is so expensive because it is one of only two bottles still in existence.

Climbing accident

Mr Wilgoose said: "Whisky buffs come here from all over the country and are usually happy to pay up to �30 a tot, but selling whisky for �150 is pretty rare."

The licensee began collecting whisky when a holiday in Scotland lasted longer than anticipated.

His wife suffered a climbing injury and a member of the rescue crew starting discussing the tipple with Mr Wilgoose.

He came home from that trip with 60 bottles.

'Biggest in England'

"We had to do something to create a little bit of business here.

"With 688 brands, I would think it's the biggest collection in England where you can buy it by the tot."

A regular at the hotel, Bernard, taste-tested the �150-at-time Pride of Strathspey on the BBC's behalf.

Rare bottles

"It's not like some whisky you taste, it's not sharp, it's just smooth... you could recommend it to anybody."

Mr Wilgoose said the rare whiskies were deliberately marked up to prevent people buying them.

"As the rare ones go down that we can't replace, the price goes up.

"We don't really want to sell them, so we try to price them so that people won't buy them."