How to Buy on Spirits Treasure
Discover rare whisky, wine, champagne, rum and cognac from collectors across Europe buy instantly or bid in timed auctions, with every payment protected by escrow.
I want to buy
Browse, bid & buy securely You're here ↓I want to sell
List a bottle & get paid See how to sell →How to buy a bottle
From sign-up to your doorstep safe, simple and fully protected.
Register & add your details
Create your free account, add your buyer details and confirm you are 18 or older. No ID upload is needed; your age is checked again when the bottle is delivered. Then you're ready to bid and buy.
Browsing is open to everyone you only need an account to place a bid or buy.
Find your bottle
Browse the fixed-price Marketplace or live Auctions. Filter by category whisky, wine, champagne, rum or cognac and save anything you like to your Watchlist.
Every listing is checked before it goes live, with clear photos and condition details.
Buy now or place a bid
Marketplace: buy instantly at the listed price. Auction: enter your maximum bid you win if you're the highest bid above the seller's reserve when the timer runs out.
You can follow every auction you're in live under My Bids.
Pay securely into escrow
At checkout you pay the bottle price plus the 12.5% buyer's premium. Your money is held safely in escrow by our regulated payment partner it does not go straight to the seller.
The seller can only be paid once you've received the bottle.
Receive your bottle
The seller ships with a prepaid label and you get a tracking code, so you can follow your bottle the whole way. Nothing is paid out while it's in transit the seller is only paid 3 days after delivery, and only if you haven't flagged a problem.
Something wrong damage, fraud or not as described? Let us know and we hold the payment until it's resolved, with a refund where appropriate. Track everything under My Orders.
Buy now or bid?
Secure a bottle instantly at a fixed price, or compete for it in a timed auction. Both are fully escrow-protected.
Marketplace
- Best for
- Buyers who want a specific bottle now, at a known price.
- How it works
- Add to cart and check out the bottle is yours immediately.
- Price
- The seller's fixed price + 12.5% buyer's premium.
- Availability
- Listings are live for up to 90 days.
Auction
- Best for
- Rare or scarce bottles and buyers hunting for the right price.
- How it works
- Place your maximum bid you win if you're highest above the reserve at close.
- Price
- Your winning bid + 12.5% buyer's premium.
- Availability
- Auctions run for up to 10 days, then close.
What it costs to buy
No membership, no subscription. You only pay when you actually buy or win a lot.
The 21% VAT applies only to the 12.5% premium never to the bottle price itself. Example: on a €1,000 bottle the premium is €125, plus €26.25 VAT, so your total comes to €1,151.25 (before shipping). Shipping is calculated at checkout based on your delivery address.
Registering, browsing, saving to your watchlist and placing bids cost nothing you only pay when you win or buy.
Full breakdown on the Fees page.
What "escrow" means for you
Escrow is a neutral holding account. Your payment is held safely by our regulated payment partner and only released to the seller once you've received the bottle so you never pay into thin air.
You pay
Check out and pay the full amount securely.
Held in escrow
Your money is locked safely not sent to the seller yet.
Seller ships
Your bottle is on its way you receive a tracking code.
You receive it
Paid to the seller 3 days after delivery unless you flag a problem.
Result: you never pay into thin air. If something's wrong with your bottle, you can report an issue before the funds are released. Payments are handled by our regulated escrow partner, Online Payment Platform.
Your buyer dashboard
Everything you're watching, bidding on and buying in one place.
My Watchlist
Save bottles you're interested in and keep an eye on them as auctions heat up.
My Bids
Track every auction you're bidding on in real time and see if you're winning.
My Orders
Follow your purchases, shipping status and delivery confirmation from start to finish.
Buyer FAQ
Do I need an account to browse?
No you can browse the marketplace and auctions freely. You only need an account with your buyer details filled in to place a bid or make a purchase.
Is it free to register and bid?
Yes. Registering, browsing, saving to your watchlist and placing bids are all free. You only pay when you actually buy a bottle or win an auction.
What is the buyer's premium?
A 12.5% buyer's premium (excl. 21% VAT) is added to the final price at checkout, on both marketplace purchases and auction wins. It supports secure escrow payments and seller verification.
How is my payment protected?
Every payment goes through escrow with our regulated partner, Online Payment Platform. Your money is held safely and only released to the seller once you've received the bottle.
What if the bottle never arrives or isn't as described?
You're protected the whole way. You get a tracking code when the seller ships, and while your bottle is in transit no money is paid out. On delivery you receive an email asking whether everything is in order. If there's a problem damage, fraud or not as described reply or contact us and the payment stays on hold until it's resolved, with a refund where appropriate.
Who arranges shipping?
The seller ships your bottle using a prepaid label, so it comes to the correct address. You simply receive it and confirm delivery.
How do auctions work if I'm outbid?
Auctions are timed and the highest bid above the seller's reserve wins when the clock runs out. If you're outbid you're free to bid again while the auction is still live.
Find your next rare bottle
Checked listings, escrow-protected payments, delivered across Europe.