The samples of wine were furnished to Dr Maclagan by the Earl of Dalhousie; they had been found in a recess in a wall in Panmure House, which was known to have been built up in 1715; the samples were consequently at least 150 years old.

The wines submitted to examination were three in number, and were contained in quart bottles, resembling those ordinarily in use at the present day. They were, when sent to Dr Maclagan, securely corked; evaporation had, however, gone on to a sensible extent in two of the bottles, the third being nearly full.