BONHAMS SMASHES YET ANOTHER WHISKY RECORD

American Hogshead Cask from Macallan Distillery, 1996- 22 year old sold for HK$3,430,000 (US$437,861 / £342,271 

Hong Kong – Bonhams once again set a world whisky record at its Rare and Fine Wine and Whisky auction on Friday 16 November in Hong Kong with the sale of an American Hogshead Cask from Macallan Distillery, 1996-22 year old, which sold for HK$3,430,000 (US$437,861 / £342,271) to an absentee bidder against active bidding in the room, surpassing the original estimate of HK$2,200,000 to HK$2,800,000.

The new benchmark was set against the previous sale of a Sherry Hogshead Cask from Macallan Distillery, 1987-30 year old which sold for HK$2,928,000 (US$373,800 / £292,200) at auction in October 2017.

“Not only has this 22 year-old cask reached the highest record price realised at auction, but it is also the most valuable per bottle cask sold in auction worldwide and is expected to produce 310 bottles valued at HK$11,064 per bottle,” explains Daniel Lam, Director of Wine & Whisky, Asia.

During 2018, Bonhams has broken the world record for the most valuable bottle of whisky sold at auction on three separate occasions, and set a new world record for the most expensive bottle of Japanese whisky ever sold at auction.

The Hong Kong sale, Bonhams largest to date with more than 1,100 lots, concluded with a robust total
of HK$41, 219,168 (US$5,263,862/ £4,099,553) with 77% sold by lot and 87% sold by value.

Alongside the leading lot, impressive prices were also achieved throughout the whisky category of the auction including:

• A bottle of Karuizawa-1960-52 year old-#5627 the oldest expression, which was sampled and kept by Mr. Osami Uchibori, the former malt master of Karuizawa Distillery which sold for HK$1,837,500 (US$234,568 / £ 183,359) against an estimate of HK$1,000,000 – 1,400,000

• A bottle Laphroaig-1970-14 year-#4367 from one of the most legendary Italian independent bottlers Samaroli sold for HK$ 490,000 (US$62,551 / £48,895), against an estimate of HK$20,000 – 26,000

Within the wine category, the single owner collection from an esteemed Hong Kong collector presented across some 500 lots of fine wine purchased between 1980s and 2003 was well received amongst bidders. Immaculately preserved and aged in Hong Kong over the past 15 years, this was a truly “Made in Hong Kong” collection, featuring mature Bordeaux, multiple vintages of Penfolds Grange, Hill of Grace and other matured Australian wine, and Cult California wines from the 1990s.

Highlights in this sale include:

• Château Mouton Rothschild 2000 (1 jeroboam – 5 liters); bottle number 5 of 5000 and autographed by Baroness Philippine de Rothschild and sold for HK$171,500 (US$21,893 / £17,113)
• Domaine Leroy Vosne-Romanée 2004 (12 bottles) sold for  HK$147,000 (US$18,765 / £14,668)
• Domaine de la Romanée Conti 2000 (6 bottles) sold for HK$ 306,250 (US$ 39,094 / £30,559)
• Château Petrus 2002 (12 bottles) for HK$ 220,500 ( US$28,148 / £22,003)

Upcoming auctions at Bonhams globally include Fine and Rare Wines on 29 November in London (https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24606/); Fine and Rare Wines on 7 December in San Francisco (https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24854/); and Whisky on 12 December in Edinburgh (https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24762/).

Full details of the Fine and Rare Wine and Whisky auction available at https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24779/

About Bonhams Contact

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and antiques, motor cars and jewellery. The main salerooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com.