RARE ROLLING STONES ANNIVERSARY BOTTLE AT BONHAMS WHISKY SALE – Whisky News
Suntory Rolling Stones 50th Anniversary. Estimate: £25,000-35,000
RARE ROLLING STONES ANNIVERSARY BOTTLE AT BONHAMS WHISKY SALE
BOTTLES FROM WHISKY GALORE WRECK
A rare bottle of Suntory Rolling Stones 50th Anniversary, released in 2012 to mark the anniversary of the legendary group’s formation, leads Bonhams Fine Whisky sale in Edinburgh on Wednesday 5 June. It is estimated at £25,000-35,000.
The whisky is a blend of selected malts distilled in milestone years in the history of the Rolling Stones, including a malt from 1962 – the year the band was formed – that has been aged in mizunara (Japanese oak) casks. The blend also contains whisky from 1971, when the famous ‘tongue and lips’ logo was launched; it’s said to be one of the most famous brand images in the world, and the original art work is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Bonhams whisky specialist in Edinburgh, Martin Green, said, “This remarkable whisky is a fitting tribute to a band that has been at the top of its game for decades. Only 150 bottles of Suntory Rolling Stones 50th Anniversary whisky were ever released, and on the rare occasions they appear at auction there is always a great deal of excitement and interest.”
Bottles from the wreck of the SS Politician. £6,000-8,000 each.
Bottles from the wreck of the SS Politician. £6,000-8,000 each.
Whisky Galore bottles
The sale also features six bottles recovered from the wreck of the SS Politician which foundered in the Sound of Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides in 1941. The bottles were salvaged legally in 1990 and are accompanied by copies of the letter of declaration from H M Customs. At the time of the shipwreck itself, islanders conducted their own – less legal – salvage operations, later celebrated in Compton MacKenzie’s 1947 novel Whisky Galore.
The six bottles in the sale – one from Ballantine’s, one VAT 69 and four from Gilbey’s – are each estimated at £6,000-8,000. They were bottled in around 1940, and are stamped with “Federal Law Forbids Sale or Re Use of This Bottle” around the shoulder. This phrase appeared on all liquor bottles offered for sale in the USA between 1935 and 1964. It was an attempt to limit the spread of illegal distilled or moonshine spirits.
Other highlights include:
- Bowmore-40 year old-1955. The crystal decanter, numbered 18 of a limited edition of 306, comes in a wooden presentation case with a certificate of authenticity. Estimate: £15,000-17,000
- The Macallan-1940. Bottled in 1981, it comes in its own wooden presentation case. Estimate: £12,000-14,000
- The Macallan-1938. Distilled and bottled by Macallan Glenlivet Ltd, and distributed by Gordon & MacPhail. Estimate: £10,000-12,000
| Sale: Fine Whisky |
| Location: 22 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 |
| Date: Wednesday 5 June at 11am |
| Specialist: Martin Green |
NOTES
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 auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, Paris, San Francisco and Sydney. 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.
