The Largest Spirits Online Sale Presented by Sotheby’s Hong Kong

Open for Bidding Today Through 5 May

Fine Selection of Sought-After Spirits from The Macallan, Ardbeg,

Springbank, Glenfiddich and Samaroli’s Legendary Independent Bottlings, and

Elegant Classics from Karuizawa and Ichiro’s Hanyu Bottlings

Distilled | Whisky

Opening for Bidding: 21 April – 5 May

Comprising over 130 lots, Distilled | Whisky + Moutai + More is the largest online sale for spirits ever  presented by Sotheby’s Hong Kong. The sale focuses on the most sought-after names in both Scotch and Japanese whiskies as well as Chinese spirit Kweichow Moutai. Leading the sale is Karuizawa Aqua of Life 50 Years 1968, which is one of an incredibly limited release of only 248 bottles from 2018. The Mortlach 75-Year-Old Gordon & Macphail Generations (1 BT70), the oldest whisky ever bottled, is a trophy piece for any serious collector and not to be missed.

The Macallan Duncan Taylor The Rarest Collection 42 Year Old 1969 (1 BT70) Est. HK$170,000-220,000

As one of the oldest independent bottles of The Macallan at 42 years, this decanter set is a celebration of single cask expressions. Not only Is the whisky accompanied by cut crystal Glencairn glasses and adorned with a hallmarked silver stopper, but its presentation case is made out of its own cask #6860.

Mortlach 75 Year Old Gordon & Macphail Generations (1 BT70) Est. HK$130,000-180,000

A must-have for any serious collector for one simple reason: this is the oldest whisky ever bottled. Originally established in 1895, Gordon & MacPhail is one of the oldest and most revered independent bottlers in Scotch Whisky’s history. Gordon & MacPhail previously set the record for the oldest age statement whisky ever with their 70 Year Old Mortlach under the same Generations series.

Coleburn Samaroli Flowers 12 Year Old (1 BT) Est. HK$24,000-32,000

Silvano Samaroli’s whiskies are known to be among the best in the world, with Laphroaigs and Bowmores achieving the highest scores on Serge Valnetin’s WhiskyFun.com. Silvano began his independent bottlings in earnest with the Samaroli Flowers series. These whiskies were carefully selected and the label designs were drawn by Silvano himself. This Coleburn is one of this inimitable series, and to increase its desirability, Coleburn itself is a closed distillery, so very few of its bottles exist.

Karuizawa Aqua of Life 50 Year Old 1968 (1 BT70) Est. HK$280,000-400,000

Since March 2020, a 52 Karuizawa has held the record for the most valuable Japanese whisky ever sold when it achieved £636,000 at Sotheby’s in London. This 50 Year Old from cask #6223 known as “Aqua of Life” is one of an incredibly limited release of only 248 bottles released in 2018. Since Karuizawa’s closure in 2011, no new whisky has been distilled and existing stocks are becoming more and more limited as time goes by.

Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt Card Series Ace of Clubs cask #9523 2000 (1 BT70), Est. HK$110,000-160,000

After Hanyu ceased production in 2000, Ichiro Akuto, grandson of Hanyu’s founder, purchased 400 whisky casks from the closed distillery. He bottled his first few casks, each identified by a different playing card, which proved to be highly successful. Ichiro went on to complete the set with 58 cards produced in total, and his Malt Card Series became one of the most iconic series in the world of whisky. The ‘Ace of Clubs’ is particularly interesting as this was bottled from a Mizunara Puncheon – made from a very rare and valuable hardwood with aromatic properties.

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