SOMETHING OLD FOR A NEW YEAR

HIGHLAND PARK 50 YEAR OLD & OTHER RARE SCOTCH AT BONHAMS FIRST WHISKY SALE IN 2022 

Highland Park – 50 year old. Estimate: HK$210,000-250,000. 

Highland Park – 50 year old. Estimate: HK$210,000-250,000. 

Bonhams global wine and spirits auction calendar in 2022 will begin in Hong Kong with Whisky sale on Friday 21 January. The sale, 470-lot strong, spotlights a series of rare but attractively-estimated Scotch whiskies, led by an exclusive charity lot of a Highland Park 50 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, donated by Edrington Hong Kong in support of the environmental cause Green Power. The special lot carries an estimate of HK$210,000-250,000.

Released in 2020, this is the third 50-year-old created in the Orkney-based distillery’s 223-year history, with only 274 bottles ever produced – this is numbered ‘1’. It was produced using a traditional solera system – best known as a method of maturing Sherry – via which contents carefully selected from nine refill casks, originally laid down in 1968, were married together in 2008, before it was re-racked into a handful of the finest first-fill sherry seasoned oak casks. After a further twelve years of maturation, one of these limited casks was blended with a small quantity of the whisky from the last 50 Year Old released by the distillery.

Signed by Highland Park Master Whisky Maker, Gordon Motion, the prized bottle is presented in a hand-made wooden box, crafted from walnut by Scottish Master Craftsman, John Galvin. The whisky is encased in an embossed heavy-weight glass bottle featuring a design inspired by the Norse heritage of Orkney – the home to the distillery – which dates back over 1200 years.

The sale proceeds will benefit Green Power, a Hong-Kong-based NGO dedicated to addressing diverse environment issues in a local context.

Bonhams Director of Wine and Spirits Asia Daniel Lam commented: “Our newly-added January sale is a response to a robust and growing market. Demand for whiskies, not only Japanese but also Scotch, remains strong and wide, and our January sale offers a wide selection of collectors’ favourites – all with attractive estimates.”

Further Scotch whisky highlights of the sale include:

·         Macallan Lalique Steam Train-1937-36 year old. Estimate: HK$520,000 – 600,000. Over the years, this edition has developed a unique character defined by a vibrancy of flavour on the palate. It celebrates the mystique of the 1930s – a golden age of rail travel – as well as the dedication and craftsmanship of the people at the distillery who went to great lengths to create this rich and enticing single malt whisky.

·         Macallan Fine & Rare-1946-56 year old. Estimate: HK$ HK$380,000 – 450,000.

·         Macallan Fine & Rare-1937-37 year old. Estimate: HK$380,000 – 450,000. The second oldest whisky from Macallan’s Fine & Rare Series, with a palate of citrus fruits and spices balanced with peat smoke, dried fruits and aged wood.

·         Macallan Millennium-1949-50 year old Decanter. Estimate: HK$320,000 – 400,000.

·         Macallan Fine & Rare-1940-35 year old. Estimate: HK$300,000 – 400,000.

Sale: Whisky Bonhams Hong Kong 21 January 2022 https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/27715

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. bonhams.com