A rare 1995 30-Year-Old Springbank Refill Sherry Butt 

Edinburgh – Following the appointment of Patricia Byott as UK Head of Spirits, Scotland and the reinforcement of a dedicated spirits platform from its Edinburgh saleroom, Bonhams continues to strengthen its position as Scotland’s only global whisky auction house.

A rare 1995 Springbank 30 Year Old Refill Sherry Butt and an exceptional single-owner whisky collection from Belgium will headline Bonhams’ forthcoming Edinburgh spirits sales. Running in parallel, the online cask auction, A Campbeltown Legend: 1995 Springbank – Rare Sherry Cask, will be open from 22 September to 14 October, while the bottle auction, Curated Spirits: A Belgian Collection Unlocked & Other Rarities, will take place from 22 September to 7 October.

The refill-sherry butt was filled at Springbank Distillery in May 1995 and has been maturing ever since in Warehouse No.5 of J.&A. Mitchell, Campbeltown. The cask was acquired directly from Springbank by a private buyer in 1995, where it has remained in the same warehouse to this day, a true testament to its provenance and authenticity.

An updated regauge taken in July 2025 revealed a healthy strength of 53.6% ABV, at 392.6 bulk litres and 211.3 regauge litres of alcohol, with the potential to bottle over 550 70cl bottles.

Patricia Byott, Bonhams Head of Spirits Scoltand inspects cask maturing at Warehouse No.5, Springbank Distillery.

On the nose, the Springbank 1995 offers notes of vibrant red fruits, chocolate-coated raisins, followed by smoked almonds with hints of salt-laced coastal air. The palate delivers notes of bold fruitcake spice, laced with black pepper and a sweet, smouldering peat, carried on an oily texture. A few drops of water awaken green apples, poached fruits, and a soft hint of old library dust.

As a reflection of the ultimate rarity and yield potetial, the online bidding for the cask will start at £160,000 with estimates set at £200,000 to £300,000.

Patricia Byott, Head of Spirits, Scotland, commented, “With exceptional provenance and outstanding yield potential, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to own a cask from one of the most unique and celebrated single malt distilleries. In the secondary market, cask provenance is crucial, therefore full documentation and provenance details from 1995 and cask samples are available for interested bidders.”

Alongside the cask sale, Bonhams‘ Curated Spirits: A Belgian Collection Unlocked & Other Rarities auction features over 190 lots of exceptional spirits including a prestigious single owner whisky collection from Belgium. The collection features some of the finest releases from The Macallan Distillery, including The Tales of Macallan Volume 1 71 Year Old (£36,000 – £40,000), The Macallan 50 Year Old Red Collection (£22,000 – £28,000) and The Macallan 40 Year Old Red Collection (£9,000 – £13,000).

Macallan 50 Year Old Red Collection, estimate of £22,000 – £28,000

The Bonhams spirits auction also features expressions from other Scotch distilleries, such as Dalmore, Bowmore, Glenfarclas and Springbank, as well as Japanese whisky and bourbon.

Other highlights of the sale include the Hanyu Ace of Spades 1985 (£20,000 to £30,000), Springbank Local Barley 1966 (£3,000 to £5,000) and a bottle of Springbank 50 Year Old (£6,000 to £9,000).

Springbank Local Barley 1966, estimate of £3,000 to £5,000. 

Patricia Byott added: “Alongside an outstanding single owner collection from Europe, the ‘Curated Spirits’ sale is set to be our largest UK spirits auction in 2025, strengthening our spirits activities in Scotland and maintaining our presence as the only global auction house that holds spirits sales in Edinburgh.”

Bonhams is a global network of auction houses, with the largest number of international salerooms, offering the widest range of collecting categories and selling at all price points. Bonhams is recognised for its bespoke service, and a dedication to local market relationships, enhanced by a global platform. With 14 salerooms, Bonhams presents over 1,000 sales annually, across more than 60 specialist categories, including fine art, collectables, luxury, wine & spirits, and collector cars.

Founded in 1793, Bonhams has representatives in more than 30 countries and operates flagship salerooms in London, New York, Paris, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong. In 2022, Bonhams added four international auction houses to its network: Bukowskis, Stockholm; Bruun Rasmussen, Copenhagen; Cornette de Saint Cyr, Paris and Brussels; and Skinner, Massachusetts. The success of Bonhams’ global strategy is a result of recognising the shift in growing intercontinental buying and increased digital engagement.

More information and highlights can be found HERE

For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com