Sotheby’s to Hold its Largest Online Spirits Sale

Over 250 Lots, with Whiskies from Scotland, Japan and India

First Offering at Auction of Set #1 of the First Release of

The Prima & Ultima Collection

The New Series of Single Vintage Malt Scotch Whiskies

*Proceeds from the Sale To be Donated to Diageo’s Charity Partner WaterAid*

 Open for Bidding from 26 August to 1 September

The Macallan Fine & Rare Collection

“We are thrilled to present our second spirits auction of the month and our largest online auction, with over 250 lots. The quality and variety of bottles offered in this sale are a testament both to the strength of the current whisky market and of our success in developing our online auction format throughout 2020.”

Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s Spirits Specialist

LONDON, 25 August 2020 – From The Macallan’s most sought after releases to an array of rare Italian import Scotch, including the highly acclaimed Samaroli Laphroaig 1970, and the first full set of the new Prima & Ultima Collection, Sotheby’s online Distilled sale features some of the very rarest whiskies to be offered at auction. Comprising 267 lots with a combined pre-sale estimate in excess of £850,000, the auction will open for bidding at 2pm BST on 26 August and run until 1 September. 

MACALLAN 

“At Sotheby’s we have enjoyed a great relationship with The Macallan Fine & Rare series, setting the record for the highest value ever achieved for a bottle of whisky at auction with the Macallan Fine & Rare 1926.”

Jonny Fowle 

The sale includes 94 Macallan lots, with a combined pre-sale estimate of £619,460 – 840,450, led by The Macallan Fine & Rare Collection featuring the most iconic whiskies from The Macallan distillery. The collection includes vintages spanning 1940 to 1976, with estimates ranging from £10,000-14,000 to £35,000-48,000 per bottle. In addition, a selection of the 5cl press release samples from the original launch of the Fine & Rare Collection, which were sent out to journalists together with the press release, are estimated at £800-1,200 each.

The Macallan Fine and Rare 56 Year Old 51.5% 1945, est. £35,000-48,000

This Macallan Fine and Rare 56 Year Old is the second oldest age statement in the Fine & Rare Collection after the record-breaking 60 year old 1926. Macallan was one of the only distilleries to operate during World War II. It was forced to use local peat in their production, due to the rationing of commercial coal use. As a result, this distillate represents a very different character to modern Macallan, and with only 152 bottles of this whisky known to exist, this sale presents an exceptionally rare opportunity to acquire such a highly prized bottle.

PRIMA & ULTIMA

As well as the Macallan Fine & Rare set, this Distilled sale also marks a momentous occasion in the world of collectable whisky, by featuring Set #1 of the first release of The Prima & Ultima Collection, following the inaugural launch of a new series of single vintage malt whiskies that has only just been announced by distillery owner Diageo. With purchase only  through appointed agents, and with pre-order registrations looking to far outstrip the available 238 sets, Sotheby’s sale of set #1 – signed by Dr Jim Beveridge OBE, one of the world’s most respected whisky makers – is the first opportunity to acquire this collection at auction (est. £16,000-28,000). The winning bidder will also secure an exclusive whisky tasting experience with Dr Jim  Beveridge.

The sale marks Sotheby’s first ever collaboration with Diageo for charity, and proceeds will be donated to Diageo’s charity partner WaterAid.

Each rare Single Malt Scotch Whisky in the collection is “the first and the last” of its kind, drawn from a small number of casks from celebrated distilleries including Port Ellen, Cragganmore, Mortlach, Singleton of Dufftown, Lagavulin, Caol Ila, Talisker and Clynelish. These eight bottles are the first in an on-going series of single vintage malts, with further editions of Prima & Ultima to be made available in the coming years.

INDEPENDENT BOTTLES

The sale is distinguished by a number of independent bottlings, including three bottles of Laphroaig Samaroli 16 Year Old 1970 (est. £9,000-13,000). The whisky was scored 95 points by Serge Valentin, a well-known name on the whisky scene, one of the highest ratings he has ever given.

Emmanuel Dron, Sotheby’s Whisky Consultant, owner of The Auld Alliance whisky bar and author of Collecting Scotch Whisky, commented: “Silvano Samaroli’s bottles are among the most legendary ever produced and this 1970 Laphroaig is undoubtedly my number 1 whisky of all time. It is so rare to see three bottles of this whisky in a single auction”.

Two exquisite releases from Gordon & MacPhail comprise Glen Grant Gordon & MacPhail 62 Year Old Mr. George Centenary Edition 1956 (est. £5,500-7,500, illustrated far left), one of the oldest Glen Grant whiskies ever released, and Longmorn Gordon & MacPhail 53 Year Old Private Collection 1966 (est. £4,300-5,500, illustrated left).

BEAUTIFUL JAPANESE WHISKIES

The sale features an exceptional selection of Japanese whiskies, not least 28 Karuizawa lots with a combined pre-sale estimate of £79,300 – 104,100, made up of Single Cask bottlings and vattings from Japan’s most popular closed distillery. Earlier this year in London, Sotheby’s set the record for the most valuable Japanese Whisky ever sold when a bottle of Karuizawa 1960 achieved £363,000.

Stand-out highlights include Karuizawa Sapphire Geisha 36 Year Old Cask #5077 (est. £11,000-15,000, illustrated left) and The Yamazaki LMDW Private Cask #3T70070 (est. £7,000-9,000, illustrated right).

FURTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Eleven Port Ellen lots, with a combined pre-sale estimate of £28,950 – 39,250, led by Port Ellen 1979 40 Year Old Casks Of Distinction #1883 (est. £20,000-26,000, illustrated far left).

The Original Balvenie “Tun 1401” – The Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch #1 (est. £4,000-6,000, illustrated left).

SMWS 26 Malts Collection (est. £4,500-6,000)

Notes 

Auction World Record Prices for Spirits 

After launching our Spirits business last year this segment of the market saw the fastest growth with three new auction world record prices.

AUCTION WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR A BOTTLE OF JAPANESE WHISKY

London, March 2020

Karuizawa 52 Year Old Zodiac Rat Cask #5627 1960, $435,273

AUCTION WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR ANY BOTTLE OF THE DALMORE

London, May 2020

Two bottles of The Dalmore 62 Year Old, $324,445 (per bottle)

AUCTION WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR A BOTTLE OF COGNAC

London, May 2020

The Gautier Cognac 1762, $144,525

Sotheby’s holds producer records for: Bowmore, Springbank, Brora, Samaroli and Glenfiddich.

SOTHEBY’S ALSO HOLDS THE AUCTION RECORD FOR THE WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE BOTTLE OF WINE OR SPIRIT

London, October 2019

The Macallan Fine & Rare 60-Year-Old 1926, $1.9 million

**NEWSFLASH** NEW WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR A BOTTLE OF JAPANESE WHISKY SET AT BONHAMS HONG KONG

The Oldest Japanese Whisky – Yamazaki-55 Year

Sells for HK$6,200,000 (US$795,000) 

More Than Ten Times the Pre-sale Estimate &
Far Exceeding Previous Records

Hong Kong – At Bonhams Fine & Rare Wine and Whisky Sale in Hong Kong today, Yamazaki-55 Year, the oldest Japanese whisky in history, commanded the price of HK$6,200,000 (US$795,000), establishing a new world auction record for a bottle of Japanese whisky. It had a pre-sale estimate of HK$580,000 – 780,000.

The single-malt blockbuster was freshly released in June this year by Suntory, via a customer lottery system applicable only to residents from within Japan. Yamazaki-55 Years was distilled in the 1960s and produced in an exceedingly-limited edition of 100 bottles.

Daniel Lam, Director of Wine and Whisky, Asia, commented: “The stunning price sets a new milestone for the market of Japanese whisky, testament to collectors’ desire and determination to acquire the very best the market has to offer. We are pleased to see a keen demand for Scotch whisky in today’s sale as well.”

This new record far exceeds the previous records, set respectively in March 2020 for GBP363,000 (US$475,000) and in May 2019 for NT$13,512,500 (US$459,000).

The Yamazaki-55 Year Old was matured in both Japanese Mizunara oak cask from 1960 and white oak cask from 1964, the year of the previous Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. Distilled to 46% ABV, it has a deep reddish amber colour with a complex agarwood and sandalwood nose, rich in fruity scents with a sweet aftertaste. The gold-dusted bottle is housed in a black Mizunara oak box with Suruga lacquer. The bottle mouth is wrapped in handmade Echizen Washi and tied with a traditional Kyoto braided cord.

Bonhams currently holds three world auction records in the whisky category, namely:

World auction record for a Japanese whisky collection

Hanyu Ichiro’s Full Card Series (in 54 bottles)

Sold for of HK$7,192,000 (US$ 922,000)

August 2019

World auction record for a whisky cask

Refill European Sherry Hogshead Cask from Macallan Distillery

Sold for HK$4,464,000 (US$572,000)

November 2019

World auction record for a bottle of Japanese whisky

Yamazaki-55 Year

Sold for HK$6,200,000 (US$795,000)

August 2020

Sale: Fine and Rare Wine & WhiskyDate: 21 August (Friday)

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

Our August auction is now LIVE!

Place your bids from Friday 14th August until Sunday 23^rd August.

www.whiskyhammer.com

Every month, we present an incredible selection of whiskies and other fine spirits to our members right across the globe. You will find everything here from limited edition releases and vintage bottles to whole casks of rare whisky. There is certainly something for everyone – whether you are looking to collect, invest or enjoy!

Macallan – 32 Year Old (1969 Fine & Rare)

Old Rip Van Winkle – 23 Year Old  (1986) Family Selection 

Cask sales – Springbank (1991), Craigellachie (2008) & Glenfarclas (2011).

Hibiki – 30 Year Old (Aritayaki)  

Selling whisky? Why not arrange the pick-up of your bottles using our global courier service? If you’re based in Scotland, you might want to arrange the personal collection of your bottles. Wherever you’re based in the world, we will make getting your bottles into our monthly auction as simple as possible. Get in touch with the Whisky Hammer team now by dropping them a message at sales@whiskyhammer.co.uk.

SCOTCH GALORE WHISKIES THE ALTERNATIVE TO AUCTIONS.

Scotch Galore Whiskies is a family owned business run by myself Stephen, my son Paul and wife Jacqueline. My first introduction into Whisky was as a young boy growing up in place called Maryhill in Glasgow back in the 70’s, and at that time Glasgow was surrounded by Whisky bonds. In those days my Dad Phil was employed as a lorry driver within the Whisky industry. So this gave me the opportunity to spend the holidays with my dad visiting Whisky distilleries throughout the length and breadth of Scotland. Now back in those days with no real health and safety this gave a young inquisitive boy the opportunity to explore the Whisky distillery warehouses and explore I did, and I can remember climbing up and over many a Whisky barrel and trying to help warehouse men push heavy Whisky filled barrels around the warehouses. Nowadays I enjoy nothing more than revisiting distilleries as Whisky being such a traditional industry nothing very much has changed in the passing years, today you can still see the sights, hear the sounds of the past, and of course you have those lovely, lovely distillery smells of wood and Whisky that take me back to those special days long, long ago spent with my late Dad.

Here at Scotch Galore Whiskies www.scotchgalore.com  My commitment to you my customer is, whether you’re a buyer or seller I aim to bring you a truly personal service I will endeavour to the best of my ability to treat each and every bottle you trust me with as if it is one of my own. My objective with your help is to bring a world class array of collectable and rare Whisky’s to a Global Market while never forgetting to offer you my customer a hassle and cost free premium service.

When selling with us it couldn’t be easier, when we receive your bottle we aim to have it photographed and online that day leading to the potential that your bottle could come in, in the morning be online and sold in the afternoon and your Money in your Account in 48 hrs. And all of this with no seller’s fees and you get 100% of the price you put on your bottle. That’s why we like to say that we are the alternative to Auctions, so if you have bottles that you would like to sell get in touch we can even arrange free collection from you by UPS or why not visit us at www.scotchgalore.com and see what we have to offer.

#DONTAUCTIONYOURBOTTLE.

Victor Mee Auctions set to auction off exceptionally rare bottle of Irish Whiskey to the highest bidder this August

One of Ireland’s leading auction houses, family owned and run Victor Mee Auctions, has announced its first Irish Pub Memorabilia & Collectibles sale of the year, which will include a rare collection of items from several different categories of memorabilia and collectibles. The one-day sale is due to take place at 2pm on Wednesday 12th August.

Well known throughout Ireland and within antique circles across the globe for the team’s extensive knowledge on local pub memorabilia and collectibles, Victor Mee Auctions has become the ‘go to’ auction house for those searching for Irish rarities, including rare bottles of local whiskey.

The team at Victor Mee Auctions has become renowned for their vast knowledge of Irish whiskey. This is reflected through the many bottles that have been trusted to the auction house to sell over the last few years. August’s Irish Pub Memorabilia & Collectibles sale is no exception, as whiskey collectors are sure to be bowled over by several of the exquisite lots.

Estimated to sell between €6,000 and €12,000 is lot 248, a rare bottle of George Roe Irish Whiskey. The George Roe brand was over 170 years old when its Thomas Street Distillery closed in 1923. Allegedly it took a few years before everything was bottled and sold and this 16-year-old release of George Roe seems to have been produced for export to the USA in the 1930s. Most remarkably of all, the label proclaims this to be “pot still malt whiskey”, making this an incredibly rare Irish single malt distilled before 1923 at a distillery that has been closed for nearly a century.

In addition to the George Roe, Victor Mee Auctions will also welcome a 1950s bottle of John Jameson Extra Quality Dublin Whiskey to the auction block as well as a rare 19th century copper whiskey still, with both items estimated to sell up to €1,200

Auction Closing Monday 10th of Aug @ 21:00 (BST)

^{www.thegrandwhiskyauction.com/live-auction}

Almost 2ooo lots to bid on this month!

Bowmore – 29 Year Old 1964 Black Bowmore 1st Edition

Glorious Gordon & Macphail Connoisseurs Choice

A Grand Selection of Casks…

New Releases…

Port Ellen – 40 Year Old 1979 – 9 Rogue Casks

Ardbeg – 2000 Single Cask #2/2000

Macallan – 30 Year Old SMWS 24.140 Sublime Nectar

Waterford – SFO – Bannow, Ballykilcavan, Ratheadon, Ballymorgan, Sheestown 1.1 & Pilgrimage

Browse and bid on over 1,850+ lots at:

www.thegrandwhiskyauction.com

Interested in selling whisky in our next auction?

+44 (0)1463 210 427

sales@thegrandwhiskyauction.com

Have a cask you are looking to sell?

E. casks@thegrandwhiskyauction.com

We are pleased to be offering our complimentary collection service in London on:

Sunday 9th August 2020
6-8pm by appointment only
St Paul’s Hotel, Hammersmith, W14 0QL

Collections are limited and by appointment only. If you would like to attend please complete the form which can be found here.

Please do not attend without an appointment or if you are feeling unwell in line with COVID 19 guidelines.

Additionally, please complete a Submission Sheet. This must be handed to the collections team.

We are monitoring the COVID situation, this collection may be cancelled if infected numbers increase over the coming days.

ONLINE CASK WHISKY AUCTION AIMED AT FIRST-TIME INVESTORS AND BUYERS LOOKING TO DIVERSIFY THEIR PORTFOLIO

The only live, online auction dedicated to cask whisky takes place next month (August) and will feature more than 20 casks including a 1993 Springbank, 1992 Speyside and a 2009 Bruichladdich Amarone – aged for its entire life in an ex-Amarone wine cask.

Perfect for first-time investors and enthusiasts looking to begin their journey into the world of lifestyle collectables, or for all inquisitive buyers wanting to diversify their portfolio to include casks that offer a return over a longer period of time, auctionyourcask.com is open to everyone.

Trusted trader and Director of Cask Trade, Lee Tomlinson, has more than 10 years’ experience working in the industry and has sold 100s of casks.

“The majority of casks in the auction are perfect for aging for 5/10/15+ years which makes them ideal for bottlers looking to plan future releases or investors looking to hold onto casks for a longer-term investment,” says Lee, highly regarded as one of the industry’s leading independent valuator of casks.

“We have it on good authority the 1992 Speyside is Glenlivit, so we are expecting that Lot to attract much attention,” adds Lee.

The auction, hosted by Cask Trade via its online auction website auctionyourcask.com, will go live on 14^thAugust and run until 23^rd August 2020. Casks to go under the virtual hammer are priced between £1,500 and £35,000 and include a 1993 Springbank, 1992 Speyside, 2009 Bruichladdich Amarone, two 2015 Glen Ord Barrels, as well as a 2008 Glen Moray and 2011 Glen Garioch.

But don’t just take our word for it, Keeper of the Quaich Sir Colin Hampden-White has tasted a selection of samples from casks that will feature in the auction. Click here to watch his video tasting notes: https://youtu.be/Ve3NbtZTaSg

Following on from the successful first auction in January, the world’s second live, online auction dedicated to casks of whisky is expected to attract even more sellers and bidders from around the globe.

Auctionyourcask.com allows private owners and investors to sell their cask to independent bottlers and other investors all around the world.

To sign up to bid in the live auction, register here: https://www.auctionyourcask.com/members/login

Auctionyourcask.com is inviting people to register their casks for auction by 31^st July 2020. Those looking to register their cask for sale should complete an online form to request a valuation. https://www.auctionyourcask.com/request-a-valuation

The auction, which will go live on 14^th August will run until 23^rd August (ending 8pm GMT), will feature a wide selection of casks at different price points.

All casks will need to have had a recent re-gauge ready for auction and a full 70cl sample will be drawn so that bidders have the opportunity, wherever possible, to try the whisky before they buy. Auction your cask validate all the sellers and confirm proof of ownership and the history of the cask enabling bidders to safely buy. With complete transparency and no sellers’ fee Cask Trade can offer bidders the actual hammer price. Their low buyers’ fee of 15% + VAT will offer the opportunity to buyers, trade or private, to buy rare casks.

Hosted four times a year the next auction will take place in November 2020.

10 REASONS TO INVEST IN CASKS:

1)         Whisky is a top performing luxury investment and far outstrips the more established alternative asset investments such as art, wine and cars. Estimated accumulative short-term returns of 40%, medium term of 80%, and long term 140%.

2)        Each cask is unique and only a limited number are available. No two casks will ever be the same.

3)        Time is on your side as whisky only matures in the cask. The more mature it gets, the more valuable it becomes.

4)        There is no index or quoted market for whisky casks as each one is different.

5)        Complete transparency – Cask Trade buy each cask first and all the paperwork, location and health of the cask is verified before it ever makes it onto the stock list.

6)        Trusted marketplace – Buyers can take Cask Trade’s WOWGR number, go to the warehouse and confirm the cask exists. Bonded warehouses check-in each cask and perform a ‘dip’ test to measure the level of alcohol. Every year, they are required to report to HMRC how many casks they have and the levels of alcohol. Casks cannot be faked or fabricated.

7)        Casks are safer than storing bottles; the only thing stealing your whisky is the angels.

8)        Whisky is a delicious investment and casks are a physical, tangible asset that you own. You can sample them, trade them and even bottle them!

9)        Investment Realisation: Cask Trade’s multiple exit strategies and global client base ensures a hassle-free exit from your investment.

10)      Cask Trade will arrange for clients to receive samples of their whiskies and visit their casks(s), upon request, wherever possible.

NOTES:

Founded in 2018 by Simon Aron in partnership with several of the world’s foremost whisky masters, including Keeper of the Quaich Sir Colin Hampden-White, Cask Trade buys and sells exceptional cask whiskies. The company is unique because it only sells casks it owns outright, and it only sells whole casks: it is not a whisky cask broker and it does not offer fractional sales.

A passionate whisky collector for more than 20 years, Simon Aron suffered many false promises from whisky investment companies and this drove his ambition to create a real and trustworthy market place for whisky collectors and investors, and bottlers:

The company’s casks are held in the best HMRC bonded warehouses, regularly visited and approved by Cask Trade whisky masters. All stock holdings have a complete paper trail.

• Delivery orders from supplier to Cask Trade
• Invoices for transfer of ownership, storage insurance, re-gauging, sampling or movement
• HMRC-issued WOWGR (warehouse keepers, warehouse premises, owner of goods and registered consigners): a fully regulated and closely monitored license requiring due diligence on suppliers as well as customers.
• HMRC-issued AWRS Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme: Licenced to wholesale, bottle and retail.

Included in its extensive list of customer services, Cask Trade’s rigorous processes means that the company will guarantee to buy back from its clients the casks they buy from and have had managed by Cask Trade. It also offers…

• Regular sampling and re-gauging of casks
• Re-racking (sherry wine, port etc)
• Estimates of bottles and strength in cask (effects of angels’ share 0ver years of maturations)
• Financial modelling for each cask based on age and rarity with estimated % returns
• Costings for bottling, labelling and shipping (duty & tax)
• Regularly updated whisky investment guide which includes statistics from two authoritative third parties (independent of Cask Trade)
• Cask Trade will arrange for clients to receive samples of their whiskies and visit their barrels(s), upon request – wherever possible.

Cask Trade has started the first live auction website dedicated to exceptional whisky casks: auctionyourcask.com.

Hosted four times a year and helping private owners/investors sell their cask to independent bottlers and other investors all around the world. All casks will be re-gauged ready for auction and a full 70cl sample will be drawn so that bidders have the opportunity to try the whisky before they buy. – Wherever possible. We validate all the sellers and confirm proof of ownership and the history of the cask enabling bidders to safely buy. With complete transparency and no sellers’ fee we can offer you the actual hammer price. Our low buyers’ fee of 15% + VAT will offer the opportunity to buyers, trade or private, to buy rare casks.

https://www.casktrade.com

https://www.auctionyourcask.com

Whisky Price Growth

Results of the recent Knight Frank Wealth Report’s new unique luxury investment index revealed whisky was one of the most coveted objects of desire in 2019.

The report out in February 2020, says Rare Whisky has grown in value the most over the last 10 years at +564% and increased by +5% in the past 12 months; and states casks remained in huge demand. By comparison cars have seen an increase of 194%, art by 141% and wine by 120%.

https://www.knightfrank.com/wealthreport 

Data collected by Rare Whisky 101 suggests the four-year growth from December 2014 in rare whisky has increased over 160%, compared to just 2.47% for the FTSE 100. https://www.rarewhisky101.com/indices

The same report by Rare Whisky 101 claimed via the BBC that they had performed a controlled test of 55 rare bottles, of which over a third were fakes.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-4656670

Welcome to our July auction! As per, a voluminous variety of malt on spread for you all to feast upon and plenty plenty more in store. CLICK HERE