On behalf of everybody here at SWA we would like to thank  everyone for your incredible patience and understanding throughout this difficult time. We are delighted to bring you our 108th auction, now live. We have a wide variety to choose from this month in a hope to keep your spirits up in more ways than one!

Happy bidding and best wishes from all at Team SWA.

JAPANESE WHISKY SETS TOP BONHAMS HONG KONG WHISKY SALE

First Auction in Hong Kong Behind Closed Doors
Live Biddings via Online, Phone and in Written Form

Young Collectors Go From Strength to Strength
Nearly Half the Bidders Under 40 Years Old, Winning Top Lots of Sale

Strong Global Participation From 22 Countries
Spanning Oceania, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Americas

Top Lot: The ‘Ghost Series’ Whisky Collection (11 bottles)

Sold for HK$ 967,200

Estimate: HK$ 820,000 – 1,000,000

Commenting on the result, Daniel Lam, Bonhams’ Director of Wine & Spirits, Asia, said: ‘We are pleased to see that the market is active. Japanese whisky, a category already trending over the past few years, shows strong resilience under the current climate, commanding prices in line with high estimates. This solid sale was encouraged by strong, global biddings from 22 countries, especially those from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland China. Meanwhile, young collectors under 40 years old continue to increase, in terms of both numbers (they account for nearly half of the sale’s bidders) and buying power (the top two lots of the sale – both Japanese whisky sets – sold to young collectors).’

Notable highlights:

Japanese Whisky

• Lot 475  The ‘Ghost Series’ Whisky Collection (11 bottles)

Sold for HK$ 967,200

Estimate: HK$ 820,000 – 1,000,000

• Lot 449  Yamazaki & Hakushu Vintage Malt – 1979 – 1994 (16 bottles)

Sold for HK$ 682,000

Estimate: HK$ 600,000 – 800,000

• Lot 505  Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt-Joker ‘Monochrome’ and Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt-Joker ‘Colour’

Sold for HK$ 446,400

Estimate: HK$ 350,000 – 450,000

• Lot 439 Hibiki ceramic – 35 year old – Tokuda Yasokichi III

Sold for HK$ 347,200

Estimate: HK$ 180,000 – 240,000

• Lot 511  Karuizawa – 1964 – #3603

Sold for HK$ 322,400

Estimate: HK$ 260,000 – 300,000

• Lot 287  Hibiki ceramic-35 year old-Sakaida Kakiemon XIV

Sold for HK$ 248,000

Estimate: HK$ 180,000 – 240,000

Please click here to find out further details of the auction result.

Specialist: Daniel Lam, Bonhams’ Director of Wine & Spirits, Asia

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. bonhams.com

Thank you everyone for your incredible patience and understanding throughout this difficult time. We are pleased to announce that Auction 108, postponed in March, will go live on Friday 29th May. If you had bottles originally booked into Auction 108 these will automatically be included.  Our auction schedule has been updated for the coming months and we are very much looking forward to welcoming you all back.

Our offices remain closed to the public at the moment and we will update further as soon as we can.

Best wishes from all at Team SWA.

Our latest online auction of Rare and Collectable Whisky is now live. It will run from 5pm on the 22^nd May to 5pm on the 29^th of May with fantastic selection to choose form. Are you looking for the perfect dram to sip of an evening?

Why not search through our online catalogue and you could find something suitable to see you through the summer months and beyond.

You can view the catalogue at www.mulberrybankauctions.com and bid through the-saleroom.com.

Stay safe and Good Luck!

Our May auction is now LIVE!

Place your bids from Friday 15^th May until Sunday 24^th May.

www.whiskyhammer.co.uk

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!

Karuizawa – 1985

Rosebank – 1993 (Single cask)

Cask sales – Craigellachie (2006), Braes of Glenlivet (1994), Girvan (2006), North British (2010), Cawdor Springs (2016) & Port Charlotte (2008)

Nikka – 25 Year Old (Pure Malt)

Over 1,000 bottles of bourbon & rye whiskey. 

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.

 Exceptional Whiskies

Including the Dalmore 62 Year Old and a Collection of Samaroli

Distilled | Iconic Samaroli & Dalmore 62

Samaroli Collection

The sale features an important Italian collection of Samaroli of a magnitude that is truly rare. Silvano Samaroli’s bottles are widely regarded as the greatest whiskies ever produced and as a result they are now extremely scarce. The most valued bottles, such as the Bowmore Bouquet and Laphroaig 67, are rarely seen more than once a year at auction. Comprising 55 bottles, the collection boasts three bottles of Bowmore Bouquet 1966 (estimated at £40,000-55,000 per bottle). The ultimate trophy for whisky collectors, Bowmore Bouquet is considered by many aficionados to be the greatest whisky ever bottled: listed #1 on Whiskybase.com’s list of the Top 1000 Whiskies, it has also received a staggering 98-point score from Serge Valentin, a well-known name on the whisky scene. Other highlights include Laphroaig 1967 (est. £24,000-30,000) and Ardbeg 1976 (est. £5,000-7,000).

The Dalmore 62 Year Old

The Dalmore 62 Year Old is one of the oldest whiskies to have been released from the Dalmore Distillery, with only 12 bottles made available. The sale will present Bottles #2, “The Mackenzie” and Bottle #5, “The Cromarty”, estimated at £75,000-100,000 per bottle.

SPOTLIGHT FALLS ON COMPLETE JAPANESE WHISKY SETS AT BONHAMS HONG KONG SALE IN MAY

 Alongside curated selection for budding whisky collectors

with bidding from US$320

A complete set of Suntory 山崎 Yamazaki and 白州 Hakushu

Vintage Malt 1st Edition-1979-1994 (16 bottles)

Estimate: HK$600,000 – 800,000

The international auction house Bonhams presents a Fine and Rare Wine & Whisky Sale on 16 May 2020 in Hong Kong, featuring a group of exceedingly limited Japanese whisky series – most of them complete – from prestigious and newly-trending distilleries such as Yamazaki, Hanyu, Chichibu and Hakushu.

The demand for Japanese whisky is strong with an average of 90% sell-through rate at Bonhams’ recent sales. In August 2019, Bonhams set a new world auction record for a Japanese whisky series, as Hanyu Ichiro’s Full Card Series sold for HK$7,192,000 to an Asian female collector, nearly doubling the previous record set in 2015, also by Bonhams.

Daniel Lam, Bonhams’ Director of Wine & Spirits, Asia, comments: ‘Collecting by series is often considered the ultimate pursuit for any dedicated whisky collector. It takes a great deal of time and perseverance to acquire each bottle in the market, and therefore when a set is complete, it brings no less joy than a trophy bottle. It is rare that a full series – especially in the case of Japanese whisky – comes onto the market. But when it does, it holds more value than the individual bottle added together, and will surely be hotly-contested.’ 

Highlights of Japanese whisky sets include: 

• Lot 449  A complete set of Suntory 山崎 Yamazaki and 白州 Hakushu Vintage Malt 1st Edition-1979-1994 (16 bottles) (pictured front)

Estimate: HK$600,000 – 800,000
A complete set of first editions in unparalleled condition from two of Suntory’s most sought-after distilleries. Hakushu whisky won the award of The World’s Best Single Malt in 2019; whereas Yamazaki whisky was also awarded the World’s Best Whisky in the 2015 edition of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.

• Lot 475 A complete set of The Ghost Series Japanese Whisky (1st to 12th Edition) (11 bottles) (left above)

Estimate: HK$820,000 – 1,100,000

• Lot 505 A twin set of Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt-Joker ‘Monochrome’ & ‘Colour’ (2 bottles) (left middle)

Estimate: HK$350,000 – $500,000

• The largest group of Chichibu whisky ever offered at auction in Asia, among which ten lots will be sold as sets including:

Lot 594 Chichibu-2012-6 year old-#1487-章魚 and Chichibu-2010-8 year old-#646-金魚 (left right)Estimate: HK$30,000 – 40,000 

Once again, we offer a curated selection of over 50 attractively-estimated Scotch and Japanese whiskies for budding whisky collectors. Ranging from HK$2,500 to HK$15,000, these bottles – all from the most sought-after distilleries – carry estimates lower than the current market price.

From left to right:

• Lot 254 Karuizawa-8 year old (bottled 1990’s Mercian)

Estimate: HK$4,500 – 6,000

• Lot 347 Macallan Speymalt-1973-30 year old

Estimate: HK$13,000 – 18,000

• Lot 671 Mars Shinshu-The Lucky Cat set (5 bottles)

Estimate: HK$10,000 – 14,000

• Lot 319 Chichibu-2019-#5821-Mount Bukō 武甲山

Estimate: HK$7,000 – 9,000

Other auction highlights include:

Whisky (from left to right)

• Lot 635 Karuizawa-1969-50 year old-#539-白命の水

Estimate: HK$360,000 – 450,000

• Lot 439 響 Hibiki ceramic-35 year old-人間国宝 三代徳田八十吉作 〈耀彩瓶　碧陽〉

Estimate: HK$180,000 – 240,000

• Lot 496 Dalmore-1926-50 year old

Estimate: HK$200,000 – 260,000

• Lot 493 Macallan Millennium Decanter

Estimate: HK$340,000 – 400,000

• Lot 459 Bowmore-1961-50 year old

Estimate: HK$360,000 – 460,000

• Lot 458 Bowmore Queen’s Cask-1980-21 year old

Estimate: HK$150,000 – 190,000

At the moment, this sale is planned to be conducted live behind closed doors. An auctioneer will be present on the rostrum, and bids will be accepted in the following formats: online, on the telephone with a member of client services, or by leaving an absentee bid. All bidding will be done remotely in accordance with government guidelines. Our specialists are also working remotely and are available to assist clients by email, telephone or social media platforms.

Fine & Rare Wine and Whisky 16 May 2020 Online catalogue HERE

Specialist: Daniel Lam, Bonhams’ Director of Wine & Spirits, Asia

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. bonhams.com

SCOTCH GALORE CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

We would like to announce that working alongside UPS we will be able to continue trading during these uncertain and trying times by offering our customers the ability to sell their Whisky 24/7 365 days per year at a price you want online at Scotch Galore. This is achieved with UPS doing a collection service on our behalf i.e. you simply contact us at info@scotchgalore.com we then arrange for UPS to come to your home, pick up your whisky and return it to Scotch Galore where we will list it online @ https://www.scotchgalore.com for you. We offer quick and speedy money in your account within 48 hours after your bottle sells. So what you waiting for drop us an email and remember FIX the price you want #DontGambleYourBottle

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.

ABOUT SOTHEBY’S

Sotheby’s has been uniting collectors with world-class works of art since 1744. Sotheby’s became the first international auction house when it expanded from London to New York (1955), the first to conduct sales in Hong Kong (1973), India (1992) and France (2001), and the first international fine art auction house in China (2012). Today, Sotheby’s has a global network of 80 offices in 40 countries and presents auctions in 10 different salesrooms, including New York, London, Hong Kong and Paris. Sotheby’s offers collectors the resources of Sotheby’s Financial Services, the world’s only full-service art financing company, as well as the collection, artist, estate & foundation advisory services of its subsidiary, Art Agency, Partners. Sotheby’s also presents private sale opportunities in more than 70 categories, including S|2, the gallery arm of Sotheby’s Global Fine Art Division, and three retail businesses: Sotheby’s Wine, Sotheby’s Diamonds, and Sotheby’s Home, the online marketplace for interior design.

Our April auction is now LIVE!

Place your bids from Friday 17^th April until Sunday 26^th April at

www.whiskyhammer.co.uk

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 – 35 Year Old (1988) Mizunara

Karuizawa – 35 Year Old (1981) Fazzino

Macallan – 1956

Cask sales – Bunnahabhain (1989), Craigellachie (2008) & MacDuff (2009)

Buffalo Trace (1993) Old Fashioned Copper

3 x Charity bottles to support NHS Grampian during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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