Our April 2026 Auction is now LIVE!

Place your bids from 7pm (GMT) Friday 17^th April until 7pm (GMT) Sunday 26th April.

www.whiskyhammer.com

Every month, we present an incredible selection of whiskies 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!

Port Ellen – 37 Year Old (1981) Casks Of Distinction #1297

Glenlivet – 21 Year Old (1963) For The Chairman

Laphroaig – 1976 Vintage (75cl)

Talisker – 8 Year Old (1970s) 75cl

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.com.

APRIL 2026 AUCTION NOW LIVE!

As the clocks spring forward and longer days return, our April auction arrives with fresh energy and some interesting bottlings, including this Macallan 25 Years Old Anniversary Malt. First released in 1983, these now highly collectible bottlings were originally marketed as celebratory whiskies, ideal for marking milestones such as birthdays and anniversaries. Early editions carried vintage years, beginning with 1957, with subsequent releases spanning the following decades.

Though once widely available, the Anniversary Malt has since become a prized collector’s item, revered by enthusiasts and experts alike as a standout from a golden era of Macallan production.

Or how about this Clynelish Manager’s Dram, a sought-after example from the long-running series of distillery-exclusive releases for Diageo staff, this expression showcases the tradition of selecting only the finest casks each year. Distilled at Clynelish, matured for 17 years and bottled at natural cask strength in 1998, it offers rarity, provenance and exceptional character in limited numbers.

Released in 2004, this exceptional 33-year-old Glendronach was the oldest expression from the distillery at the time. Distilled in 1971 and matured in the finest Oloroso sherry casks, it has earned widespread acclaim, including praise from Jim Murray, who described it as “a nugget of a dram,” along with gold medals at both the San Francisco World Spirits Awards and the Malt Maniacs Awards.

A selection of old and rare miniature whiskies features in this month’s auction, offering collectors and enthusiasts the chance to explore exceptional drams in compact form. Spanning a variety of distilleries, ages and styles, these miniatures combine rarity and charm, with many long discontinued and seldom seen on the market—perfect for both display and discovery.

Just a taste of the old, limited, and highly collectible bottles featured in our April auction—there are plenty more hidden gems waiting to be uncovered. Head to clickwhiskyauctions.com to explore the full auction and register to bid. Don’t miss your chance—if you’re not in, you can’t win. Auction closes Sunday 19th April from 8pm BST.

Our collection schedule for April 2026 has now been finalised. In addition to our usual routes this month we will be covering the south west of England and ferries permitting, Orkney. If you would like a collection in Orkney or North of Inverness please get in touch as soon as possible as this collection will take place on Wednesday 8th – Orkney and Thursday 9th April – mainland, north of Inverness.

Please complete the form to  register your interest in our free collection service.

The deadline for collection requests is 12noon on Monday 13th April 2026.

Home collections are available for those customers sending 10+ bottles or bottles to the value of £1000. Lots can be split over the next three auctions.

Unfortunately this service is not available in London. Although we do have four collection points in London.

Collections are limited and offered on a first come first served basis.

It is essential that a submission sheet is completed, you can find the link to do so under the selling section on your ‘My SWA’ page.

It would be appreciated if bottles could be packed for uplift with your name clearly marked on the front of the box.

A winner in our auction? We are now offering a delivery service to customers who are dropping bottles off for a future auction. This service is charged at £12 (inc. VAT), optional loss and breakage cover is available.

Through Glasgow’s seemingly interminable rain, hail and gale we can offer this little ray of sunshine, our 178th auction is now live!  We have some really amazing drams in this month running the whole gamut of the whisky world.  With so much to choose from we have picked out a few highlights to get your watchlist moving.

All the way from the land of the rising sun, by way of France, comes this fantastic dram the Karuizawa 1965 50 Year Old Single Cask #8636 for La Maison du Whisky.  While not the oldest Karuizawa ever released this beauty isn’t far off, being distilled in 1965 and spending a frankly astonishing 50 years in cask before being bottled by French whisky specialists La Maison du Whisky.

Next up we have an unusual bottle from much closer to home, this is the Springbank Christmas 2011 Local Barley Private Shareholder Bottling.  While this bottling doesn’t have the jaw-dropping vintage of our last highlight it is almost certainly just as rare.  One of only 66 bottles released to private shareholders this one is, in the parlance of our times, rare as hen’s teeth.

This Midleton 30th Anniversary Pearl Edition was released to celebrate 30 years of Irish distilling giant Midleton’s ‘Very Rare’ range.   A blend of one pot still whisky and one grain whisky, it was then married in a 4th fill bourbon barrel.  The rather hefty and beautifully crafted presentation box also houses a little sample bottle, always a welcome addition to any lot.

Finally, we have another thoroughly aged dram bringing up the rear, this is the Glenlossie 1975 50 Year Old Kingsbury.  As if Glenlossie bottles weren’t rare enough, this 50 year old must be up there with the oldest Glenlossie ever bottled and is one of only 107 bottles released.  We have a number of excellent Kingsbury releases in this month so be sure to check them out.As always we have an enormous selection of drams to suit every budget on offer this month, so now is the time to delve into this month’s offerings and start building that watchlist.

Best of luck to everyone in the auction, and as always………..don’t lose your bottle.

We have also made some changes to our privacy policy this month which can be found here.

Our March 2026 Auction ENDS TONIGHT!

Place your bids until 7pm (GMT) Sunday 22nd MARCH 2026.

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 – 52 Year Old (1946) Select Reserve

Highland Park – 42 Year Old (1967) John Scott’s

Glen Ord – 1969 (Celebratory Whisky) 25th Anniversary Maltings (75cl)

Karuizawa – 1994 (Single Cask #2221) Ichiro’s Choice

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.com.

Iron Gate Auctions in Canada

March 23 – 30, 2026

https://bid.irongateauctions.com/

Iron Gate is hosting its second Spirits Auction of the year, offering yet another impressive selection of fine spirits. The catalogue includes bespoke whiskies from closed distilleries like Karuizawa, Port Ellen, Brora, and Ladyburn. More than 20 cases (6 identical bottles/lot) of Scotch whisky ready for your next club gathering.  Auction starts Monday March 23rd and ends a week later March 30^th.

If outside Canada, contact Ajay Bhardwaj, Vice-President of Spirits at Iron Gate to see how you can participate in the upcoming auction. ajay@irongate.wine

MARCH 2026 AUCTION NOW LIVE!

Spring is in the air, and while this month’s auction may be small in size, it’s certainly big in character—packed with fascinating bottles. Released in 2010 to mark the opening of The Whisky Lounge at The Vintners Rooms within The Vaults in Leith, Edinburgh, this rare commemorative bottling of Macallan was produced in an edition of just 250 bottles!

Or, how about this Lagavulin 11 Years Old Manager’s Dram. The Manager’s Dram series has long been one of the most coveted insider releases from the distilleries within the Diageo portfolio. Traditionally reserved for distillery staff, each annual edition is drawn from a single distillery, with the distillery manager selecting exceptional casks to create that year’s bottling. Produced in very limited quantities and presented at natural cask strength, these releases are highly prized by collectors.This example was distilled at Lagavulin, matured for 11 years and bottled at cask strength in 2013.

Glenfiddich’s 2021 collaboration with luxury retailer Mr Porter; Matured in a combination of ex-European sherry casks, ex-bourbon casks and new American oak before being married to create this distinctive limited edition expression. A collectible release limited to just 1,500 bottles worldwide!

Released in 1997 to celebrate the centenary of Aultmore Distillery, this rare commemorative bottling was produced to mark 100 years since the distillery’s founding. The label uniquely lists the staff working at the distillery at the time of its centenary, making it a particularly personal and collectible release. Distilled in 1981 and matured for 16 years in cask #2508, it was bottled at natural cask strength in 1997. Bottle number 9.

These are only a few of the old, limited and collectable bottles featured in our March auction, to view more wee gems visit clickwhiskyauctions.com. Register to bid. Remember, you’ve got to be in it to win it! Auction ends Sunday 22^nd March from 8pm GMT.

This month we will include a visit to Orkney the full collection schedule and request form is available HERE . Please complete the form to  register your interest in our free collection service.

The deadline for collection requests is 12noon on Monday 9th March 2026.

Home collections are available for those customers sending 10+ bottles or bottles to the value of £1000. Lots can be split over the next three auctions.  Unfortunately this service is not available in London. Although we do have four collection points in London.

Collections are limited and offered on a first come first served basis. It is essential that a submission sheet is completed, you can find the link to do so under the selling section on your ‘My SWA’ page. It would be appreciated if bottles could be packed for uplift with your name clearly marked on the front of the box.

A winner in our auction? We are now offering a delivery service to customers who are dropping bottles off for a future auction. This service is charged at £12 (inc. VAT), optional loss and breakage cover is available.

New York, February – Sotheby’s annual Wine & Spirits sales (auction and private) in 2025 totalled $127.5 million, a rise of nearly 12% on 2024. This marks the fourth-highest annual total for the category since the department’s launch at Sotheby’s in 1970, highlighting the continued strength and international reach of the Wine & Spirits business and positioning Sotheby’s as one of the global leaders in Wine and Spirits auctions.

“Our 2025 results underscore the strength and momentum of Sotheby’s Wine & Spirits business. Achieving $127.5 million in sales across auctions and private transactions reflects not only the resilience of the fine wine and spirits market, but also the continued confidence collectors place in Sotheby’s to steward the world’s most important cellars and collections. This success has been driven by a truly international buyer base, strong growth in new collectors, and our depth of expertise in presenting landmark single-owner collections. We are equally proud of the role we continue to play in prestigious charity auctions around the world.

Nick Pegna, Global Head of Sotheby’s Wine & Spirits

Key Takeaways

• Over the last decade total sales have more than doubled from $47 million in 2015 to $127.5 million in 2025
• Total number of auctions: 69 across eight selling centres
• Growth in new buyers: 35% new to Sotheby’s
• Geographic distribution of buyers: 34% EMEA / 33% Americas / 32% Asia – a near-equal split highlighting a uniquely balanced global buyer base, underscoring the resilience of the fine wine and spirits market and Sotheby’s ability to generate demand across all major regions
• The global interest in wine and spirits has reached unprecedented levels, with bidders from a record 63 countries participating in auctions, highlighting the strength and reach of Sotheby’s global collector base and reshaping global market dynamics

By Region

For the second consecutive year, New York outperformed Hong Kong as our top-selling location, achieving its second-highest total sales to date. Alongside this, Sotheby’s reaffirmed its position as the market leader in Europe, which represented our strongest region globally. This performance was driven by robust results across France and the UK.

At the same time, we expanded our sales operations into Japan and Switzerland through the establishment of dedicated, full-time local teams and a permanent physical presence in both markets strengthening our global footprint and client proximity.

Regional breakdown:

• USA: $37.3 million
• Asia: $33.5 million
• Europe: $56.7 million
• UK: $21.3 million
• France: $35.4 million

• Spirits: $21.5 Million (31% of buyers new to Sotheby’s)
  • The most valuable bottle of spirits sold globally was at Sotheby’s
  • Four out of the top five spirits sold globally were at Sotheby’s
  • Seven out of the top ten spirits sold globally were at Sotheby’s
  • For the sixth consecutive year, the top lot globally within Sotheby’s Wine & Spirits division was a spirit

Selection of Valuable Lots Sold

• The Glenlivet SPIRA 60 Year Old 1965 (1 Bottle 1.5L), $864,825  – Edinburgh, 10 October
• The Glen Grant Eternal 77 Year Old 1948 (1 Bottle 1.5L), $532,200 – Edinburgh, 10 October
• Port Ellen Prism 46 Year Old 1978 (1 Bottle 1.5L + 1 Sample 10cl + EXP), $498,938 – Edinburgh, 10 October
• Ladyburn One of One 2025 Marilyn Monroe by Sam Shaw 58 Year Old 1966 (1 Bottle 70cl), $299,363 – Edinburgh, 10 October

The trusted auction house for prestigious charity and fundraising auctions

• In October, The Distillers One of One® hosted its third biennial Charity Auction in partnership with Sotheby’s, at the historic Hopetoun House near Edinburgh. Comprising a selection of 39 ultra-rare Scotch whiskies, from 35 companies and distilleries across Scotland, the auction brought an outstanding total of £2.9 million / $3.9 million (a hammer total of £2.3 million / $3.1 million), smashing the pre-sale estimate. Since its inaugural event in 2021, The Distillers One of One Auction has cemented its place as the world’s preeminent charity auction dedicated to rare Scotch whisky, with 100% of hammer proceeds donated to charitable causes. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of donors and collectors worldwide, the auctions have now raised £6.6 million to date, principally directed to the Youth Action Fund.

Partnerships with Leading Distilleries

• Sotheby’s x Bowmore (Bowmore Arc-54 The Iridos Edition, sold for £112,500 / $149,715)
• Sotheby’s x The Glenlivet (The Glenlivet 56 Year Old 1 of 1, sold for £62,500 / $81,388)
• Sotheby’s x The Macallan (The Macallan Distil Your World Mexico Single Cask Edition 2005, sold for $81,250)
• Sotheby’s x The Dalmore (The Dalmore 52 Year Old Luminary No.3 – The Rare, sold for HK$500,000 / $64,470)

The result ranks as the fourth-highest annual total for the category since the department’s founding at Sotheby’s in 1970, with higher totals recorded only in 2023 ($159m), 2022 ($150m), and 2021 ($132m).

About Sotheby’s

Established in 1744, Sotheby’s promotes access and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through auctions, private sales and retail. Our deep expertise across 70 selling categories is supported by a leading technology platform and a global network of specialists spanning 40 countries. Selling categories include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits and Design, as well as collectible cars and real estate through RM Sotheby’s and Concierge. Sotheby’s Financial Services is a leading art lender and provides capital solutions for collectors around the world, having originated more than $12 billion in loans since its inception. Sotheby’s new global headquarters is now open at the iconic Breuer building at 945 Madison Avenue in New York City.

*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium. Prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium and are net of any fees paid to the purchaser where the purchaser provided an irrevocable bid.

Stream live auctions and place bids in real time, discover the value of a work of art, browse sale catalogues, view original content and more at sothebys.com, and by downloading Sotheby’s apps for iOS and Android.

Welcome one and all to our now live 177th auction! We have thousands of high-quality drams to choose from this month, so fear not we’ll get that drinks cabinet restocked in no time after the carnage of Christmas. To get you on your way we have picked out a few special expressions to get your watchlists started.

Littlemill Testament to the Past with Matching Mini 5cl

First up is a dram so rare this is the first time we have auctioned it in 177 auctions, this is the inimitable Littlemill Testament to the Past with Matching Mini 5cl. Only 250 bottles of this 44 year old Testament Release were created. Each one is housed in a hand-blown decanter and accompanied by a dress stopper made from natural sandstone rescued from the remains of the distillery. Not only that, the matching mini gives the buyer the chance to sample the goods while still retaining the full bottle.

Highland Park 50 Year Old 2020 Release

Now for something special from the far north, this is the Highland Park 50 Year Old 2020 Release. This incredible dram began life as a marriage of nine refill casks which were first laid down in 1968. After ageing for nearly four decades they were matured for a further 12 years in first fill sherry casks. And to top it all off the resulting whisky was then married with some of the 2018 50 year old which had been kept back specifically for this purpose. If this deliciously convoluted dram doesn’t float your boat then I don’t know what will.

Glenturret 30 Year Old

While the good folks at Glenturret have been quietly reinventing themselves as a high-end luxury dram and destination (not one, but two Michelin stars thank you very much) since they were purchased by the Lalique Group in 2019, this Glenturret 30 Year Old serves as a reminder that their output has always been really rather good. A great way to taste a well-aged classic for a fraction of the cost of the current iteration of their 30 year old.

Macallan Fine and Rare 1949 53 Year Old

Our final bottle needs little introduction, this is the Macallan Fine and Rare 1949 53 Year Old. A bottle of timeless grace and sophistication, this unfussy gem from one of Scotland’s most celebrated (and collectable) distilleries. There were 57 vintages released in the ‘Fine and Rare’ collection, with this 53 year old having been distilled in 1949 before finally being released in 2002. Ever popular with collectors and drinkers alike, the Macallan juggernaut shows no signs of stopping.

As always we have an enormous selection of drams to suit every budget on offer this month, so now is the time to delve into this month’s offerings and start building that watchlist.

Best of luck to everyone in the auction, and as always………..don’t lose your bottle.