Our April Auction ENDS SOON!

Place your bids until Sunday 24^th April.

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

Macallan – 1988 (Refill Butt) Cask

Yamazaki – 25 Year Old

Macallan – 25 Year Old (1965) Tudor Crystal Decanter

Brora – 40 Year Old (1978 Year Old) 200^th Anniversary

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.

BONHAMS TO OFFER THE RAREST OF FINE JAPANESE WHISKY: YAMAZAKI 50-YEAR-OLD FIRST RELEASE

From left) Yamazaki 55-Year-Old. Estimate: HK$4,000,000-5,000,000. Yamazaki 50-Year-Old First Release Estimate: HK$3,500,000-4,500,000. Yamazaki 35-Year-Old. Estimate: HK$1,000,000-1,300,000.

The Yamazaki 50-Year-Old First Release is considered the king of Japanese whisky for many reasons. In 2005 when it first hit the market, it was the oldest edition ever produced by the famed Yamazaki distillery. There were only 50 bottles from the first release, many of which ended up in local whisky bars within Japan, where bottles after bottles were opened and enjoyed over the years. After breaking the auction record twice in 2018 and 2019, the Yamazaki 50-Year-Old First Release has now become the rarest of fine Japanese whisky, with what is believed to be no more than a dozen of them still existing in the market. An outstanding example of this ultra-rare whisky will be offered at Bonhams Fine and Rare Whisky Sale in Hong Kong on 20 May 2022. It has an estimate of HK$3,500,000-4,500,000.

Yamazaki distillery, founded in 1923 by Shinjiro Torii, was Japan’s first commercial whisky distillery. There is a total of three editions of 50-year-old Yamazaki. The first edition was bottled in 2005, the second in 2007 and the third in 2011.

Yamazaki 50-Year-Old First Release Estimate: HK$3,500,000-4,500,000.

Christopher Pong, Head of Sale at Bonhams Wine and Whisky Department, commented: “The first edition of Yamazaki 50-Year-Old is always eagerly sought after by collectors. I am expecting a lot of interest.”

The Yamazaki 50-Year-Old First Release is now the second-oldest expression by the distillery, just after the 55-Year-Old released – in 100 bottles – and set the new auction record for a single bottle of Japanese whisky at Bonhams in 2020 for HK$6,200,000. Another bottle of Yamazaki 55-Year-Old, including a miniature 50ml sample, will be offered in the May sale, with an estimate of HK$4,000,000-5,000,000.

Apart from Japanese whisky, the sale also spotlights an eclectic Scotch collection from one of Asia’s leading whisky collectors – Aaron Chan. Also the owner of the eminent Club Qing which has for years served as a destination whisky bar of Asia, Aaron from Hong Kong is now offering his personal collection of Scotch whisky in more than 220 lots. This is considered to be the most eclectic and extensive single-owner collection of old and rare Scotch to come to the market. Highlights include: 

Bowmore 1955 in Ceramic Jug. One of the most iconic Bowmore with only 100 half-bottles ever produced. Estimate: HK$150,000-200,000

Tormore Samaroli-1966. An ultra-rare and prestigious sherry-wooded whisky from the legendary Italian bottler. Estimate: HK$180,000-250,000

Laphroaig Osteria Apostoli-1970-#4367. Arguably the best Laphroaig ever produced. Estimate: HK$180,000-250,000

Christopher Pong commented: “Bonhams’ long-standing rapport with Aaron Chan is founded on our shared vision to develop whisky collecting in Asia. After a momentous sale of Club Qing’s Hanyu Full Card Series in 2020, which set a new auction record for a collection of Japanese whisky, Aaron has now consigned with us his personal Scotch collection, offering many old bottlings from 1950s through the 60s, all in pristine condition. It is rare to have a private Asian Scotch collection to come to the global market, and this is surely one to watch out for.” 

Fine and Rare Whisky, Featuring Aaron Chan’s Spectacular Scotch Whisky Collection

20 May 2022Bonhams Hong Kong, 20/F, One Pacific Place, Admiralty.

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and collectables, motor cars and a luxury division, including jewellery, watches, wine and whisky. The main salerooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 53 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com

“Forgotten” Macallan cask expected to fetch world-record price

A rare “forgotten” cask of Macallan 1988, bought for just £5,000, is expected to set a world record price as it opens for bids on specialist whisky auction site, Whisky Hammer.

Originally filled on 5^th May 1988, the 374 litre refill butt has been held in bond at The Macallan Distillery for almost 34 years and is expected to break the record set in 2021 by Bonham’s for the sale of a 30-year-old re-racked Sherry hogshead from Macallan, which fetched $574,000. The ongoing Whisky Hammer April auction, which includes more than 2,000 lots, is live until Sunday 24^th April at 7pm (BST).

The Macallan cask seller, an ex-pat who bought the cask on a whim over three decades ago, had forgotten about it until reminded by Macallan that it remained maturing in the warehouse.

Bids for the incredibly rare cask have already reached $170,000 since the auction went live, with prices expected to soar in the coming days. The team at Whisky Hammer anticipates a global bidding war for the rare cask which, if bottled today, would yield 534 x 70cl bottles of 33 year old Macallan.

Daniel Milne, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Whisky Hammer, said: “Casks of this age and size are extremely rare, especially from The Macallan. This is, without doubt, one of the most exciting casks we’ve seen come to auction in recent years and we expect it to set a new world record by the time the auction closes on Sunday.”

For further information or to register interest, visit whiskyhammer.com

Notes

Whisky Hammer is a family run whisky auction service founded by brothers and keen whisky enthusiasts Daniel and Craig Milne, who are supported by a team of passionate experts acting as trusted advisors to both buyers and sellers.

Whisky Hammer’s monthly auctions bring a range of desirable, rare and collectable bottles to market for buyers, alongside offering a hassle-free premium service for those looking to sell. As a truly global auctioneer with offices in the UK and Hong Kong, Whisky Hammer can deliver whisky and represent sellers worldwide, investing heavily in the safest warehouses on the market to store prized bottles appearing at auction.

The superior service offered by Whisky Hammer means it is trusted by some of the world’s most prominent whisky collectors and sellers, with a 5-star TrustPilot rating.

For more information, visit whiskyhammer.com.

Our April auction is now LIVE!

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

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

Macallan – 1988 (Refill Butt) Cask

Yamazaki – 25 Year Old

Macallan – 25 Year Old (1965) Tudor Crystal Decanter

Brora – 40 Year Old (1978 Year Old) 200^th Anniversary

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.

PREVIEW OUR
NEXT AUCTION
NOW

Miniature and memorabilia auction starts Sunday 17 April 2022

Preview The Auction

EXTREMELY RARE BLACK BOWMORE ASTON MARTIN DB5-31 YEAR OLD EXCELS AT BONHAMS WHISKYSALE

View the catalogue: Bonhams : The Old, the Rare and the Only an extraordinary single owner collection of Whisky Part 1

Black Bowmore Aston Martin DB5-31 year old-1964 sold for £115,900

London – An extremely rare bottle of Black Bowmore Aston Martin DB5-31 year old-1964 sold for £115,900 at The Old, The Rare and The Only: an extraordinary single-owner collection of rare Whisky sale Part 1 at Bonhams in London on Wednesday 13 April. It had been estimated at £75,000-85,000. 

Diego Lanza, Bonhams Senior Whisky specialist in London said: “Decanter 19 out of only 27, this legendary Bowmore vintage was first bottled in 1995. Renowned for its unparalleled taste, it was re-bottled in 2020 and presented in a decanter that incorporates a genuine Aston Martin DB5 piston.”

The bottle featured in one of the most exciting and comprehensive collections of rare Whisky to appear on the market for many years. The private single-owner collection took more than 20 years to assemble and included some of the most desirable and rarest bottles ever to appear at auction. Part II of the sale will take place on Wednesday 8th June and will offer a further selection of some of the rarest and most desirable bottles of single malt Whiskies.

Other highlights of the 13 April sale included:

• The Macallan Anecdotes of Ages-1967. The third collaboration between the Speyside distillery and world-famous pop artist, Sir Peter Blake, was designed to celebrate The Macallan’s long history and Sir Peter’s prestigious career. Each bottle bears a label with artwork by Sir Peter, which is a replica of the label on the bottle held in The Macallan archives. Sold for £42,700 (estimate: £35,000-40,000).

• Ardbeg Double Barrel-1974. Two bottles from a limited edition of 250 pairs. Presented in an original bespoke leather-bound gun case made by Purdey & Sons, the pair come with eight engraved sterling silver drinking cups. Sold for £23,180 (estimate £20,000-25,000).

• The Balvenie-50 year old. A marriage of five fifty-year-old casks hand selected by Malt Master David Stewart, The Balvenie Distillery. Bottled on 23/04/2019, it comes in an original handcrafted wooden presentation case by Sam Chinnery. Sold for £19,250 (estimate: £18,000-20,000).

• Mortlach-75 year old-1939. The Generations range by Gordon & MacPhail, showcases some of the longest-matured Scotch whisky ever bottled.  This 75-year-old Mortlach was the third release in the series. Bottled in 2014 from a single First-Fill Sherry Butt, it was filled in November 1939, just two months into World War II. Sold for £18,300 (estimate: £15,000-18,000).

• Glenfarclas 60-year-old. Bottled 2014, it was one of 360 bottles. Sold for £15,860 (estimate: £14,000-16,000).

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and collectables, motor cars and a luxury division, including jewellery, watches, wine and whisky. The main salerooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 53 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com

Prestige Whisky Auction is a family business set up and owned by Andrew and Nicola Loan. Founded on their expertise gained as successful investors in the ever-popular Scotch Whisky market, Prestige Whisky Auction benefits from their extensive industry knowledge and contacts gained from trading prestigious whiskies from all over the world.

Prestigewhiskyauction.com was a custom-built website which was meticulously designed by the couple to ensure it lived up to its prestigious name.

Each monthly auction, held online and lasting for around seven days, brings a large variety of rare and exclusive whiskies to their global customer base.

Andrew and Nicola have bought whisky from many outlets and felt that they could bring the personal service, transparent pricing and selection that the market demands.

Prestige Whisky Auction are very particular about the service they provide, believing that offering a personal service at an outstanding level is paramount. To accompany this belief, they offer an exclusive personal collection service for bottles which are to be auctioned. Customers can also take advantage of this service and arrange a bespoke white-glove delivery for high value orders.

Each auction includes whiskies from many prestigious distilleries including Macallan, Bowmore, Yamazaki and many more.

If you are thinking of selling your whisky but are unsure what it is worth, Prestige Whisky Auction offer a free no-obligation valuation service regardless of whether you have one bottle, a large collection or even a cask to sell.

Likewise, if you are looking to start a collection or add to an existing investment portfolio, whether you prefer Islay or Speyside whiskies, there is something for all whisky lovers.

Registering to become a member is quick and simple with a one-off lifetime membership costing only £6.

Their upcoming auction begins at 8pm on Friday 29^th April 2022. If you would like to enter any bottles into this auction then why not take advantage of their free UK collection service, and zero sellers’ commission. Listing fees are just £3 + VAT with optional reserve fee of £4 + VAT.

The whisky industry is a small yet amazingly interesting world and the possibilities are endless, let Prestige Whisky Auction be part of your whisky journey.

Find out more at Prestigewhiskyauction.com

The Grand Whisky Auction Ends Soon!

(Auction Ends April 11th, 2022)

www.thegrandwhiskyauction.com/live-auction

2000+ lots to browse and bid on!

Interested in selling whisky in our next auction?

T. +44 (0)1463 210 427

E.  sales@thegrandwhiskyauction.com

WHISKY AUCTION

NOW LIVE!

Bid now on the greatest ever whiskies .
Auction ends Tuesday 12 April.
Get bidding and good luck!

Watch Our Live Auction

IRISH WHISKEY REACHES NEW HEIGHTS AT AUCTION

Two of Ireland’s oldest bottles of whiskey sell for record prices

2020-released Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery 45 Year Old Single Malt fetches a new high for Irish whiskey of €48,000…

…as the hammer comes down on 2021’s edition – an exceptional 46-year-old single pot still Irish whiskey distilled in 1973 in the signature style of Old Midleton Distillery – for €46,000

Irish whiskey continues its march to the highest levels of desirability among private collectors, with two rare bottles of Midleton Very Rare selling at auction for a combined €94,000.

The history-making whiskeys – put up for sale by private collectors – were sold separately at auction on Sunday 21^st March, with both lots coming from the ultra-prestigious Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection, which has received worldwide acclaim since its first releases in 2020 and 2021.

The first – a 2020 bottling of Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Chapter One, a 45-year-old Irish single malt from the Old Midleton Distillery which operated for 150 years from 1825-1975 – fetched a record hammer price of €48,000 (€50,952 including fees), the highest price paid for an Irish whiskey at public auction. One of just 48 bottles unveiled two years ago for sale in Ireland, UK, France and US, Chapter One commanded a selling price at launch of €35,000 per bottle (750ml).

The second – a bottle of the 2021-released Chapter Two, an exceptional 46-year-old single pot still Irish whiskey distilled in 1973 in the signature style of Old Midleton – sold for €46,000 (€48,829 including fees). At launch, 70 bottles were made available for sale in Ireland, UK, Global Travel Retail, US, and France at a price per bottle (750ml) of €40,000.

It is not the first time that Irish whiskey auction site www.IrishWhiskeyAuctions.com has made history with Midleton Very Rare. In March 2020, it sold a bottle of Chapter One for €42,000 (€44,583 including fees), at the time making it the world’s most expensive Irish Whiskey ever sold.

“Irish Whiskey now has bottles that are comparable to the bottles of Scotch and Japanese whiskies that command ultra- premium prices on the world stage,” explains Anthony Sheehy, Founder & Owner of www.IrishWhiskeyAuctions.com. “It is something that we should be shouting from the roof tops to show the fantastic growth and interest that exists for Premium Irish Whiskey.”

The new record sales come as the third chapter of Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection is expected to be released, in what will eventually be a six-chapter Collection that is ushering in a new era for ultra-rare luxury Irish whiskey.

The whiskey maker has previously revealed there will be one release each year from 2020 until 2025, ranging in age from 45 to 50 years old, all from the legendary Old Midleton Distillery. The Collection will culminate in 2025 with the oldest ever release to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the Old Midleton Distillery.

Every month Irish Whiskey Auctions have charity lots which are donated by members of the whiskey community of Ireland to help raise much needed funds for local and national charities. Adding to the excitement of the March auction, Irish Distillers donated Bottle Number 1 from its recent Midleton Very Rare 2022 vintage release for a special charity lot, raising €11,220 for The Capuchin Day Centre, Bow Street, Dublin. Bottle Number 1 from the annual vintage release has never been available to the public in the whole 38 years of production.

Notes 

Irish Whiskey Auctions was founded in 2018 by Dundalk couple Anthony & Katie Sheehy and since then has become Ireland’s premier Whiskey Auction Website. Holding a Monthly Online Auction lasting 9 days the business has gone from strength to strength and now employs 5 people in addition to the company founders. They have had 38 online auctions including 3 dedicated memorabilia auctions. Their first charity item on the site was in 2018 to raise money for ‘The Zoe Murphy Appeal’, a local charity in Dundalk which raised €2,222.

This kind gesture inspired the couple to try and have a charity item each auction going forward. This idea was so well received by the whiskey community that on many occasions some auctions had more than one charity item. To date Irish Whiskey Auctions has helped raise in excess of €50,000 for various charities.