The Grand Whisky Auction is…LIVE!
3550+ lots to bid on…including this 68 YO Macallan!
Interested in selling whisky in our next auction?
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BOWMORE-35 YEAR OLD-1964 TOPS BONHAM
BOWMORE-35 YEAR OLD-1964 TOPS BONHAMS EDINBURGH WHISKY SALE
View the catalogue and full list of results: Bonhams : Whisky Sale
Bowmore-35 year old-1964. Sold for £19,642.
A bottle of Bowmore-35 year old-1964 was the top selling lot at Bonhams Whisky sale in Edinburgh on Tuesday 1 June. Distilled and bottled by Morrison’s Bowmore Distillery, it was bottle number 26 of 99 from cask 3709. It sold for £19,642 having been estimated at £10,000-14,000.
Other highlights included:
• The Macallan Select Reserve-52 year old-1946. Distilled and bottled by The Macallan Distillers Ltd this was bottle number 1053, was accompanied by a Certificate of Guarantee, and came in a wooden presentation case. Sold for £14,640. Estimate: £10,000-14,000.
• Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt-Two of Diamonds. One of the 54 bottles in the famous Full Card Series from the tiny Hanyu distillery which closed in 2000. Sold for £14,640. Estimate: £12,000-15,000.
• Bowmore-38 year old-1957. Bottle number 264 of 861 it was distilled and bottled by Morrison’s Bowmore Distillery. Sold for £10,980. Estimate: £10,000-12,000.
Sale: Whisky
Location: 22 Queen Street Edinburgh
Date: Tuesday 1 June at 11.00
Link to catalogue and full list of results: Bonhams : Whisky Sale
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
For this month only, you have the option to purchase, on a ‘buy it now’ basis, a bottle of Glenfarclas 1991 30 year old. EXCLUSIVE FROM US it’s from a 2nd fill Hogshead and rich in colour. We’ve had a little swig of the stuff and believe us, it’s a cracker! You’ll have to be quick though as there are only 539 bottles produced with many already sold. Once they’re gone, they’re gone!
Grab one whilst stocks last and please note there is ZERO BUYERS PREMIUM on these bottles! It’s an absolute BARGAIN!
Karuizawa 52 Year Old Strong Eagle Cask #5627 1960, est. £240,000-450,000 &
Exceptional Selection of Japanese Whiskies,
Including the Oldest Whisky to be Released by the Karuizawa Distillery
Lead Sotheby’s Sale of Extraordinary Spirits from Asia & Scotland
OPEN FOR BIDDING: 2 – 18 JUNE 2021
LONDON, 2 June 2021 – Bidding opens today on Sotheby’s sale of Rare Whisky & Moutai | Extraordinary Spirits from Asia & Scotland, featuring some of the rarest whiskies ever to come to auction.
An exceptional selection of Japanese whiskies from Yamazaki, Hibiki, Hanyu and Saburomaru are led by a collection of 32 bottles of Karuizawa, all from a single collection known as The Unbeatable Collection of Karuizawa. Most notable is the Karuizawa Cask #5267 1960, formerly the world’s most valuable Japanese whisky when a bottle sold at Sotheby’s in March 2020 for £363,000 ($435,273). This is the first time a bottle from this cask has been seen at auction since that record was set (est. £240,000-450,000).
The Scotch Whisky in the sale is headlined by two outstanding bottles distilled at Bowmore Distillery on Islay. Both were distilled in the 1960s, a key era in the history of production at Bowmore, and one which is revered amongst whisky enthusiasts and collectors.
Bowmore Samaroli Bouquet 1966 is considered to be one of the greatest whiskies of all time. Distilled in 1966 at Bowmore and bottled around 18 years later in 1984 by the late Silvano Samaroli, this bottle has gone on to become a cult classic (est. £35,000-48,000). Sotheby’s currently holds the record for this bottle, setting a price of £72,600 in October 2019.
At the other end of the age spectrum, the Bowmore 50 Year Old Number 1 Vaults 1966 is a long-aged expression from the same vintage (est. £26,000-35,000). Bottled in 2017, only 74 bottles were produced, making it one of the rarest expressions of Bowmore ever released.
Elsewhere in Scotland, the sale offers a number of long-aged expressions from the Speyside region. Highlights include a bottle of Glenlivet Gordon & MacPhail Generations 70 Year Old 1940 (est. £3,000-4,000), the oldest whisky ever upon its release in 2010, as well as 40 year old expressions from The Balvenie and Glenfarclas, and a bottle of Mortlach Gordon & MacPhail 58 Year Old 1954 (est. £1,000-1,300).
Also in Speyside, The Macallan is strongly represented with three expressions aged over 50 years. The Macallan Fine & Rare 53 Year Old 1949 was bottled in 2002 at 53 years old, making it one of the longest aged of all the Fine & Rare series (est. £24,000-35,000). Bottled from cask 136, only 160 bottles of this exceptionally rare whisky were produced.
The Macallan Exceptional Single Cask 2018/ASB-1683/13 1950 was aged in an American Oak Sherry Butt for almost 68 years and was bottled at a remarkable 53.4% abv (est. £30,000-40,000). Released as part of the Exceptional Single Cask series, the packaging is relatively modest in Macallan terms, with a real focus on the quality of the exceptional liquid.
The Macallan The Red Collection 78 Year Old is not only the oldest bottle released from The Macallan, but the oldest age statement whisky ever released (est. £60,000-90,000).
Bidding on the 75-lot sale runs until 18 June. Full catalogue available to browse here.
About Sotheby’s Wine
Established in 1744, Sotheby’s is the world’s premier destination for art and luxury. Sotheby’s promotes access, connoisseurship and preservation of fine art and rare objects through auctions and buy-now channels including private sales, e-commerce and retail. Our trusted global marketplace is supported by an industry-leading technology platform and a network of specialists spanning 40 countries and 50 categories, which include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits, and Interiors, among many others.
Sotheby’s Wine’s annual worldwide auction sales of wine and spirits totaled an outstanding $92 million in 2020, with over 15,000 lots sold across 41 sales – a nearly 50% increase in the number of auctions held in 2019. Over $60 million of wine and spirits were sold to online bidders in 2020 versus $28 million in 2019, with 85% of all lots offered finding online buyers. Demonstrating continued strength in Asia, Sotheby’s led the market in the region for the third consecutive year, with over 70% of the total bid amount in all Wine and Spirits sales attributed to collectors in Asia.
Sotheby’s Wine’s has had the privilege of auctioning numerous record-breaking wines and spirits in recent years, with 2020 alone witnessing new world auction records for any bottle of Japanese whisky, any bottle of whisky produced by the Dalmore Distillery, as well as any bottle of Cognac. Sotheby’s Wine currently holds the world records for any whisky collection ever sold at auction, any private wine collection ever sold at auction, the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold at auction and the most expensive bottle of spirits ever sold at auction.
In addition to auction, Sotheby’s Wine launched a retail business in 2010. With a retail store located in Sotheby’s New York headquarters and e-commerce at www.sothebyswine.com, Sotheby’s Wine offers a carefully curated selection of wines from the world’s most prestigious producers and important regions. Expertly assembled by our experienced specialists, the selection is built upon lasting relationships with winemakers from across the globe, with bottles that are ready for immediate consumption, in addition to investment-worthy wines from highly sought-after vintages. A second retail location opened in Sotheby’s Hong Kong galleries in 2014.
WHISKY FROM BLUE CHIP DISTILLERIES TRIUMPHS AT BONHAMS HONG KONG WHISKY SALE
New auction record for Karuizawa ‘Samurai’ series
Bonhams Director of Wine and Whisky Asia Daniel Lam commented: “After a strong start in our January sale, the whisky market in 2021 continues to be robust and healthy. Collectors showed huge interest in the finest editions from the ‘blue chip’ distilleries such as Macallan, Karuizawa, and Yamazaki, the fame of which is enjoying a new high due to the auction world record we set last year. Overall, Karuizawa whisky has seen a growth of up to 30% over the past six months, and this time we are pleased to establish a new auction record for the Karuizawa ‘samurai’ series.
Browse all results here:
https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/26983/
Notable highlights include:
Top lot of the sale:
Lot 482 Macallan Lalique-50 year old
Estimate:HK$750,000-950,000
Sold for HK$1,178,000
Lot 702
Karuizawa-1984-30 year old-#3139-侍 (1)
Karuizawa-1984-30 year old-#7963-侍 (1)
Karuizawa-1984-30 year old-#3656-侍 (1)
Karuizawa-1984-30 year old-#8354-侍 (1)
Karuizawa-1984-30 year old-#3139-侍 (1)
Karuizawa-1985-30 year old-#4201-侍 (1)
Karuizawa-1985-30 year old-#3622-侍 (1)
Karuizawa-1985-30 year old-#6432-侍 (1)
Karuizawa-1985-30 year old-#3620-侍 (1)
Karuizawa-1985-30 year old-#7843-侍 (1)
Estimate: HK$500,000-700,000
Sold for HK$818,400
**New auction record for a Karuizawa ‘Samurai’ series**
Lot 686
山崎 Yamazaki-35 year old. This is only one of the 200 bottles released.
Estimate: HK$720,000-850,000
Sold for HK$868,000
Lot 880
山崎 Yamazaki-Mizunara-1979-#RF1037
Estimate: HK$150,000-230,000
Sold for HK$347,200, over doubling the pre-sale estimate.
Lot 701
Karuizawa-1967-#6426-TWE
Estimate: HK$150,000-200,000
Sold for HK$272,800
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
Hello, yes that’s right! It’s that time again and we’re ready with our May auction, however this ain’t just any old auction…..Drum roll please…..for we’re celebrating the 10th anniversary of Scotch Whisky Auctions! Boy do we have some treats for you!
We would like to take this moment to thank everyone who has joined us on this incredible journey so far, our whisky friends from all corners of the globe who appreciate the joy of a good dram as much as we do. What better way to celebrate than to release a special edition bottle.<
For this month only, you have the option to purchase, on a ‘buy it now’ basis, a bottle of Glenfarclas 1991 30 year old. EXCLUSIVE FROM US it’s from a 2nd fill Hogshead and rich in colour. We’ve had a little swig of the stuff and believe us, it’s a cracker! You’ll have to be quick though as there’s only 537 to be grabbed. Once they’re gone, they’re gone!
We’re also giving you the chance to join us in a virtual tasting experience hosted by Glenfarclas’ very own George Grant (Sales Director, Glenfarclas) & Peter Donnelly (Director of Spirits, Pol Roger), we have 5 of the best drams the distillery has to offer.
This month also boasts some new releases from Campbeltown’s Online Tasting Week 2021. Each edition of Springbank, Hazelburn, Longrow and Kilkerran we’re sure will live up to high expectations, being aged in rum, PX and oloroso casks to name a few.
We continue to offer free doorstep collections for over 10 bottles or collectively worth a minimum of £1000. Contact us to find out more and check availability. Collection requests can be made here.
Our May 2021 Auction Ends Soon!
Place your bids until Sunday 30th May.
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!
Hibiki – 35 Year Old (Kutani)
Macallan – 72 Year Old (Lalique) The Genesis Decanter
Yamazaki – 1984 (Vintage Malt)
Macallan – Blake @ LXXX (Eight Decades Collection)
Karuizawa – 31 Year Old (Sapphire Geisha)
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.
PIONEERING HOLYROOD DISTILLERY HOLD CHARITY AUCTION OF THREE COLLECTABLE CASKS
THE THREE CASKS UP FOR AUCTION ARE TOTALLY UNIQUE FROM HOLYROOD DISTILLERY’S PUBLIC CASK PROGRAMME MAKING EACH A VALUABLE COLLECTOR’S ITEM
Holyrood Distillery, Edinburgh’s first single malt distillery in almost a century, has partnered with Whisky Auctioneer to offer three “extra special” whisky casks up for charity auction.
Matured in ex-bourbon barrels, this is an excellent opportunity for whisky enthusiasts to get their hands on three rare casks as they are completely distinctive from Holyrood Distillery’s current ‘Made by Edinburgh’ cask programme, which is offered exclusively in a selection of sherry casks.
The casks will be auctioned by renowned spirits bidding platform Whisky Auctioneer with the auction running from Friday 28th May until Monday 7th June giving whisky lovers a unique opportunity to own a piece of Edinburgh whisky history: https://discover.whiskyauctioneer.com/holyrood-charity-auction
All proceeds from the sale of the casks will be split between Edinburgh charities Vintage Vibes, tackling social isolation in the community; Edinburgh Food Project, a local food bank charity; and The Drinks Trust’s covid relief fund for the hospitality industry.
Whisky Auctioneer has agreed to waive selling fees and will donate the 10% buyer’s commission to the total hammer price raised for the three charities.
Each 200 litre cask will be filled with ‘Made by Edinburgh’ new make spirit, at an ABV of 60% and matured in a first-fill American ex-bourbon barrel.
As the public ‘Made by Edinburgh’ cask offering comes exclusively in a selection of sherry casks, the ex-bourbon maturation makes the charity auction casks a truly unique collectable. Having been distilled using single-origin barley from a Lothian-based farm and a proportion of crystal and chocolate malt, the casks offer full traceability from field to barrel.
A proprietary mash bill containing roasted and specialty grains and single estate Lothian farm barley, fermented with the iconic “Edinburgh Ale yeast” combine to create an entirely new spirit style, worthy of the city that inspires Holyrood Distillery.
With all auction proceeds flowing directly into three important local causes, the auction offers an exciting opportunity for whisky fans to get hold of these iconic casks, as well as the spirit of giving.
Commenting on the charity cask auction, David Robertson, Co-Founder of Holyrood Distillery said: “As Edinburgh’s first single malt distillery in nearly a century, we wanted to shine a spotlight on Edinburgh’s amazing whisky heritage.
We’ve created a spirit that echoes what would have been done 100 years ago; using locally sourced barley and beer yeast from an Edinburgh brewery, filled into three extra special ex-bourbon casks.
“It was essential for us that we supported local Edinburgh charities, our whisky is made by local people and inspired by the city we’re in, so it was paramount to ensure that communities close to the heart of our distillery are supported during this time.”
Adding his thoughts, Joe Wilson, Head of Auction Content at Whisky Auctioneer said: “It’s a privilege to partner with Holyrood Distillery to bring these casks to auction in order to support some incredible charitable organisations.
The sale presents the very unique opportunity for our global customer base to acquire a piece of liquid history from this trailblazing Edinburgh distillery, whilst giving back to the local community.”
“Holyrood is a vibrant new distillery that will produce Edinburgh’s first malt whisky for nearly 100 years, so we are sure that this auction will inspire a huge amount of interest around the globe.”
During lockdown, Holyrood announced its ‘Made by Edinburgh’ cask programme; an opportunity for members of the public to purchase a piece of Edinburgh’s distilling future.
Strong demand has validated Holyrood’s position as a versatile and creative distillery, with The ‘Made by Edinburgh’ casks representing Holyrood’s passionate homage to the distilling history of Scotland’s capital city.
The prospect of owning a piece of liquid history has resonated with whisky enthusiasts worldwide, and now the founders want to give back to the community that inspires the distillery and spirit.
Co-founded by Canadian Rob Carpenter and Scottish whisky Yoda, David Robertson, Holyrood Distillery is the first single malt distillery to operate in Edinburgh in almost a century. Unfettered by tradition, the distillery is forging its own path in the creation of its whisky, using speciality malts and a variety of different yeasts.
T: @HolyroodWhisky
I: @holyrooddistillery
F: @holyrooddistillery
Notes:
About Holyrood Distillery
Holyrood Distillery (www.holyrooddistillery.co.uk)
About Holyrood Distillery ‘Made by Edinburgh’ cask offering:
This is a limited opportunity to be a part of the Holyrood story. We have decided to offer purchasers their choice of an incredible selection of 250 L Spanish oak sherry hogsheads which have been specially seasoned with different types of sherry. These casks will deliver spice aromas and flavours of cloves, cinnamon and ginger, while each individual variety of sherry allows purchasers to tailor the subtle nuances of flavour to their personal preference and complement the tropical and green fruits, and rich, dark undertones in the fledgeling spirit. Including a choice from six Spanish oak sherry casks, 10 years maturation of your chosen cask, invitations to all cask owners events. To discover more, or register your interest, please get in touch: casks@holyrooddistillery.co.uk
About Whisky Auctioneer:
Whisky Auctioneer is the global market leader and trusted authority on the buying and selling of whisky and spirits at auction. Founded in 2013 and located in Perth, Whisky Auctioneer utilises its expertise and knowledge combined with its auction platform, to increase interest and passion in the whisky and spirits community: https://whiskyauctioneer.com/
Twitter: @Whisky_auction
I: @whiskyauctioneer
Facebook: @WhiskyAuctioneer
About The Drinks Trust:
The Drinks Trust is the community organisation for the drinks industry, offering support and services to help its community thrive, to upskill, to broaden their knowledge, to network and learn from one another. It will also be there to support them in challenging times, with wellbeing and financial assistance. https://www.drinkstrust.org.uk/
About Vintage Vibes:
Vintage Vibes is an award-winning project tackling isolation and loneliness in Edinburgh. The project, a partnership between LifeCare Edinburgh and Space & Broomhouse Hub, started in 2015 as a fresh new way to combat isolation and loneliness among over 60s (called VIPs) in Edinburgh. Vintage Vibes creates long-lasting one-to-one friendships offering support, companionship and the opportunity for lonely VIPs to be more socially connected and active in their local community. https://vintagevibes.org.uk/
About Edinburgh Food Project:
Edinburgh Food Project was founded in 2012 to tackle food poverty in Edinburgh. Affiliated with the Trussell Trust and Community Money Advice, Edinburgh Food Project provide emergency food supplies and support to people in crisis, by operating eight foodbank centres which provide emergency food supplies and their; More Than Food, Money Advice and Mental Health & Wellbeing Project to help address the underlying causes of food poverty. https://edinburghfoodproject.org/
info@edinburghfoodproject.org
Twitter: @Edinfoodprject
Instagram: @Edinfoodproject
Facebook: @Edinfoodproject
Our schedule for collections in June has been confirmed. If you live outside the areas listed and would like a collection of 10+ bottles or bottles to the value of £1000 please complete the request form and we will try to accommodate you.
Our schedule is as follows:
Inverness – Tuesday 8th June 2021
Elgin – Tuesday 8th June 2021
Aberdeen – Wednesday 9th June 2021
Ayrshire – Tuesday 8th June 2021
Inverclyde – Tuesday 8th June 2021
Central Scotland – 8th – 10th June 2021
England – Between 11th-15th June 2021.
London – Sunday 13th June 2021
Islay – Thursday 17th June 2021
Campbeltown – Saturday 19th June 2021
Collections are limited and by appointment only. If you would like to attend please complete the form which can be found here. Please note deadlines apply for collection requests. In a bid to adhere to social distancing guidelines it would be appreciated if bottles could be packed for uplift with the submission form and label completed. A winner in our auction? We are now offering a delivery (to collection point) 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.
Our mailing address is:
mail@scotchwhiskyauctions.com
COMPLETE SET OF BLACK BOWMORE 1964 LEADS BONHAMS EDINBURGH WHISKY SALE
View the catalogue: Bonhams : Whisky Sale
A complete set of Black Bowmore 1964. Estimate: £45,000-54,000.
A complete set of Black Bowmore 1964 leads Bonhams Whisky sale in Edinburgh on Tuesday 1 June. Offered as one lot, the three bottles are estimated at £45,000-54,000.
The Black Bowmore 1964 first edition was bottled in 1993 in a production run of 2,000 bottles. The second edition followed in 1994 – when, again, production was limited to 2,000 bottles. The third, and final, bottling, in an edition of 1,812, took place in 1995.
Bonhams Whisky specialist in Edinburgh Martin Green said: “Bottles of Black Bowmore 1964 are always eagerly sought after by collectors, and the complete set of three is particularly desirable. I am expecting a lot of interest.”
Other highlights include:
· Bowmore-40 year old-1955. Distilled and bottled by Morrison’s Bowmore Distillery, it comes in a Caithness glass decanter and its own fitted wooden cabinet. Estimate: £15,000-18,000.
· Glen Grant Straight 1922 Scotch Whisky. Bottled by Rutherford & Kay, Edinburgh. Estimate: £10,000-15,000.
· The Macallan-1938. Distilled and bottled by Macallan Glenlivet Ltd. Specially bottled for and imported for Belgium by Werco, Oostend. Estimate: £13,000-15,000.
Sale: WhiskyLocation: 22 Queen Street EdinburghDate: Tuesday 1 June at 11.00
Link to catalogue: Bonhams : Whisky Sale
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
