The Grand Whisky Auction is…LIVE!
2400+ lots to bid on including this…
Interested in selling whisky in our next auction?
T. +44 (0)1463 210 427
E. sales@thegrandwhiskyauction.com
All is Not Lost: Bidding Begins on Unprecedented Brora Auction
Dormant for decades and sometimes a generation, whisky from ‘lost distilleries’ often has mythical status. This is undoubtedly true for legendary Sutherland distillery Brora (closed in 1983), whose whisky has become increasingly sought-after in recent years. There may be more ubiquitous names in the world of whisky, but to whisky connoisseurs, collectors and investors there is none more revered for its quality of liquid, extreme rarity and unique history than Brora.
The world’s leading whisky auction house, Whisky Auctioneer, is to host the first ever dedicated Brora whisky auction taking place from the 15th – 19th of April on www.whiskyauctioneer.com, showcasing over 50 Brora bottles, as part of the largest collection of Brora ever to be held in one auction.
The auction will include extremely scarce expressions from the Old Clynelish distillery (now known as Brora) distilled prior to its brief closure in the late sixties. Today, these rarities are celebrated for their highly idiosyncratic style and elusive waxy character that cannot be replicated in modern whiskies.
The sale will also feature various expressions from the historic 1972 Brora vintage, a chapter of whisky history all on its own. These include the 1972 Cask Strength 40 Year Old decanter, the oldest Brora ever released at the time and a sibling to some of the most legendary expressions ever produced at the distillery.
Joe Wilson, Head of Auction Content at Whisky Auctioneer, said:
“Few distilleries manifest more allure than Brora, and certainly none so effortlessly. It’s therefore striking to see an auction dedicated to so many rare Brora bottles. Whether you are a whisky collector or lost distillery enthusiast, this is a one of a kind opportunity to get your hands on these special Brora bottles, many of which are rarely seen on the secondary market.
“The Brora auction encapsulates the distillery’s past as it prepares to turn on the stills to its future with the chance to bid on complete collections and rare Single Malts created prior to the distillery’s halt in production in 1983 – a timely reminder to revisit these legendary malts and that ‘lost distilleries’ are not always lost forever.”
Emmanuel Dron, founder and co-owner of the Auld Alliance and Author of ‘Collecting Scotch Whisky’:
“Brora is a legendary malt, often talked about in whisky circles. Such a revered spirit and so hard to find, devotees from across the world have made visits especially to the Auld Alliance in Singapore simply to have the chance to try the exceptional spirit distilled at Brora.
“This auction allows whisky lovers and lost distillery enthusiasts to get a hold of some of these rare bottles, including even Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s 61.1, the first ever bottling of Brora single malt. With the Brora auction following the announcement that the distillery is to be re-awakened, it provides an opportunity to honour its venerated past, while building excitement towards its future.“
Located in Sutherland, Brora distillery shares an intertwined history with Clynelish – a victim of its own success, the owners of the Clynelish distillery decided to build a secondary distillery next door due to its growing reputation. This modern distillery was to take the name Clynelish forward, and following a brief period where the distilleries were simply referred to as ‘Clynelish A’ and ‘Clynelish B’, the original distillery was renamed Brora in 1969.
Over the next few years, Brora produced a heavily-peated single malt, comparable to the whiskies of Islay. This mini era of production has become a storied part of the distillery’s history, before they started reducing peat once again in 1973.
The auction comes in time with the gentle reawakening of Brora, as the distillery and its operations aim to reopen in 2021 offering a new era of Brora. Brora distillery was one of eleven distilleries that closed in the Spring of 1983 following the ‘whisky loch’ crisis. Despite closing, the distillery’s legend continued to live on, gaining a cult following of whisky lovers over the decades for its unique profile and strong character malts.
Other highlights in the exclusive auction have only appeared for sale on very rare occasions, if ever. A star lot is Bottle #1 of a 1978 Brora bottled at 41 years of age under Diageo’s Casks of Distinction programme. One of only 60 bottles in the world, this is the first time it will have ever appeared for sale.
Primarily composed of bottles from Pat’s Whisk(e)y Collection, the largest private whiskey collection ever to come to market, the auction also features the complete collection of Brora bottled under the sought-after Rare Malts Selection and Special Releases. Pat’s wider collection features the complete collection from both series, an impressive accomplishment totalling over 250 of the highly limited bottles.
To register to take part in the Exclusive Brora auction, visit www.whiskyauctioneer.com
NOTES
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.
Whisky Auctioneer endeavours to make the market more accessible for buyers and sellers of any background and geography. Its monthly global auctions feature the most comprehensive selection of old, rare and collectible whiskies and spirits available online. Whisky Auctioneer is passionate about connecting these bottles with those who share in their passion and actively support their customers in their aims, whether that be consuming, collecting or investing.
In February 2021, the Perth-based online auction house made history during the iconic sale of The Perfect Collection when a bottle of The Macallan 1926 Fine and Rare 60 Year Old sold for a hammer price of £1m, the first time a single bottle of whisky has sold at an online only auction for one million pounds.
Whisky Auctioneer became the first online auction house to sell a million-pound bottle and outperformed the nearest traditional auction house by 200% in value from spirits sales in 2020, showcasing the move that whisky collectors, investors and drinkers have already made online and firmly establishing their leading position within the modern secondary whisky market.
The business currently sees over 100,000 bids per month and has conducted deliveries to 74 countries across the globe. It also opened its first European base in Germany last year.
The business’ Founder, Iain McClune, was listed as ‘One to Watch’ in The Telegraph’s Most Ambitious Business Leaders 2020 programme.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Visit: www.whiskyauctioneer.com
Instagram: whiskyauctioneer
Facebook: WhiskyAuctioneer
Twitter: Whisky_auction
A short reminder that we will again be offering our contactless doorstep collections throughout the UK. As our office re-opened on Monday 5th April 2021, this service is no longer available to our Glasgow customers who can book an appointment for collection/drop off here
Our schedule is as follows:
England & Wales (Excluding London)
Friday 9th April 2021- Tuesday 13th April 2021 – Deadline for requests12 noon Thursday 8th April 2021
London
Sunday 11th April 2021 – Deadline for requests 12 noon Thursday 8th April 2021
We are unable to offer home collections in London this month, however we will have three meeting points in central locations:
East London – Tesco 1 Armada Way, London E6 7ER (from 10am we will contact you with an appointment time)
West London – Sainsburys, 31 Essex Place, London, W4 5UT (from 10am we will contact you with an appointment time)
North London – Sainsburys – Williamson Road, N4 1UJ (from 10am we will contact you with an appointment time
Edinburgh
Wednesday 14th April 2021 – Deadline for requests 12 noon Tuesday 13th April 2021
Stirlingshire/Fife
Thursday 15th April 2021 – Deadline for requests 12 noon Wednesday 14th April 2021
To register your interest please complete the form which can be found here as soon as possible. If your area is not listed please complete the form and I will be in touch if a collection is possible.
As this is a contactless doorstep collection, we ask that your bottles are packed for uplift. In addition please complete the forms which can be found here. The label should be taped to the front of the box and the completed submission sheet packed in box 1.
Stay Safe
Julie & The Collections Team
We will again be offering our contactless doorstep collections throughout the UK. As our office re-opens on Monday 5th April 2021, this service is no longer available to our Glasgow customers who can book an appointment for collection/drop off here
Our planned dates so far are as follows:
Oban/Campbeltown
Saturday 3rd April 2021 – Deadline for requests 12 noon Friday 2nd April
Inverness/Elgin
Monday 5th April 2021 – Deadline for requests 12 noon Friday 2nd April
Aberdeen
Tuesday 6th April 2021 – Deadline for requests 12 noon Friday 2nd April
England & Wales (Excluding London)
Friday 9th April 2021- Tuesday 13th April 2021 – Deadline for requests12 noon Thursday 8th April 2021
London
Sunday 11th April 2021 – Deadline for requests 12 noon Thursday 8th April 2021
We are unable to offer home collections in London this month, however we will have three meeting points in central locations:
East London – Tesco 1 Armada Way, London E6 7ER (from 10am we will contact you with an appointment time)
West London – Sainsburys, 31 Essex Place, London, W4 5UT (from 10am we will contact you with an appointment time)
North London – Sainsburys – Williamson Road, N4 1UJ (from 10am we will contact you with an appointment time
Edinburgh
Wednesday 14th April 2021 – Deadline for requests 12 noon Tuesday 13th April 2021
Stirlingshire/Fife
Thursday 15th April 2021 – Deadline for requests 12 noon Wednesday 14th April 2021
To register your interest please complete the form which can be found here as soon as possible. If your area is not listed please complete the form and I will be in touch if a collection is possible.
As this is a contactless doorstep collection, we ask that your bottles are packed for uplift. In addition please complete the forms which can be found here. The label should be taped to the front of the box and the completed submission sheet packed in box 1.
Stay Safe
Julie & The Collections Team
Want to sell your whisky in our next auction? With no sellers fees?
We’re offering a FREE personal courier collection service (UK)
From Monday 19th April, the TWSA team will be on the road from London to Glasgow (and everywhere in between!) to pick up your bottles from your doorstep. It can all be carried out contact-free, and we’ll take care of the cost.
Looking to sell your whisky before April 19th?
We can organise a courier to pick up your bottle(s) free of charge and get you booked in the next available date.
To find out more or book your free collection:
✉️ Email auctions@whiskyshop.com
📞 Phone +44(0)141 427 2950
Please note that our offices are shut on weekends, but we’ll answer your query as soon as we reopen on Monday at 9am.
A very warm welcome to all of you from far and wide. The daffys are blooming and spring is finally on its way! As to be expected, we’ve got a packed selection in our liquid treasure trove so let’s get stuck in and show you a mere taster of the goods.
If you’re looking to take your palate on a journey of Japanese discovery, then we’ve got the perfect starter kit for you. This Nikka Six Pillars Gift Box is packed with 6 Japanese malt titans including Nikka From The Barrel, as well as their Taketsuru Pure Malt 17 Year Old.
Striding back over to Speyside we have some biiig age statements from our most loved distilleries including a Glen Grant 50 Year Old from Gordon & MacPhail and a Macallan 72 Year Old Lalique Genesis decanter.
A true heavyweight in every sense of the word, the whisky as well as the hand-blown crystal decanter and handcrafted bespoke wooden case!
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.
Our March auction end soon!
Place your bids from Friday 19th March until Sunday 28th March.
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!
Bowmore – Black Bowmore DB5 (1964) 31 Year Old
Glenfarclas – 60 Year Old (1959) Single Cask
Macallan – 1990 (Hogshead)
Karuizawa – 35 Year Old (Fazzino)
Macallan – An Estate, A Community and a Distiller
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.
Our March auction is now LIVE!
Place your bids from Friday 19th March until Sunday 28th March.
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!
Bowmore – Black Bowmore DB5 (1964) 31 Year Old
Glenfarclas – 60 Year Old (1959) Single Cask
Macallan – 1990 (Hogshead)
Karuizawa – 35 Year Old (Fazzino)
Macallan – An Estate, A Community and a Distiller
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.
Mortlach Exclusive Auction – Whisky Auctioneer
About the auction
About Mortlach Distillery
Joe Wilson, Head of Auction Content at Whisky Auctioneer said: “This is the first time that a collection of Mortlach has been offered in a dedicated online auction, and it’s incredible to be able to offer our international customer base so many of the distillery’s expressions that have long been under the radar. For decades, much of Mortlach’s robust spirit was quickly snapped up by whisky blenders and connoisseurs ‘in the know’, so we know that whisky fans will be excited to see this treasure trove of bottles become available.
“Among the bottles up for grabs is the #1 of the rare Mortlach 47 Year Old – the oldest expression to be released by the distillery to date. The collection also includes complete series’ such as the Rare Malts Selection, and bottles from iconic independent bottlers such as Gordon & MacPhail including vintages dating as far back as 1936.
“Our Mortlach: Through the Ages auction marks a significant opportunity for both passionate whisky lovers looking to try this iconic single malt for themselves, and for collectors that have been eagerly waiting for the chance to get their hands on these bottles to add to their collection.”
To register to take part in Whisky Auctioneer’s Exclusive Mortlach Auction, visit www.whiskyauctioneer.com
NEW YORK, 13 March 2021 – Moments ago in our New York saleroom, a specialty lot comprising a one-of-a-kind bottle of 1967 whisky from The Macallan Anecdotes of Ages Collection created in collaboration with the globally renowned British pop artist, Sir Peter Blake achieved $437,500.
Jamie Ritchie, Worldwide Head of Sotheby’s Wine, said: “Sotheby’s Wine and The Macallan have had a longstanding relationship for many years, and it has been a privilege to sell some of the brand’s most iconic and sought-after bottles – with the A New Era of Advertising bottle now joining this illustrious group. In addition to the proceeds from the sale of The Macallan benefitting the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum’s diversity, equity, access and inclusion initiatives, we were pleased to help raise funds for both the Shawn Carter Foundation, and the Asian American Business Development Center via two other outstanding lots: the D’USSÉ® 1969 Anniversaire Limited Edition Grande Champagne Cognac and Hennessy X.O x Frank Gehry Masterpiece Decanter. It was exciting to see the worlds of art, design, and rare spirits come together through these exceptional bottles, and we look forward to continuing to present collectors with more superlative spirits through distillery collaborations throughout our 2021 auctions.”
Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s Spirits Specialist, remarked: “We are thrilled with the results achieved for the three exceptional charitable lots presented today in our first dedicated Spirits sale in New York. Over the past few years, we’ve witnessed a staggering increase in demand for prized, rare whiskies – and the strong prices realized during today’s sale are a perfect illustration of this rapidly growing trend. With opportunities to gather again in-person with friends and family slowly becoming more frequent, now more than ever we are seeing collectors acquire special bottles from some of the world’s most celebrated spirits producers, in hopes of sharing them with loved ones in the near future. And it was our pleasure to present these extraordinary bottles to collectors worldwide through today’s auction.”
One-Of-A-Kind Original Bottle of 1967 Whisky from The Macallan’s Anecdotes of Ages Collection
Receiving 49 bids in advance of today’s live sale, A New Era of Advertising bottle is one of only 13 original bottles from this newly-launched whisky and art collection, and was offered alongside a print donated by Sir Peter Blake as well as a bespoke VIP experience at The Macallan Estate in Speyside, Scotland. Proceeds of this sale will benefit the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum’s diversity, equity, access and inclusion initiatives, with the objective to increase both free access and outreach to a variety of diverse audiences within the New York metropolitan area. Audiences will have the opportunity to enjoy free admission to the Guggenheim Museum on select Saturdays through a new initiative, ‘Saturday on the House’.
Igor Boyadjian, Managing Director for The Macallan, said: “The Macallan Anecdotes of Ages Collection is an extraordinary art and whisky collaboration with globally renowned British pop artist, Sir Peter Blake that celebrates The Macallan’s rich legacy and Sir Peter Blake’s remarkable contribution to the art world.
“At The Macallan, community is a constant guiding principle and mindset at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to have partnered with Sotheby’s New York to auction this one-of-a-kind bottle of exceptional 1967 whisky, featuring original Sir Peter Blake collage art on the label, in support of the Solomon R. Guggenheim’s diversity, equity, access and inclusion initiatives. The funds from the auction will increase free access and develop engagement with a variety of audiences, and will support ‘Saturday on the House’, an opportunity for visitors to enjoy free admission to the Guggenheim Museum in New York on select Saturdays.”
About Sotheby’s
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.
