This offer applies to our April and May auction only.
Any current members or new members who share this post may even see a little surprise turn up in their next order…
Would you like to sell whisky in our next auction?
+44 (0)1463 210 427
E. sales@thegrandwhiskyauction.com
Highland Auction is now LIVE at The Whisky Shop Auctions!
TWSA is back with its first theme of 2021: whiskies from the Highlands! From Thursday 11th – Sunday 21st March, treasures from Dalmore, GlenDronach, Brora and many more, will be going under the hammer.
https://www.whiskyshop.com/auctions/lots
See our highlights below.
BRORA 1978 40 YEAR OLD 200TH ANNIVERSARY
This impressive and heavily peated expression from the now-closed Brora Distillery in the Highlands was distilled in 1978 and matured for four decades in American oak hogsheads. This special release celebrates the distillery’s 200th Anniversary, with just 1,819 bottles released – 1819 being the year the distillery opened! This spectacular whisky comes at 49.2% abv.
Take a look at this beauty! This rare 35 Year Old expression from The Dalmore is derived from a special three wood assemblage using a Bourbon barrel, a Matusalem 30 year old Oloroso Sherry butt and a rare vintage 1970 Port Colheita Pipe. This stunning bottle is presented in a bespoke crystal decanter crafted by Baccarat, the prestigious French crystal house, and features The Dalmore’s iconic ’12-point Royal Stag’ created by leading Scottish silversmiths, Hamilton & Inches. Just 130 bottles have been produced, making this an incredibly hard-to-find treasure.
GLENMORANGIE 1975 COTES DE NUITS WOOD FINISH
A truly unique treasure from the world-renowned Glenmorangie Distillery, this Highland single malt was distilled in 1975 and matured for over two decades initially in bourbon casks, before spending a period of time in second fill Cote de Nuits Burgundy Grand Cru casks. Each bottle has been individually numbered by hand.
A spectacular 46-year-old Fettercairn that this expression has matured for over four decades initially in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels, before being treated to a finish in tawny port pipes. Only 55 individually numbered bottles of this single malt were produced at a strength of 42.5% abv.
GLENDRONACH 1989 29 YEAR OLD KINGSMAN EDITION
This limited edition expression from The GlenDronach has been crafted in collaboration with Matthew Vaughn, director of the Kingsman film franchise, to mark the release of the latest film in the series, The King’s Man. This 29-year-old release was distilled in 1989 and matured in oloroso sherry casks before being finished in Pedro Ximenez casks. The result is a masterful expression of complexity and depth, truly befitting a Kingsman. Bottled at a strength of 50.1% abv and presented in a luxurious case adorned with the bespoke Kingsman insignia, this expression is limited to just 3,052 bottles worldwide.
Want to sell with us in our next auction?
E: auctions@whiskyshop.com
T: +44(0)141 427 2950
Why sell with us?
We currently offer 0% Sellers Commission
Our auctions are rolling – NO bottle deadlines!
Fastest payout in the industry
JAPANESE WHISKY 100% SOLD AT BONHAMS ONLINE SALE
Over 60% of Lots Sell Above High Estimate
Sale Total Doubles Estimate (HK$5.4m vs HK$2.6m)
Top lot of the sale:
Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt- Diamonds Straight Flush Ace to 5 (5)
Sold for HK$1,178,000
Estimate: HK$380,000-460,000
Commenting on the result, Daniel Lam, Bonhams Director of Wine & Spirits, Asia, said: “The Japanese whisky market is evidently off to a great start in 2021. The result of this online sale shows that strong demand exists not only at the top end of the market, but across all price bands. The sale, which comprised 82 lots with an average estimate of HK$32,000, attracted strong and competitive biddings. All lots found a buyer, with over 60% selling above their high estimates. We also saw stronger participation from whisky connoisseurs and drinkers, who attach greater importance to the quality of the actual whisky rather than the label. It suggests that the market is robust and healthy – this is a good time to sell.”
Please get in touch for specialist interviews on whisky market trends, the upcoming Hong Kong spring sale in May and more.
Top 10 lots of the sale:
Sale: A Nippon Whisky Collection Online Date: 26 February to 8 March
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
The Grand Whisky Auction is…closing tonight @ 9pm!
www.thegrandwhiskyauction.com/live-auction
2700+ lots to bid on including this…
Interested in selling whisky in our next auction?
+44 (0)1463 210 427
E. sales@thegrandwhiskyauction.com
The Grand Whisky Auction is…Live!
www.thegrandwhiskyauction.com/live-auction
2700+ lots to bid on including this…
2008 Distil Your World London Single Cask #21853
Auction closes at 9pm Monday 15th March!
Interested in selling whisky in our next auction?
+44 (0)1463 210 427
E. sales@thegrandwhiskyauction.com
ISLAY WHISKY LEGEND’S SIGNATURE COLLECTION UNVEILED
In the world of whisky, few have achieved such legendary status as that of Master Distiller, Jim McEwan. A true maverick that guided the renaissance of the iconic Islay distillery, Bruichladdich, McEwan played an integral role in inspiring the direction of the single malt category as a whole.
In celebration of more than half a century of service to the whisky industry, the final casks from his personal reserves are now ready for release. Bottled as Jim’s very own collection of his finest creations, the Jim McEwan Signature Collection is the ultimate tribute to a career-long quest to produce the perfect dram.
Containing iconic Islay malts drawn from casks distilled under McEwan’s watch at Bruichladdich and bottled by Scottish independent bottlers, Dramfool, the collection will be made available this month, with part of the inaugural release to be auctioned by Whisky Auctioneer from 11-15 March 2021.
A true Islay whisky lover’s dream, the collection is made up of nine releases – each containing a single cask Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte and Octomore expression.
The first edition bottlings to go under the hammer next week have been entirely matured in first-fill wine casks from the finest French Châteaux – inspired by McEwan’s use of alternative casks that would become a cornerstone of Bruichladdich’s legacy and style.
The first release includes an especially exciting Octomore expression – one of the oldest ever released at 13 years old and entirely matured in a Sauternes barrique, one of Octomore’s rarest wood styles.
The auction will feature exclusive opportunities such as the chance to acquire the second editions before they have even launched, with bottles #1-20 in the auction featuring both Edition 1 and 2 of the respective whiskies. Bottle #88 will also feature both editions – a very sought-after bottle number due to its symbolism of fortune and good luck in Chinese culture.
Winners of bottles #1-20 and #88 will also receive first refusal on that same bottle number in subsequent releases – an ideal opportunity for aspiring collectors to complete a full collection of the same bottle numbers.
Jim McEwan commented:
“It’s wonderful to see this collection of my final casks bottled and ready to be enjoyed. From starting in the whisky industry aged 15, I can see no better way to mark the ending of a career than to release my own personal collection.
“As my last casks come to market and I look back on 58 years of making whisky, it still excites me to see what is happening. From apprentice cooper, to blender and then to master distiller, my journey has always been about education as well as passion, and it’s been a pleasure to share this with the world. Single Malt whisky is the blood of Scotland and it’s our job to look after it, cherish it and do a good job with it. It’s so important to our country as a whole, but particularly to the island of Islay that I call home.
“This collection really speaks for itself in terms of quality, just like each of the whiskies I’ve ever produced. I’m very excited to unveil these casks with Dramfool, and in partnership with Whisky Auctioneer I am sure they will be enjoyed across all corners of the globe.”
Joe Wilson, Head of Auction Content at Whisky Auctioneer, said: “The Jim McEwan Signature Collection embodies a true industry icon’s passion for the liquid he has spent most of his life creating, as well as the Island he calls home. It’s a pleasure to bring the first edition bottles to our online auction in partnership with Dramfool.
“These are the final casks to be selected by Jim during his time at Bruichladdich and the whiskies he has personally deemed to be amongst his finest creations. We’re sure Islay whisky lovers around the world will be incredibly excited to learn about the collection’s release, and to try these whiskies for themselves.”
From monstrous Islay smoke bombs to zesty, floral malts, each bottle is unique in style and flavour, yet similarly shaped by the Island’s wild, coastal elements.
Each expression in the Jim McEwan Signature Collection has been bottled at natural cask strength and is natural in colour, as well as non-chill filtered.
In addition to having the chance of being among the first to try the new liquid, Bruichladdich fans will also have the opportunity to bid on an exclusive private tasting experience during the auction, which will be hosted by Jim McEwan himself. 100% of the proceeds raised from this experience will be donated to Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance, a charity chosen personally by Jim which provides life saving support to the Islay community.
Jim McEwan began what would be a long and legendary career in the whisky industry at the age of 15 in 1963 as an apprentice cooper at Bowmore distillery, where he trained and refined his malt mastery for 38 years. He then helped reawaken Bruichladdich distillery in 2001, where he was Master Distiller for 15 years before retiring in 2015. McEwan was recently tempted back from retirement to help revive Ardnahoe Distillery on Islay.
To register to take part in the Jim McEwan Signature Collection auction, visit www.whiskyauctioneer.com
NOTES
About the Jim McEwan Signature Collection
BRUICHLADDICH 2007
RELEASE 1.1
265 BOTTLES
CASK TYPE – FIRST FILL BORDEAUX
CASK NUMBER – #R08/153-12
AGE – 13 YEARS
COLOUR – AMBER/GOLD
STRENGTH – 61.8%
NOSE – A combination of plump ripe grapes, sweet oak and hot-washed malt with an overture of rowan, birch and heather in bloom.
TASTE – Amazingly broad, ranging from fruity to floral to wine-like citrus, to kiln dried barley to oaky overtures.
PORT CHARLOTTE 2007
RELEASE 1.2
299 BOTTLES
CASK NUMBER – #RO8/152-2
CASK TYPE – FIRST FILL BORDEAUX
AGE – 13 YEARS
COLOUR – DEEP GOLDEN BRONZE BODY
STRENGTH – 60.9%
NOSE – Peat smoke and coastal wildflowers, held beautifully in a cradle of French Oak.
TASTE – Sweet crispiness of malted barley emerges and is accompanied by lighter notes of ripe plump grapes, and a coastal marine overture.
OCTOMORE 2007
RELEASE 1.3
290 BOTTLES
CASK TYPE – FIRST FILL SAUTERNES
CASK NUMBER – #3807
AGE – 13 YEARS
COLOUR – PURE GOLD/CHARTREUSE
STRENGTH – 57.5%
NOSE – Opens on a heat haze of peat fires and sweet oak, bog myrtle, heather flowers, wild thyme, and
then the beauty that is the wine emerges with style and grace.
TASTE – Plums and soft green grapes mingle with a slipstream of cooling marine sea breezes. French oak, peat smoke and sweet barley are all created by the super-slow distillation and maturation on the West Coast of Islay, where the air is pure and the casks breathe in the salt-laden air.
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.
The Perth-based online auction house had a record year in 2020, which since January 2020 hosted 17 online auctions totalling a hammer price of almost £30 million. In February 2020, it made history during part one of the iconic sale of Mr. Gooding’s Collection when a bottle of The Macallan Valerio Adami fetched over one million dollars, and 1,932 bottles were sold for $4,277,000 (£3,290,000) hammer price in total.
Between mid-October and mid-November 2020 alone, the business experienced its largest month in value and volume across its auctions to date – including £375k hammer price for an exclusive Bourbon and American Whiskey Auction, £3.3m hammer price for its regular monthly October Auction and £218k hammer price for a specialist Glenfiddich Auction. 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.
About Dramfool:
Dramfool are Scottish independent bottlers that have been bottling cask strength, non-chill filtered whisky since the business was founded by Bruce Farquhar in 2015. Bruce’s passion for good whisky has taken him all over Europe and as far as Japan hosting tastings and spreading the word of Dramfool. His mantra – ‘I only bottle whisky that I like’ does not waver; he won’t offer a bottling for sale unless he feels it meets his standards. This has led to consistently high reviews from connoisseur drinkers and industry specialists alike.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Visit: www.whiskyauctioneer.com
Instagram: whiskyauctioneer
Facebook: WhiskyAuctioneer
Twitter: Whisky_auction
As a result of technical issues experienced this evening auction 117 will be extended to 1200 midday on Monday 8th March. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.
Kind regards from Glasgow,
The SWA Team.
ENDING SOON: Our latest lots will be going under the hammer on Sunday 7th March at 8pm.
https://www.whiskyshop.com/auctions/lots
See our highlights below.
INVERLEVEN 1972 20 YEAR OLD SMWS 98.1
A single malt from the now demolished Inverleven distillery in the Lowlands that was bottled by independent bottler Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Distilled in 1972, it was then laid down in an oak cask for two decades before being bottled in Autumn 1992 at a strength of 58.3% abv.
BIMBER SINGLE CASK #103 THE WHISKY SHOP EXCLUSIVE
From London’s Bimber distillery comes this spectacular single malt from single cask #103! The cask was selected by Neil Jamieson and Alan Robertson and bottled exclusively for The Whisky Shop. This expression has been matured in an ex-bourbon cask for an undisclosed length of time, with just 254 bottles produced at a strength of 59.4% abv.
ROSEBANK 21 YEAR OLD – THE ROSES – EDITION NO.5 FASCINATION
Distilled at the closed – but soon to re-open! – Rosebank distillery in the Lowlands, this release is the fifth bottling in Elixir Distillers’ seven-part Roses Series, which is released every Valentine’s Day and named after different roses which are chosen in relation to the character of the liquid. Using spirit which was distilled in 1990 and 1991, this expression has spent a little over two decades in a combination of ex-Madeira and American oak barrels. Just 633 bottles produced at a strength of 49.5% abv
ROSEBANK 21 YEAR OLD – THE ROSES – EDITION NO.3 JEALOUSY
Distilled at the closed – but soon to re-open! – Rosebank distillery in the Lowlands, this release is the fifth bottling in Elixir Distillers’ seven-part Roses Series, which is released every Valentine’s Day and named after different roses which are chosen in relation to the character of the liquid. This expression has been laid down in oak casks for a little over two decades before just 695 bottles produced at a strength 52.5% abv.
LAPHROAIG 2001 19 YEAR OLD SMWS 29.279
A 19-year-old single malt from Laphroaig that has been bottled by independent bottler, Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Distilled in 2001, it has been matured for 19 years in a refill ex-oloroso Sherry butt. Just 590 bottles were produced under the name “Now let us take a kind farewell”.
Want to sell with us in our next auction?
T: +44(0)141 427 2950
Why sell with us?
We currently offer 0% Sellers Commission
Our auctions are rolling – NO bottle deadlines!
Fastest payout in the industry
MACALLAN MILLENNIUM DECANTER – 50 YEAR OLD – 1949 TOP SELLER AT BONHAMS WHISKY SALE IN EDINBURGH
The Macallan Millennium Decanter-50 year old-1949. Sold for: £26,840.
The Macallan Millennium Decanter-50 year old-1949, distilled and bottled at Easter Elchies, Craigellachie was the top selling bottle at Bonhams Whisky sale in Edinburgh on Tuesday 2 March. It sold for £26,840 having been estimated £18,000-20,000. Overall, the sale was 81% sold both by lot and by value.
Bonhams Head of Whisky in Edinburgh Martin Green said: “In a strong sale, the Macallan Millennium Decanter-50 year old-1949, which was bottled in 1999 and released to commemorate the millennium, really stood out. It is regarded as one of Macallan’s finest expressions so I am not surprised that it sparked such interest and sold so well.”
Other highlights of the sale included:
The Macallan Fine and Rare-35 year old-1966. Sold for £20,740. Estimate £17,000-19,000.
Dalmore-50 year old-1926 in a black ceramic decanter. Sold for £18,300. Estimate £15,000-20,000.
The Macallan Select Reserve-51 year old-1948. Only 366 bottles were produced and Macallan decided to bottle just one on each day of the year, making each bottling unique. This bottled is dated 6 June. Sold for £17,080. Estimate: £14,000-18,000
The Macallan Fine and Rare-32 year old-1970. Officially bottled by hand in 2002 at The Macallan Distillery, Easter Elchies, Craigellachie. Sold for £15,860. Estimate: £12,000-15,000.
The Macallan Select Reserve-52 year old-1946. Peat rather than coal was used in the malting process because of the high price of the latter in the immediate post-war years, reverting to the practice when the distillery first opened in the 1820s. Sold for £12,200. Estimate: £10,000-14,000 each.
Sale: Whisky Location: 22 Queen Street Edinburgh Date: Tuesday 2 March at 11 am
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
PERFECT WHISKY COLLECTION SELLS FOR OVER $9M AT AUCTION
Whisky history was made last night (Monday 22 February 2021) as the curtain came down on the auction of the ‘Perfect Collection’ of whisky.
With a total final hammer price* of $9,100,000 (£6,675,000), the collection of 3,900 bottles has become the highest value private collection ever to sell on the secondary market at an auction dedicated to one single collector’s whisky. The auction has been hosted in two parts by market leaders Whisky Auctioneer due to the sheer scale of Mr Gooding’s whisky library – a man who dedicated two decades of his life in pursuit of the perfect collection.
Last night marked the end of Part Two of the sale, which saw 1,557 distinct bidders in total from 54 countries battling it out for over 1,900 lots of some of the most exciting whiskies in existence. The most expensive bottle in the collection, The Macallan 1926 Fine & Rare 60 Year Old, sold for a hammer price of $1.4m (£1m) – the first time a single bottle of whisky has sold at an online only auction for one million pounds. Part one of the auction saw The Macallan 1926 Valerio Adami 60 Year Old sell for $1m (£825,000) at hammer price – the first bottle in an online auction to achieve $1m.
With multiple high value results and world records achieved during the sale, Whisky Auctioneer has firmly established a fresh approach that challenges the mould of the traditional auction model with its accessible online platform, original content, price transparency and unparalleled expertise.
By bringing the value and the stories of the incredible expressions in Mr. Gooding’s Collection to life, the Perth-based online auction house has connected whisky lovers and investors worldwide to one-of-a-kind bottles, resulting in some of the highest value whisky sales ever seen on the secondary market.
Iain McClune, Founder of Whisky Auctioneer said:
“This auction was solely dedicated to one collector’s magnificent library of whisky – a man who was dedicated to building The Perfect Collection. As enthusiasts of whisky ourselves, we knew that this collection deserved its own spotlight to allow us to truly convey the rarity and sheer scale of something so historic. In total, Mr. Gooding’s collection has sold for over $9m at hammer price, with two bottles breaking $1m each.
“The results from The Perfect Collection clearly show that our auction model is significantly shaking up the traditional secondary market. By bringing transparency, true expertise and engaging content to our customers we are offering something fresh, yet accessible to those across the globe interested in whisky.
“It has been a privilege for us to share Mr Gooding’s legacy with the world and we would like to thank everyone who participated in making whisky history. With so many incredible bottles attracting the attention of high value investors and passionate collectors across the world, the sale is one for the record books – not just for Whisky Auctioneer but for the whisky industry as a whole.”
Other significant results include record prices for historic malts from Scotland’s ‘lost’ distilleries such as Dallas Dhu, showcasing the surge in interest when it comes to the history and provenance of rare bottlings from distilleries of the past.
Specific auction result highlights from The Perfect Collection: Part Two include:
Described as ‘The Perfect Collection’, Mr. Gooding’s whisky library has generated extensive global interest due to its coveted and rare bottles, as well as its sheer size; in total, Mr. Gooding amassed 3,900 bottles of primarily single malt whisky.
In testimony to the global demand for whisky, last year was a record year for Whisky Auctioneer as it experienced huge growth in its online customer base and announced its expansion into Europe with a new base in Germany. The business currently sees over 100,000 bids per month and has conducted deliveries to 74 countries across the globe.
Notes
*Hammer price reflects the true market value of the bottle. Other auction houses commonly report results including fees and commission, which Whisky Auctioneer does not as this skews the true price of the bottle.
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.
The Perth-based online auction house had a record year in 2020, which since January 2020 hosted 17 online auctions totalling a hammer price of almost £30 million. In February 2020, it made history during part one of the iconic sale of Mr. Gooding’s Collection when a bottle of The Macallan Valerio Adami fetched over one million dollars, and 1,932 bottles were sold for $4,277,000 (£3,290,000) hammer price in total.
Between mid-October and mid-November 2020 alone, the business experienced its largest month in value and volume across its auctions to date – including £375k hammer price for an exclusive Bourbon and American Whiskey Auction, £3.3m hammer price for its regular monthly October Auction and £218k hammer price for a specialist Glenfiddich Auction. 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
