Auctioneer Sotheby’s has launched its largest online spirits sale to date, comprising 267 lots with a combined pre-sale estimate of £850,000 (US$1.1m).
Bidding will open on the Sotheby’s online Distilled sale today (26 August) at 2pm BST and run until 1 September.
The sale includes 94 lots from Speyside distillery Macallan including bottlings in the Fine & Rare Collection, which features vintages spanning 1940 to 1976.
Sotheby’s will also offer the Macallan Fine and Rare 56 Year Old, which is one of just 152 bottles known to exist. The rare whisky was distilled in 1945 and used local peat in its production, due to the rationing of commercial coal use.
Sotheby’s spirits specialist Jonny Fowle said: “At Sotheby’s we have enjoyed a great relationship with The Macallan Fine & Rare series, setting the record for the highest value ever achieved for a bottle of whisky at auction with the Macallan Fine & Rare 1926.”
The Distilled sale will also include set number one of the first release of Diageo’s Prima & Ultima Collection, a new series of collectable single malt Scotch whiskies chosen by whisky maker Dr Jim Beveridge OBE. Signed by Beveridge, the sale is expected to be worth between £16,000 (US$21,000) and £28,000 (US$37,000). The winning bidder will also secure an exclusive whisky tasting experience with Beveridge.
The sale marks Sotheby’s first collaboration with Diageo for charity, and proceeds will be donated to Diageo’s charity partner Water Aid.
Scotch whiskies also set to go under the hammer include bottlings from Islay’s Port Ellen distillery, three bottles of Laphroaig Samaroli 16 Year Old 1970, Glen Grant Gordon & MacPhail 62 Year Old Mr George Centenary Edition 1956 and Longmorn Gordon & MacPhail 53 Year Old Private Collection 1966.
Sotheby’s will also offer a selection of Japanese whiskies, including 28 Karuizawa lots with a combined pre-sale estimate of up to £104,100 (US$137,000). Japanese whisky highlights include the Karuizawa Sapphire Geisha 36 Year Old Cask #5077, which is predicted to reach at least £11,000 (US$14,500), and the Yamazaki LMDW Private Cask #3T70070, which could sell for £9,000 (US$12,000).
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Author: Owen Bellwood
