Over 1,100 tons from 91 single malt and grain distilleries offered for a complete of $2,034,100 on Might 10. (Picture courtesy of Sotheby’s)
A time capsule of scotch whisky destined for Hollywood A-listers helped Sotheby’s to stage its largest ever scotch whisky public sale on Might 10. Throughout the monetary crash of 2008, an entrepreneur from southern California purchased a transport container of priceless bottles from a struggling U.S. whisky dealer who had hoped to promote them to folks within the film business. As an alternative, they went underneath the hammer in New York 14 years later as Sotheby’s auctioned the Hollywood Assortment and Half 4 of the Three Continents Assortment for a complete hammer value of $2,034,100 (Sotheby’s pre-sale estimate was $1,481,750 – $2,063,050).
This one was a real celebration of scotch, with over 1,100 tons on provide from 91 single malt and grain distilleries representing all areas of Scotland (uncover the highest 10 distilleries at this sale ranked by hammer value under). It was one of the vital complete gross sales of scotch from closed distilleries within the U.S. for a few years, with bottlings from the Inverness distilleries Millburn, Glen Albyn, and Glen Mhor, loads of Port Ellen from Islay, Convalmore, Dallas Dhu, Imperial, and Caperdonich from Speyside, Glenury Royal and Hillside distilleries within the jap Highlands, and Littlemill and St. Magdalene from the Lowlands. Solely Rosebank was conspicuous in its absence.
In contrast to Sotheby’s American Muscle Assortment, which offered largely to U.S. consumers, this sale attracted a global viewers unfold evenly between North America, Asia, and Europe, with 42% of bidders new to Sotheby’s. Round 40% of bidders have been youthful than 40 years outdated. Macallan was the main target for the day’s highest costs, although the headline bottles didn’t break any data. An more and more uncommon discover at public sale this decade, the Macallan Millennium 50 12 months outdated 1949 decanter offered for a hammer value of $32,000, the best bid of the sale, however that was solely the fifth-highest value of the seven of those bottles auctioned internationally since January 2021. Whisky Auctioneer achieved a bid 46% greater than Sotheby’s in January, promoting a bottle for $46,811. The Macallan Wonderful & Uncommon 50 12 months outdated 1952 Cask No. 627 attracted a hammer value of $26,000 at Sotheby’s, barely up on Sotheby’s efficiency of $24,000 or so in recent times, however once more, a web-based public sale solicited a bid 25% greater at $32,552 for a similar bottle eight days earlier. The opposite finish of the size proved way more attention-grabbing, the place there have been some wonderful classic bottlings offered at discount costs. A bid of $150 might safe a bottle of Singleton of Dufftown 28 12 months outdated or a bottle of Campbeltown Loch 25 12 months outdated blended scotch, whereas $200 was enough to select up a Glenrothes 1984, a bottle of Gordon & MacPhail Speyburn 18 12 months outdated 1971, or for single grain followers, a bottle of Cadenhead’s Dumbarton 32 12 months outdated 1962. For lovers of Twentieth-century scotch, Sotheby’s was positively the place to be.
High 10 distilleries ranked by hammer value for particular person bottles
