Whisky
Casks from a Bygone Era
Intro
Under the reference of a Whisky of Distinction event subtitled casks from a bygone era, Sotheby's in partnership with Diageo sells on June 14, 2022 two casks of prestigious Scotch whiskies from stocks left behind when the distilleries closed nearly 40 years ago.
The new owners will be invited to further age their casks for up to five years before they are bottled. Both lots carry also an accompanying artwork to be printed on the labels of the bottles drawn from the casks.
The new owners will be invited to further age their casks for up to five years before they are bottled. Both lots carry also an accompanying artwork to be printed on the labels of the bottles drawn from the casks.
1
1979 Port Ellen Cask
2022 SOLD for £ 875K by Sotheby's
The lot 1, sold for £ 875K, was a cask of Port Ellen whisky.
It was distilled in 1979 for an estimated volume of 102 bottles. Its flavor has been subtly influenced by its long term storage in the cask. It is titling 52.9%.
The distillery of Port Ellen, on the western coast of the Isle of Islay in the Hebrides, closed in 1983 and will be reopened by Diageo in 2023. The artist Ini Archibong will create a Murano glass sculpture finished in the colors of Islay. The experience includes a private tour of the distillery for four people within a two day luxury hospitality.
It was distilled in 1979 for an estimated volume of 102 bottles. Its flavor has been subtly influenced by its long term storage in the cask. It is titling 52.9%.
The distillery of Port Ellen, on the western coast of the Isle of Islay in the Hebrides, closed in 1983 and will be reopened by Diageo in 2023. The artist Ini Archibong will create a Murano glass sculpture finished in the colors of Islay. The experience includes a private tour of the distillery for four people within a two day luxury hospitality.
2
1982 Brora Cask
2022 SOLD for £ 875K by Sotheby's
The lot 2, sold for £ 875K, was a cask of Brora whisky.
It was distilled in 1982 for an estimated volume of 145 bottles. It has rich flavirs of cooked fruits above a lightly peated character. It is titling 52.8%.
The Brora distillery in Northeastern Scotland closed in 1983 and was reopened by Diageo in 2021. The art experience will be a trip in Scotland for four people with the photographer Trey Ratcliff to capture together the most beautiful local landscapes.plus a private tour of the distillery within a two day luxury hospitality.
It was distilled in 1982 for an estimated volume of 145 bottles. It has rich flavirs of cooked fruits above a lightly peated character. It is titling 52.8%.
The Brora distillery in Northeastern Scotland closed in 1983 and was reopened by Diageo in 2021. The art experience will be a trip in Scotland for four people with the photographer Trey Ratcliff to capture together the most beautiful local landscapes.plus a private tour of the distillery within a two day luxury hospitality.
1986 The Macallan 1926-60 Year Old
Intro
The Macallan brand was once appreciated for its blends while some of their competitors led by Glenfiddish promoted the pure malt. In the early 1980s Macallan change their strategy for the high end. Pure malt preparations that have been distilling for several decades in their reserves then generated very small editions that are among the best whiskies in the world.
The most prestigious was distilled in 1926 from a Single Highland Malt by The Macallan in the Speyside region of Scotland. It then matured for 60 years in the sherry oak cask No. 263. In 1986 The Macallan poured the liquid into 40 bottles of 75 cl. It is grading 42.8%.
I found its taste in an old article on the web : "a lot of dried fruit, a lot of spicy, a lot of woody from the Spanish oak cherry cask and a toffee sweetness". The Macallan master distiller stated that "it is one of the most powerful tasting whiskies that he has ever tried".
Its edition started with two sub-series of 12 bottles each with a printed label illustrated by Peter Blake for the first, in 1986, and by Valerio Adami for the second, in 1993. Each sub-series is serialized from 1 to 12, and each of these 24 is packaged in the tantalus brass and glass safety cabinet. Whiskies 60 years old or slightly more are the greatest prestige of Macallan, and most of them were presented to valued customers selected by the brand.
In 2003 the remaining bottles received the new standard label for the brand's Fine and Rare series, in which they represent the earliest distillation. In the meantime, two of them had been sold without a label, by McTear's, in 2001 and 2002.
One of the 40 bottles has been opened and consumed in Japan. An Adami has been lost in Japan in the 2011 earthquake.
The most prestigious was distilled in 1926 from a Single Highland Malt by The Macallan in the Speyside region of Scotland. It then matured for 60 years in the sherry oak cask No. 263. In 1986 The Macallan poured the liquid into 40 bottles of 75 cl. It is grading 42.8%.
I found its taste in an old article on the web : "a lot of dried fruit, a lot of spicy, a lot of woody from the Spanish oak cherry cask and a toffee sweetness". The Macallan master distiller stated that "it is one of the most powerful tasting whiskies that he has ever tried".
Its edition started with two sub-series of 12 bottles each with a printed label illustrated by Peter Blake for the first, in 1986, and by Valerio Adami for the second, in 1993. Each sub-series is serialized from 1 to 12, and each of these 24 is packaged in the tantalus brass and glass safety cabinet. Whiskies 60 years old or slightly more are the greatest prestige of Macallan, and most of them were presented to valued customers selected by the brand.
In 2003 the remaining bottles received the new standard label for the brand's Fine and Rare series, in which they represent the earliest distillation. In the meantime, two of them had been sold without a label, by McTear's, in 2001 and 2002.
One of the 40 bottles has been opened and consumed in Japan. An Adami has been lost in Japan in the 2011 earthquake.
1
Adami 12/12
2020 SOLD for £ 2.2M by Sotheby's
Two Macallan 1926 60 year old occupied the top positions in the Gooding collection, sold by Whisky Auctioneer.
In the first session, on February 27, 2020, the Adami 12/12 was sold for £ 825K before fees.
It was sold for £ 2.2M by Sotheby's on November 18, 2023, lot 16.
Before the 2023 auction this 12/12 has been reconditioned at The Macallan Distillery including new capsule and cork, being the first 1926-60 ever submitted to that process. Its testing included a 1 ml sampling which has been compared with a reference bottle kept in Glasgow by the spirit expert company Edrington.
Its current level is bottom neck. The Adami label was readhered at corners. The tantalus case is slightly worn including some oxidization.
In the first session, on February 27, 2020, the Adami 12/12 was sold for £ 825K before fees.
It was sold for £ 2.2M by Sotheby's on November 18, 2023, lot 16.
Before the 2023 auction this 12/12 has been reconditioned at The Macallan Distillery including new capsule and cork, being the first 1926-60 ever submitted to that process. Its testing included a 1 ml sampling which has been compared with a reference bottle kept in Glasgow by the spirit expert company Edrington.
Its current level is bottom neck. The Adami label was readhered at corners. The tantalus case is slightly worn including some oxidization.
2
Fine and Rare
2019 SOLD for £ 1.45M by Sotheby's
In 2002 The Macallan created the Fine and Rare collection, whose original catalog included 37 types. Collectors are invited to assemble verticals.
In 2004 the remaining bottles of the 1926 60 year old were released with the Fine and Rare pedigree. Unlike the Blake and Adami series, they do not have a commercial serialization. A Fine and Rare 700 ml 42.6% was sold for £ 1.45M by Sotheby's on October 24, 2019, lot 160.
In 2004 the remaining bottles of the 1926 60 year old were released with the Fine and Rare pedigree. Unlike the Blake and Adami series, they do not have a commercial serialization. A Fine and Rare 700 ml 42.6% was sold for £ 1.45M by Sotheby's on October 24, 2019, lot 160.
3
Fine and Rare
2021 SOLD for £ 1M before fees by Whisky Auctioneer
Three great collections of the rarest whiskies have recently surfaced. In October 2019 at Sotheby's, The Ultimate Whisky Collection fetched £ 7.6M with 467 bottles divided into 394 lots. In the following month, a Vietnamese businessman had his collection of 535 bottles of Scotch and Japanese whisky certified by Guinness World Records.
Richard Leonard Gooding made his fortune as the owner and CEO of the Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Denver, Colorado, founded by his grandfather in 1936, which he sold in 1988 to the parent company Pepsi Co. Renowned for his philanthropy and for his discretion, he was known to his neighbors for his exceptional collection of Leonard ties.
Gooding made numerous trips to Scotland and Ireland in search of the best bottles, at a time when tasting rooms were not yet fashionable. One day, by visiting the Macallan distillery, undisputed leader on this market, he was presented with the most prestigious bottles. The employee asked him which one he wanted to buy. He replied : "I want them all."
The Gooding collection is The Perfect Collection, in quantity and quality. Gathering 3,900 bottles, it was revealed in December 2019 by Whisky Auctioneer, the company based in Perth in Scotland which was in charge of its dispersion. Online sales were organized in two sessions. Please watch the video shared by the auction house on Vimeo.
Any great collection must include the legendary Macallan 1926 60 year old. The Ultimate Whisky Collection included a Fine and Rare, sold for £ 1.45M by Sotheby's in 2019. The Vietnamese collection has three bottles including a Fine and Rare.
The Gooding collection included two bottles. The Fine and Rare was sold for £ 1M before fees in the second session, on February 22, 2021.
Richard Leonard Gooding made his fortune as the owner and CEO of the Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Denver, Colorado, founded by his grandfather in 1936, which he sold in 1988 to the parent company Pepsi Co. Renowned for his philanthropy and for his discretion, he was known to his neighbors for his exceptional collection of Leonard ties.
Gooding made numerous trips to Scotland and Ireland in search of the best bottles, at a time when tasting rooms were not yet fashionable. One day, by visiting the Macallan distillery, undisputed leader on this market, he was presented with the most prestigious bottles. The employee asked him which one he wanted to buy. He replied : "I want them all."
The Gooding collection is The Perfect Collection, in quantity and quality. Gathering 3,900 bottles, it was revealed in December 2019 by Whisky Auctioneer, the company based in Perth in Scotland which was in charge of its dispersion. Online sales were organized in two sessions. Please watch the video shared by the auction house on Vimeo.
Any great collection must include the legendary Macallan 1926 60 year old. The Ultimate Whisky Collection included a Fine and Rare, sold for £ 1.45M by Sotheby's in 2019. The Vietnamese collection has three bottles including a Fine and Rare.
The Gooding collection included two bottles. The Fine and Rare was sold for £ 1M before fees in the second session, on February 22, 2021.
4
Dillon
2018 SOLD for £ 1.2M by Christie's
A Macallan 1926-60 was sold for £ 1.2M by Christie's on November 29, 2018, lot 312. It does not belong to the Adami-Blake sub-series : the label of this one has been hand painted by artist Michael Dillon.
It is one of the two bottles auctioned by McTear's in the early 2000s before the labeling of the remaining stock as Fine and Rare. The fate of the other one is not known.
It is one of the two bottles auctioned by McTear's in the early 2000s before the labeling of the remaining stock as Fine and Rare. The fate of the other one is not known.
5
Adami 5/12
2018 SOLD for £ 850K by Bonhams
The Adami 5/12 was sold for £ 850K by Bonhams on October 3, 2018, lot 86. The consignor was its original owner.
6
Adami 2/12
2018 SOLD for HK$ 8.6M by Bonhams
On April 25, 2018 it was reported that an Adami and a Blake had just been privately sold at Dubai Airport for US $ 600K each. Bonhams was then preparing an auction of two bottles, estimated HK $ 3.6M each.
On May 18, 2018, the Adami 2/12 in its tantalus cabinet was sold for HK $ 8.6M, lot 608 by Adami, lot 608. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.and the Blake 8/12 for HK $ 8M, lot 381. Bonhams Magazine calculated that the price per glass exceeds US $ 40,000.
The Blake 8/12 in its tantalus cabinet was sold for HK $ 8M by Bonhams on May 18, 2018, lot 381.
The Blake 9/12 in its tantalus was sold for $ 840K by Sotheby's on October 12, 2018, lot 1559. A very slight corrosion of the capsule had been observed. Please watch the video shared by Sotheby's.
Also in its tantalus, the Blake 7/12 was sold for £ 615K by Bonhams on March 6, 2019, lot 76.
On May 18, 2018, the Adami 2/12 in its tantalus cabinet was sold for HK $ 8.6M, lot 608 by Adami, lot 608. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.and the Blake 8/12 for HK $ 8M, lot 381. Bonhams Magazine calculated that the price per glass exceeds US $ 40,000.
The Blake 8/12 in its tantalus cabinet was sold for HK $ 8M by Bonhams on May 18, 2018, lot 381.
The Blake 9/12 in its tantalus was sold for $ 840K by Sotheby's on October 12, 2018, lot 1559. A very slight corrosion of the capsule had been observed. Please watch the video shared by Sotheby's.
Also in its tantalus, the Blake 7/12 was sold for £ 615K by Bonhams on March 6, 2019, lot 76.
2011-2020 The Dalmore Decades
2021 SOLD for HK$ 8.8M by Sotheby's
The Dalmore is a distillery created in 1839 in the Highlands. The Dalmore Decades is their prestige edition of a collection of whiskies spanning their recent history, specially selected by their master distiller Richard Paterson.
The Decades No. 6 collection is a unique set of six crystal decanters. It includes a 1951 whisky bottled in 2011, possibly the last of its kind. The other five elements of the set were bottled in 2020 from whiskies distilled in 1967, 1979, 1980, 1995 and 2000. 1980 is the year of the hiring of Paterson.
The No. 6 came as a partnership with Sotheby's in a single lot auction on October 8, 2021. It was sold for HK $ 8.8M from a lower estimate of HK $ 4M, lot 1.
Each decanter is decorated with the 12 point royal stag emblem, a reminder that The Dalmore was owned from 1891 by the Mackenzie clan of which a member had saved the king in 1263 from a charging stag. The 1951 in that collection is considered as the last whisky from the Mackenzie era. Its dark mahogany color is unique in that collection.
The Decades No. 6 collection is a unique set of six crystal decanters. It includes a 1951 whisky bottled in 2011, possibly the last of its kind. The other five elements of the set were bottled in 2020 from whiskies distilled in 1967, 1979, 1980, 1995 and 2000. 1980 is the year of the hiring of Paterson.
The No. 6 came as a partnership with Sotheby's in a single lot auction on October 8, 2021. It was sold for HK $ 8.8M from a lower estimate of HK $ 4M, lot 1.
Each decanter is decorated with the 12 point royal stag emblem, a reminder that The Dalmore was owned from 1891 by the Mackenzie clan of which a member had saved the king in 1263 from a charging stag. The 1951 in that collection is considered as the last whisky from the Mackenzie era. Its dark mahogany color is unique in that collection.
2021 The Intrepid by The Macallan
2022 SOLD for £ 1.1M by Lyon and Turnbull
The Intrepid is the trademark of a 32 year old 43 % single malt whisky by The Macallan, distilled in May 1989 and bottled in September 2021.
Prepared from two American oak casks, the bottle number one of one of 1.80 m high and 311 liters immediately jumped as the Guinness world record holder of the largest bottle of whisky. Iy is the equivalent of 444 standard 700 ml bottles.
It was sold for £ 1.1M by Lyon and Turnbull on May 25, 2022, lot 1. Please watch the announcement video and the expert's view video shared by the auction house.For security and ease of transport the whisky was contained at the auction within 178 x 1.75 Litre sealed glass bottles.
The Intrepid is named after the achievements of eleven pioneering explorers who are featured on the bottle. A limited number of bottle sets were also produced from the remaining of the same two casks.
Such a prestige operation was indeed made by The Macallan from an excellent whisky. The tasting notes record a pale gold liquid with khaki lights, a mild and gentle nose led by baked apple and apple skin while a drop of water reveals vanilla and dry sherry. Undisturbed during the distillation, it escapes the flavor of wood. It is smooth with an aftertaste suggestion of French apple tarte tatin.
Prepared from two American oak casks, the bottle number one of one of 1.80 m high and 311 liters immediately jumped as the Guinness world record holder of the largest bottle of whisky. Iy is the equivalent of 444 standard 700 ml bottles.
It was sold for £ 1.1M by Lyon and Turnbull on May 25, 2022, lot 1. Please watch the announcement video and the expert's view video shared by the auction house.For security and ease of transport the whisky was contained at the auction within 178 x 1.75 Litre sealed glass bottles.
The Intrepid is named after the achievements of eleven pioneering explorers who are featured on the bottle. A limited number of bottle sets were also produced from the remaining of the same two casks.
Such a prestige operation was indeed made by The Macallan from an excellent whisky. The tasting notes record a pale gold liquid with khaki lights, a mild and gentle nose led by baked apple and apple skin while a drop of water reveals vanilla and dry sherry. Undisturbed during the distillation, it escapes the flavor of wood. It is smooth with an aftertaste suggestion of French apple tarte tatin.
