Christie’s “Fine Wines & Spirits” auction was this past Saturday here in NYC. There were some whiskies auctioned off, and here are the results.
Lot Sold Price Whisky
164 $21,600 Bowmore Trilogy
165 $2,640 Bowmore 1957
166 $2,880 Bowmore 1964, Fino Cask
169 $240 Benrinnes 1989, Glen Garioch 24 yr old
170 $600 Highland Park 24 & 34 yr old
171 $180 Ardbeg 12 yr (OMC bottling)
172 $240 Bruichladdich 1986
173 $240 Auchentoshan 37 yr old
174 $420 Springbank 37 yr old (Dun Bheagan)
175 $360 Tomintoul 40 yr old
176 $180 Compass Box Monster & Canto Cask 46
177 $84 Redbreast 15 yr old
192 $540 Knockando 1977
193 $600 Ladyburn 1973
195 $2,280 Mortlach 50 yr old
198 $1,800 Glenlivet 1943
201 $5,040 Macallan 1946
202 $5,760 Macallan Millenium 50 yr old
203 $13,200 Macallan 55 yr old, in Lalique
$58,884
My initial impression is that some of the winning bids were higher than what I felt the whiskies were worth. For example, Park Avenue Liquor is selling the Knockando 1977 right now for $215. (Let’s not tell the high bidder, okay? No use ruining his/her day.)
Still, I would be happy to pay $84 for a bottle of Redbreast 15, given how good and rare it is.
Your thoughts?
Thanks for this. I thought about bidding, but it seemed so…rich people. On the other hand there were some bargains in there. I’m thinking maybe I should bid next year, but now it’s popular and the prices will only go up, eh?
The Knockando is a surprise for me, as well as the 12 YO Ardbeg OMC (quite high price), otherwise,the prices are within expected range compared to “European” prices. Of note, the Bowmore 1957 is roughly reaching its initial selling price.
I can’t explain the Knockando, but I would guess the Ardbeg reached the price it did based on the rarity of independently bottled Ardbegs in the US, and possibly because this was a rum-finished cask done for Park Avenue Liquors (NYC)some years ago. That may have increased the value in a NYC-based auction.
wow, I really agree with your point on the Redbreast 15! I had forgotten about the auction
and really wanted to bid on it. (dang)
I think that’s the rum-finished Ardbeg for Park Ave. that Murray rated a 97 a few Bibles back (2006 I think). I keep meaning to look it up.
Also, couldn’t someone have bought the Bowmore Trilogy retail from Park Ave. for less than the lot went for? Aren’t/weren’t they around $6000 apiece?
Some of those prices seem downright reasonable! I’ll bet the Bowmore ’64 is amazing. The Mac 55 isn’t surprising since the bottle is so friggin’ expensive, to say nothing of it’s contents. I’d be happy to pay $84 for Redbreast 15. The 12 is available at my local store, and it’s about $50, so that isn’t an unreasonable number for really good Irish Pure Pot Still…
Can anyone tell me how much the 1963 Glenmorangie fetched?
Re Redbreast 15 Year Old: Rumour abounds in Dublin of a re-release in February this year – hopefully for sane money!
As it’s still a rumour at this stage please apply the usual caveats.
Hello Iain,
This was the list of whiskies that Christie’s gave me. Maybe it was in the Bonham’s Auction? I have a bottle of the 1963 Glenmorangie, so I am curious what it is worth.
Luke, it would certainly be nice to see more Redbreast 15. I have been holding on to my current (and only) bottle of 15.
I was curious so I looked it up — Bonhams auction (Edinburgh, tomorrow), lot 398:
Glenmorangie-22 year old-1963
Estimate: £250 – 300
[...] Malt Advocate has the results of the recent whisky auction held by Christie’s. [...]
John,
I believe that the Macallan Lalique was pretty reasonable, I know of someone who paid a lot more for that.
How much do you think six bottles of Laphroaig 40 would be worth? Someone wants to buy them from me but I don’t know exactly what they’re worth.
Thanks.
Amit.
[...] just auctioned off some rare whiskies this past Saturday, which I wrote about here. Now it’s Bonhams’ turn. The headliner, as you will see by the press release below, was [...]
dear john i hate to argue with the expert but life is short so the 1977 knockando was a square bottle and i dont think park ave has it at any price i think most bottles sold below value like 50yr macallan millenium i think is worth 8000 to10000 but any way it was fun just like whiskey fest please say hello to amy for me thanx mendy
dear john i think bottles went for less than value lady burn 1973 was 700 yrs ago knockando 1977 square bottle is rare & pal does not have it at any price the macallan millenium 50 yr old i think is worth eight to ten thousand it was a learning experience i had fun just like i di at whiskey fest please say hello to amy for me and i look forward to seeing you at d.b.a. thanx mendy
Mendy, I assume that the 1977 Knockando at the auction was a bottle that Park Ave donated from one of their stash of 21 year old 1977 Knockando whiskies, which they recently got. I also had a bottle of this (but drank). I saw it at WhiskyFest New York and it was ROUND!
See you soon.
you should all have a look at bonhams edinburgh auction catalogue on line now at bonhams.co.uk anyone can register and leave bids for any lot listed. Some rare and some not so rare at very reasonable cost, but alas no glen ord this time.
John, I would feel guilty as sin if I drank that LOL! How does one go about securing such an auction if you aren’t from the East Coast? We are in the midwest USA and would love to do a Whisky auction but it’s not that popular of a notion around here. Anyone from Chicago want to go in with me? LEt me know