Auctions, auctions
The market for top-quality whisky is gradually changing in nature, and more and more often, in order to stock up on an exceptional bottle, we are forced to use secondary trading, often paying several times the price of the original one. Thus, auction houses of all kinds are becoming increasingly important, serving as an intermediary between those lucky enough to have been able to acquire whisky at retail price and those willing to pay more for the same bottles. Evaluation of the phenomenon is extremely difficult and often escapes simple and unambiguous criteria. This task, however, we do not want to undertake. Today we would like to take a look at the scale of the phenomenon of online auctions of spirits, using two auction houses as examples - the Whisky Auctioneer i Sotheby's.
The other auction house, Sotheby's, dealing, after all, not only in spirits, but in all sorts of artifacts with collector value, closed the past year with a record $150 million in US dollars from the sale of spirits. The increase in the value of alcohol sold compared to the previous year is a substantial 14%. The fact is that the vast majority of the amount mentioned comes from wine sales, and only $29 million is the spirits market. The most spectacular auctions involved Macallan's oldest bottle, The Macallan The Reach 81yo, Glenturret 50yo, or Dalmore 1991.
In turn Whisky Auctioneer is a company that deals with strong spirits, and above all just whiskey. Based in Perth, Scotland, the auction house sold more than £50 million worth of whisky in 2022. The most interesting and expensive auctions were for a bottle of Port Ellen 12yo from an edition made to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Port Ellen, or Ardbeg 1974. Both bottles broke price records for their brands and sold for 100,000. pounds (Port Ellen 12yo) and 35 thousand. pounds (Ardbeg 1974).
As this material is being prepared, this year's last auction run by Whisky Auctioneer is underway. Bidding opened on December 22 and will continue until January 9. Prior to the opening, it was estimated that the most interesting, and thus most expensive, bottles up for sale this time would include Ben Nevis 1926 63yo, more than 400 Springbank editions, including the 1952 vintage, of which only 24 bottles have been released, as well as Samaroli's extensive range, including Port Ellen 12yo Islay Malt, which has never been auctioned before. The year is coming to an end and we are about halfway through the bidding process. The bidding process so far has set up a top ten consisting of two bottles of Macallan, one Bowmore, two Springbank, and one each of Port Ellen, Glengoyne, Ben Nevis, and Bowmore. The top ten is rounded out by an absolutely exceptional Japanese whisky, Shirakwa 1958, about which we wrote here. As expected, the aforementioned Ben Nevis is a vintage 1926 63yo, the purchase of which, at this stage, means that the amount of 20 thousand must be pierced. pounds. Experts were also not wrong about Port Ellen from Samarola. To buy this bottle, at this stage, you need to offer more than 25,000. pounds. Italian bottler Samaroli is also represented in the top ten by a bottle of Laphroaig 1967 (currently £31,611). Macallans hold the lead - for a Macallan 72yo Lalique Genesis Decanter someone is currently offering £65,500, and for a Macallan 1950 Tales of the Macallan, £62,800. What amounts will close the individual auctions, it is difficult to predict at this stage. However, judging by the current level of auctions, these will be substantial sums.
It is worth noting, by the way, that not so long ago Macallan 1950 The Tales of the Macallan was on offer at the House of Whisky Online.
Among the other bottles on display at this year's final Whisky Auctioneer auction are a whole host of absolute legends of the whisky world. They include Black Bowmore 1964, Karuizawa 1977, Macallan bottles from the Fine and Rare series, Glenfarclas 60yo, or Littlemill 1976 45yo.
We wish the bidders a successful shopping experience. To their supporters and all whisky lovers in Poland, including all those who have been with Whisky House Magazine Online this year - Happy New Year! Successful choices alone and excellent whisky in your glasses. Happy birthday!
[31.12.2022 / photo: House of Whisky]