In drams under the hammer this month, we look back at sales from the Macallan and the Lakes. In current and upcoming auction news, Whisky Auctioneer has a large collection of Glen Grant for auction until 4 March, and Midleton has put an NFT newest luxury release up for auction.
What you missed…
The Macallan Red Collection
The star of Whisky Auctioneer’s January auction was a 60-year-old from The Macallan Red Collection, which sold for £130,000.
The Macallan Distil Your World
The Macallan showed up again at Sotheby’s, with a bottling of the Macallan Distil Your World New York Single Cask Edition — one of only two of these bottlings ever produced. The bottle sold for US$200,000, making it the highest bid in this month’s round-up.
The Princess Royal
Over at Whisky.Auction, two bottles of the Lakes Single Malt The Princess Royal, from the distillery’s Private Reserve collection, sold for £2100 and £2000. The bottles were donated by Princess Anne, with proceeds donated to the Chaffinch Trust.
Coming up…
Glen Grant
Glen Grant is one of Speyside's most recognised and beloved distilleries. Built in 1839 by James and John Grant, it is known as one of the earlier supporters of the single malt category.
Over the years, the distillery has developed a vast global export market, none perhaps as important as in Italy, where their agent in the 1960s, Armando Giovinetti, turned Glen Grant into the nation's favourite whisky. This month, Whisky Auctioneer have nearly 100 Glen Grant expressions, from Italian independent bottlers including Giovinetti Import and Velier.
High age statements are also present, such as the Glen Grant 1956 Gordon & MacPhail 65 Years Old Batch #21/218 / LMDW 65th Anniversary, as well as beautiful early official bottlings dating back to the 1950s.
Velier
Velier are perhaps better known for their enormous impact in the world of rum, but their rare whisky bottlings represent an incredible breadth of distilleries and styles in this month’s auction at Whisky Auctioneer.
From collectible favourites including Glenfarclas and Springbank to Japanese ji-whisky darling Chichibu, there is something for every whisky lover from the Italian independent bottler.
Balvenie
Balvenie are a Speyside great, with many of their series and expressions sought after by collectors and drinkers alike. In their February auction, Whisky Auctioneer has an amazing array of expressions from the distillery.
The first bottle of the Balvenie Tun releases, the 1401 Batch #1, is rarely seen at auction and is a must-have for the dedicated collectors of the series. Alongside it sit a range of single cask bottlings dating back to the 1960s and 70s, offering a unique taste of the distillery’s output over the years.
The cherry on the cake of the selection must be the Balvenie 50 Years Old Batch #1 – a masterpiece of well-aged whisky limited to only 110 bottles.
Midleton Very Rare anniversary edition
Irish Distillers has partnered with Keanes Jewellers in Cork to create one bottle of the new Midleton Very Rare 40th Anniversary Ruby Edition that will be sold as an NFT (non-fungible token) via Blockbar.
The unique bottle features hand-engraved 18-carat gold on the neck and stopper and 32 rubies encrusted within the neck collar, and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Keanes Jewellers.
The auction is open now on Blockbar until 3pm on 7 March 2024.
