RAISE YOUR GLASS - BOTTLE OF SCOTCH SELLS FOR $40,000 AT BONHAMS NEW YORK
Macallan Anniversary 50 years old, sold $40,460, and a Macallan 1951, sold $7,140
A 50 year old Macallan Anniversary Sold for $40,460 in Bonhams highly anticipated April 29 Whisky, Cognac & Rare Spirits auction. More than doubling its pre-sale low estimate, the excellent scotch was the top performer in the auction, which sold 91% by lot and 97% by value. Interest came primarily from the US, and the Madison Avenue salesroom swelled with attendees. Online bidding proved popular with both domestic and international clients representing East Asia, Australia, the UK, and Scandinavia.
Scotch whisky achieved excellent prices overall, especially the Macallans on offer. A 50-year old Macallan Millennium from 1949 realized $19,040 while a 57 year-old Macallan in a distinctive Lalique bottle sold for $15, 470. Other notable results for scotch whisky included a Springbank Millennium series sold for $8,330, a 1955 40 year-old Bowmore that achieved $7,140 and a 45 year-old Linkwood from 1938 that brought $4,165.
Cognacs also performed very well, with every bottle on offer selling. A bottle of the legendary Remy Martin Black Pearl sold for $21,240, well above its pre-sale estimate. An eight-bottle series of Courvoisier in art-deco style decanters from Erté realized $9,758.
Many bourbons and ryes sold well above their estimates, demonstrating significant market expansion. A three-bottle lot of Old Weller bourbon more than quadrupled its pre-sale high estimate to sell for $1,071, while a single bottle of Green River Straight Whiskey nearly doubled its pre-sale low estimate, achieving $1,190, the same result as a bottle of George Washington Vatted American Whiskey which also sold over estimate. An unusual bottle of Old Quarter Century Whiskey distilled in 1890 and encased in wicker nearly tripled its pre-sale low estimate to sell for $1,785.
"The auction was successful across categories, with scotch remaining the focus," said Bonhams Whisky Specialist, Joe Hyman. "Bonhams is proud to be the leader in this dynamic field."
Bonhams next sale in New York of Whisky, Cognac & Rare Spirits will take place in October.
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son and Neale UK. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals through two major salerooms in London - New Bond Street, and Knightsbridge - and a further four throughout the UK. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Boston in the USA; Toronto in Canada; and in Switzerland, France, Monaco, Hong Kong and Australia. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 57 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, go to www.bonhams.com.
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