LONDON.- Almost one year ago, Sotheby’s made history in the world of collectible spirits when the sale of The Ultimate Whisky Collection achieved £7.6 million ($10 million), the highest total for any whisky collection ever offered at auction. Headlined by a bottle of The Macallan Fine & Rare 60-Year-Old 1926, which set an auction record for any bottle of wine or spirit at £1.5 million ($1.9 million), the sale was 100% sold, with all 391 lots snapped up by collectors eager to acquire sought-after and iconic bottlings.

Now, on Saturday, 31 October in London, Sotheby’s will offer The Ultimate Whisky Collection Part II, as part of a wider sale of spirits – The Ultimate Whisky Collection Part II + More – that will bring together whiskies from renowned distilleries in Scotland, Ireland and Japan. The sale marks Sotheby’s first annual auction of Spirits to fall on day that Halloween is celebrated around the world.




Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s Spirits Specialist, said: “After launching Sotheby’s Spirits business last year, this segment of the wine and spirits market has seen the fastest growth, not least during these past six months, with three new world auction record prices, and an increase in buying and bidding from both new and young collectors. The appreciation for whisky is incredibly diverse and our younger collectors are showing a keen interest in understanding the nuances of age, rarity and provenance, whether acquiring bottles for current drinking, special occasions, or to treasure for the future.

This season, we are thrilled to present the first of our annual spirits sales to take place on Halloween, not least with the second part of the Ultimate Whisky Collection and an opportunity for collectors to get their hands on a complete set of The Macallan’s new collection, so soon after its official launch. Our sale of part one a year ago – our first-ever single-owner spirits auction – marked an historic moment for the spirits market, with new benchmark prices and a fresh approach to selling whisky. This year’s offering, though lower in value, is testament to the quality of the collection in its depth and breadth. With The Macallan continuing to take the dominant pole position in our spirits sales, it is a real pleasure for us to open the auction with one of the most exciting launches in the world of collectible whisky in recent years.”

In a collaboration with The Macallan, to mark the launch of a new classic aged collection of single malt from The Macallan Distillery, the sale will open with a complete set of six whiskies from age 40 Years Old to the oldest whisky ever released by the brand. The proceeds generated from this one-off offering at auction will be donated to global food charity, City Harvest, which redistributes surplus from the food industry to vulnerable people internationally. Full details will be revealed on 15 October, to coincide with The Macallan’s official launch.

Assembled by a private American Connoisseur over some 20 years, The Ultimate Whisky Collection was most comprehensive catalogue of whisky ever to be offered by a single owner in a single auction. This year’s offering will present 190 lots of Scotch, Japanese and Irish whiskies, estimated to bring in the region of £800,000. The roll-call of all 37 distilleries represented in the sale is equally extensive, including: Ardbeg, Auchentoshan, The Balvenie, The BenRiach Benrinnes, Benromach, Bowmore, Brora, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Cragganmore, The Dalmore, Glen Grant, Glen Mhor, Glenburgie, Glendronach, Glenfarclas, Glenfiddich, Glengoyne, The Glenlivet, Glenlossie, Glenturret, Hibiki, Highland Park, Imperial, Knappogue Castle, Laphroaig, Linkwood, The Macallan, Miltonduff, Mortlach, Mosstowie, North British, Springbank, Strathisla and Tomatin.