HDH to hold US’s largest ever spirits auction

Chicago-based auctioneer Hart Davis Hart has announced it is to hold the largest spirits-only sale ever offered in the US.

The two-day online sale from 14-15 March will feature various spirits from Scotch, Japanese and American whisky to Rum and Cognac dating back to 1898.

The sale will feature over 1,600 lots in total, worth an estimated US$1-1.6 million.

The American whiskies on offer include a 2017 bottling of 23 year-old Pappy van Winkle Bourbon; 1974 A.H. Hirsch Finest Reserve 20 year-old and rye whiskey in the shape of 14 year-old Boss Hog IV, The Black Prince, Barrel #1 by WhistlePig.

In the Armagnac consignment are bottles of 1946 Château du Busca, 1945 Château de Lassérade and 1900 Castarède while there are also decanters of Rémy Martin’s Louis XIII Grande Champagne Cognac and Louis XIII Black Pearl.

Among the rare Japanese whiskies to go under the digital hammer are a 17 year-old Hibiki, a 1977 32 year-old Karuizawa and 18 year-old Yamazaki, MIzunara Cask.

Rums include a Single Cask Demerara bottled by the famous Italian bottler Samaroli and a 26 year-old 1990 Uitvlugt Demerara.

In terms of Scotch meanwhile, bottles include a 50 year-old Macallan ‘Anniversary Malt’, a 39 year-old 1968 Bunnahabain, a 30 year-old 1979 Port Ellen and 1946 Macallan 56 year-old.

This is the first time that HDH has held such a large dedicated spirits sale and it is yet another sign of formerly very wine-focused auction houses being sure to add fine and rare spirits to their offering now due to soaring demand and prices.

Bonhams has led the field in this regard for quite some time but Sotheby’s and Christie’s have recently made it clear they intend to add more spirits to their sales in future.