Sotheby’s to hold its largest online spirits sale yet

Auction house Sotheby’s has announced that its next online spirits sale will be the largest e-auction it has hosted so far, with over 250 lots of Scotch, Japanese and Indian whiskies going on sale, including set #1 of the Prima & Ultima collection.

Bidding will open tomorrow (26 August) and run through to 1 September and the 267 lots are estimated to realise in excess of £850,000.

One of the highlight lots is Set #1 of the ‘Prima & Ultima Collection’ from Diageo, of which just 238 sets will be available worldwide and which is already far over-subscribed.

The collection is comprised of eight bottles, one each from Port Ellen, Cragganmore, Mortlach, Singleton of Dufftown, Lagavulin, Carl Ila, Talisker and Clynelish, drawn from select casks.

The bottles in Set #1 have all been signed by Dr Jim Beveridge OBE who will also host an exclusive tasting with the winning bidder on the lot, which has a pre-sale estimate of £16,000 to £28,000; with proceeds from the sale being donated to Diageo’s charity partner WaterAid.

In addition there is a large array of The Macallan, 94 lots in total with a pre-sale combined estimate of £619,460 to £840,450, spanning the vintages 1940 to 1976.

A particular highlight is a bottle of Fine and Rare 56 year-old 1945, valued at £35,000 to £48,000, one of just 152 bottles known to exist.

Other highlights include a bottle of Port Ellen 1979 40 year-old and The Original Balvenie ‘Tun 1401’, as well as notable bottlings from independents such as the Laphroaig Samaroli 16 year-old 1970 and Glen Grant Gordon & MacPhail 62 year-old Mr George Centenary Edition 1956.

Away from Scotland there are also many Japanese whiskies on offer including 28 lots of single cask bottlings of Karuizawa, estimated to realise £79,300 to £104,100.

Johnny Fowle, Sotheby’s spirits specialist, said: “We are thrilled to present our second spirits auction of the month and our largest online auction, with over 250 lots. The quality and variety of bottles offered in this sale are a testament both to the strength of the current whisky market and of our success in developing our online auction format throughout 2020.”