Over 2000 miniature bottles and items of whisky memorabilia were sold in August, with big names such as Bowmore, Hibiki and Macallan taking the headlines. Once again there was lots of whisky from independent bottlers such as Gordon & MacPhail and Cadenhead’s as well as plenty of memorabilia items and glassware to enthuse any whisky fan.
To view the full list of results, just head over to our Past Auctions, meanwhile here are our own personal highlights below:
Bowmore 1967 40 Year Old Premier Range Cask 4538
These wonderful minis from arguably the best era of distillation at Bowmore distillery were originally produced to accompany a full size decanter, of which only 39 were produced in a very unusual 90cl size. 40 years in a bourbon barrel before bottling at 44.1% ABV in June 2008 have given them immense value to any collector of old Islay whisky and this one finished just short of £1000.
Winning Bid £900
Suntory Hibiki Bottled 1980s, 6x5cl
These six bottle of Suntory Hibiki blended Japanese whisky were bottled in the late 1980s and presented in their original box. The blend was launched in 1989 and this set would have been one of the earliest expressions of this whisky to have been bottled. Prices for older Japanese whiskies have exploded in recent years with miniatures often fetching more than their full bottle counterparts.
Winning Bid £575
Macallan 1997 13 Year Old Easter Elchies Cask Selection – 2010 Release
This miniature of Macallan 1997 13 Year Old was bottled as part of the Easter Elchies Cask Selection in 2010. After a 13 year maturation in a sherry butt, this was released to visitors to The Macallan Estate with unprecedented levels of demand. The demand has only increased since then and with Macallan still at the pinnacle of whisky collecting, there is nothing to suggest that this will slow down any time soon.
Winning Bid £330
Old Elgin 1940 50 Year Old Bottled 1990 – Gordon & MacPhail
Old Elgin was one of the brand names used by Gordon & MacPhail to bottle whiskies of which the distillery name could not be disclosed. There are many rumours around which distillery this may be, with big hitting Speysiders Glenfarclas, Glen Grant, Mortlach, Glenlivet and Macallan all thought to be possible. What we do know is that it would have to be something special to be presented at 50 years of age after distillation in 1940. The August miniatures auction also featured many other well aged, undisclosed single malts from Gordon & MacPhail including the MacPhail’s 1940 50 Year Old and an even older Pride Of Strathspey 1938 50 Year Old.
Winning Bid £290
Bell’s Extra Special Hourglass
This Bell’s Extra Special Hourglass was the pick of the bunch from the memorabilia lots in the August auction. It takes exactly an hour for the liquid to pass between the two bottles and will certainly be a welcome addition to the winning bidders collection.
Winning Bid £105
Complete August 2020 Miniatures & Memorabilia Auction Results
