May 2026 Whisky & Spirits Auction Results
Take a look at a selection of highlights from the Whisky.Auction May Whisky & Spirits Auction.
There were stunning whiskies, Cognacs, liqueurs and much more to be found in this month’s auction. Read on for a look at just some of the highlights.
*Aftersales Update*
The conclusion of our aftersales saw a handful of bottles finding new owners. Bottles such as this Yamazaki 25 Year Old (£3,600) and Yamazaki 18 Year Old Mizunara (£750) added to the successful Japanese whisky sales this month.
This Macallan 1962 25 Year Old Tudor Crystal Decanter found a buyer for £3,000 and other scotch included a Port Ellen 1979 28 Year Old (£900) and a Bunnahabhain 1979 25 Year Old bottled for Lombard’s Jewels of Scotland series (£250).
Rum also featured with bottles of Appleton Estate 1984 37 Year Old Hearts Collection (£370) and Foursquare 2007 12 Year Old Plenipotenziario (£115) snapped up.
Japanese Whisky
Runaway leader in the auction was a Yamazaki 1985 bottled to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky and the 110th anniversary of Suntory. This settled on a winning hammer price of £7,600 after some healthy competitive bidding.
Following behind were a selection of long-aged Japanese whiskies including a Nikka 1964 43 Year Old (£2,200) with all the whiskies in the blend dating from 1964 and earlier, a Nikka Taketsuru 35 Year Old (£2,200) and a Hakushu 25 Year Old (£2,100).
Macallan
Top bottle among the selection of Macallan this month was the classic Macallan 30 Year Old Sherry Oak in it’s unmistakable blue box. This fetched a hammer price of £3,700.
This equally recogniseable Macallan Private Eye with its Ralph Steadman illustrated label sold for £2,200 while a pair of Macallan 1974 25 Year Old Anniversary Malts fetched £2,000-£2,100 each.
A selection of 1960s vintages fetched between £1,300 and £1,850 with this Macallan 1964 Special Selection securing the highest hammer price.
Speaking of 1960s vintages, there were further interesting bottles to be found from the decade with a Bowmore 1964 Bicentenary fetching £2,100 and a Springbank 1969 45 Year Old from Lombard’s Jewels of Scotland series selling for £1,050. Representing the lowlands, a Cadenhead’s Ladyburn 1966 14 Year Old sold for £550 and an Auchentoshan 1965 31 Year Old single cask bottling fetched £450.
Islay
Besides the aforementioned Bowmore Bicentenary, the Islay category contained some gems for peated whisky connoisseurs, including a wide selection of Bowmore releases.
Top lot honours went to an Ardbeg Provenance 1974 with a hammer price of £2,300. There was a 1970s Laphroaig 10 Year Old that fetched £1,200 and a 1980s Lagavulin 12 Year Old sold for £975, both popular with collectors.
Indie bottlers provided some interesting lots such as this Port Ellen 1979 31 Year Old from Douglas Laing (£825) or a Bunnahabhain 33 Year Old from That Boutique-y Whisky Company (£140). Some bottles from Direct Wines First Cask range included a Port Ellen 1976 18 Year Old (£500) and a Caol Ila 1974 19 Year Old (£210).
Vintage Spirits & Liqueurs
For collectors of vintage spirits and liqueurs there was a wide range of old and interesting bottles on offer, including some dating from the early 20th Century such as this 1912-1913 Chartreuse Yellow (£775) or 1920s-30s bottled Montre & Cie 1868 Brandy (£280).
From the 1940s, there was a Gilbey’s Odds On wine cocktail (£65) and Bols Genever (£100) and moving in to the 1950s, a wide range of well-preserved bottles included a litre of Picon Amer £210), a Crebet Carciofo (£150), and a Grant’s Morella Cherry Brandy (£50), to name just a few.
Roundup
One of only 21 bottles released, this Teeling 38 Year Old proved popular securing a hammer price of £3,600.
Leading the Cognac category was this striking decanter of Camus 150th Anniversary Cuvee 5.150 that ended the auction with a winning bid of £3,000.
A Strathisla 1957 from Gordon & MacPhail proved to be one of the most prolonged bidding exchanges of the evening before eventually settling on £1,800.
This Talisker 44 Year Old produced in collaboration with Parley for the Oceans, a non-profit organisation that works to protect marine ecosystems around the world, sold for £1,700.