November 2024 Whisky & Spirits Auction Results

Our November auction had plenty to whet the appetite of spirits hunters and whether it was Scotch, Cognac or rum, there was something tasty to be discovered. Here are just a few of the highlights from the November 2024 Whisky & Spirits Auction results.

*Aftersales Update*

Some lucky bidders took to our aftersales process to bag themselves some of the bottles they had been chasing during the auction. First up from Japan was this Karuizawa 1984 Cask #3663, bottled for Speciality Drinks in 2013 at a cask strength of 56.8%ABV, which achieved an offer of £3,000.

There was a selection of lots on offer in the aftersales for Scotch fans of all types. Lucky peat lovers picked up this Lagavulin 25 Year Old, released for the distillery’s 200th anniversary in 2016, for £1,100, and this Ardbeg 1977 for £460. A Balvenie 25 Year Old Doublewood, a beautiful mature sherried Speyside malt, was snapped up for £575.

From Campbeltown there were a pair of Springbank 1992 27 Year Old Private Cask bottles sold for £465 and £425 a piece, while a heavily sherried highlander, this Glendronach 1994 21 Year Old single cask fetched £260. Finally, to the Lowlands and another private cask, a Littlemill 1992 19 Year Old, sold for a very reasonable £200 for a malt from a storied distillery sadly no longer in existence.

Top Lots

Raising an amazing £9,600 for charity, our top lot this month was a bottle of Michter’s Celebration Sour Mash 2016. Donated to raise money for Equal Measures, the bottle contains a blend of straight bourbon and straight rye whiskies of undisclosed origin, aged between 10 and 30 years. Presented in a striking red wooden case, this was bottle number 12 of only 256 released.

It was a mixed bag at the top end of the auction with representation from a variety of distilleries. Following the Michter’s was a 2022 release of the Dalmore 45 Year Old, presented in a Baccarat Crystal decanter that sold for £9,400 and the first release in The Macallan Archival Series, the Folio 1, which received a winning bid of £7,400.

There was an enticingly dark Longmorn Glenlivet 1974 from legendary bottler Samaroli (sold for £5,000), a Glenfiddich 1958 Private Vintage (£4,500) and a rarely seen Ardbeg 1974 Flying Turf, a single cask bottling consisting of only 126 bottles (sold for £2300).

Decadent Decanters

In an ever crowded marketplace, spirits brands are always trying to make their products stand out no matter which price bracket they may fall into. This auction showcased some weird, wonderful and beautiful examples of spirits packaging.

The luxury end of the market has always looked to showcase its liquid in beautiful decanters and there were examples including the aforementioned Dalmore 45 Year Old and a variety of Remy Martin Louis XIII decanters (£925-£1,400) and a pair of Richard Hennessy (£1,250 each).

In less traditionally styled presentations there was this Highland Park King Christian I, one of only 300 decanters created as part of the Warrior Series, or a pair of the recently released Macallan Time:Space Mastery in its distinctive ring shaped decanter, containing a marriage of fourteen types of cask and bottled to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Macallan Distillery (£,1,250-£1,300).

For those that like a bit of bling there was a very shiny Hennessy XO Exclusive Collection VII, created by designer Tom Dixon, that sold for £390.

Sometimes though, packaging can just be a bit of fun such as these Suntory decanters, variously shaped like musical instruments, animals or golf bags or this Calera Play Ball Tequila in the shape of a baseball bat and ball (£40).

Macallan

We’ve already mentioned a couple of Macallans’ amongst the top lots but there were plenty more worth a mention with vintages spanning the 20th Century. A bottle of Macallan Glenlivet 1938 35 Year Old bottled by Gordon & MacPhail and imported to Italy by Pinerolo, still with its original box, fetched £3,000. There was a Macallan 1960 Campbell, Hope & King (£1,850) as well as other 60s distillate like this 1965 25 Year Old Anniversary Malt (£1,950) and 1968 18 Year Old (£1,850).

Moving into later decades, a 1979 18 Year Old Gran Reserva sold for £2,400, a pair of 1972 18 Year Olds fetched £1,250 each and a 10 Year Old 100 Proof bottled in the 1980s ended on a winning bid of £1,100.

Roundup

We love a vintage bottle and there were a couple of hotly contested early 20th century liqueurs in the closing minutes of the category with this gorgeous 1930s Campari Bitter finishing on £550, while a 33cl Chartreuse Green produced in Tarragona between 1932-1935 settled on £800 after some competitive bidding.

A glass of spirit and a cigar is one of life’s simple pleasures and for cigar fans there were a pair of Havana Club Hunters & Frankau limited edition bottlings. Released to celebrate the 225th anniversary of the famed UK cigar importer in a limited edition of only 500, these sold for £875 and £900 each. Also combining rum and cigars was this Glenfiddich 21 Year Old Reserva Rum Cask Finish presented with a Glenfiddich branded humidor that fetched £600.

Baiju received plenty of attention at the close of the auction with late bidding on these colourful limited edition Moutai Scattered Flowers Flying Apsaras (£310 each) and these Kweichow Moutai 2024 Dragon Year bottles that sold for £320 each.

And finally in October’s ‘it went for how much?!’ section, a bottle of Famous Grouse Scottish Oak Finish saw an prolonged bidding battle before eventually ending on £270 and absolutely smashing its previous auction record and beating its usual sale price by over £200.

See the full November Whisky & Spirits Auction results here.

See our past auction roundups here.