The October Miniatures and Memorabilia auction was our biggest ever with over 2300 lots up for sale. All categories performed well, particularly blends, memorabilia and malts from independent bottlers, as well as the usual Macallans and Japanese whiskies.
View the complete list of results in our Past Auctions. Here are five of our highlights:
Hibiki 21 Year Old, Bottled 2000
Another case of a small bottle vastly outperforming it’s full size counterpart because of its rarity and its collectability. This 18cl bottle of Hibiki 21 Year Old may not strictly be a miniature, but it’s still small. What it lacks in size it certainly makes up for in value, selling for almost three times the price of a full size bottle we sold just last month. Winning Bid £1750
Macallan Ice Bucket, Quiet Please! Whisky Sleeping
We’ve auctioned a few of these Macallan ice buckets in the past, and while the Spanish sherry cask has been snoozing peacefully, his price has grown with every sale. Macallan memorabilia is always thoughtfully designed, high quality and distinctively ‘Macallan’, so it’s no surprise that this piece is a hit with collectors. Winning Bid £330
Grant’s Stand Fast, Bottled 1950s
It’s not often we see blends reach the top end of our miniatures auction, but this Grant’s Stand Fast is an attractive collector’s item. Dating from the 1950s, this was released before the brand switched to the iconic triangular bottle and comes with its charming tartan box. Winning Bid £190
Benrinnes 1977 – James MacArthur’s
Independent bottler? Check.
Distilled in the 1970s? Check.
Bottled at cask strength? Check.
Highly sought-after distillery? Hmmm, sort of.
It took just a handful of bidders to push this Benrinnes 1977 up to £140, significantly more than this distillery usually makes at auction. However, James MacArthur bottlings do command high prices with often unassuming bottles, so keep your eye on these. Winning Bid £140
Bowmore 13 Year Old, Bottled 1970s – Cadenhead’s
Scotland’s oldest bottler is always one to watch. A miniature version of one of Cadenhead’s ‘dumpy’ bottles, this Bowmore from the 1970s would have been distilled in the 1960s or even late 1950s, a legendary era for Bowmore fans. The price had dipped a bit over the past year, selling for around £70, but we’re back up over the £100 mark now. Winning Bid £125
