Rare bottles of whisky fetch record US$1m each at HK auction
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Two bottles of rare 60-year-old Macallan whisky fetched a total of more than US$2 million under the hammer on Friday in Hong Kong, Bonhams said, with both sales shattering the previous world auction record for the spirit.
One bottle, bearing a label designed by British pop artist Peter Blake – who helped create the sleeve of The Beatles’ album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” – was sold for HK$7.96 million (S$1.36 million).
The other bottle, whose label was designed by Italian artist Valerio Adami, went for HK$8.63 million, a new world record for whisky sold at auction.
Both 750-milliliter vintage bottles were distilled in 1926 and matured in a sherry hogshead cask until being bottled in 1986. Only twelve of each Macallan were ever produced.
“These two bottles are not meant for sale. They were given to some of the Macallan’s most loyal business partners or clients,” said Daniel Lam, head of wine and whisky at Bonhams in Hong Kong.
In 2014, a bottle of malt whisky – Macallan ‘M’ Decanter 6-litre Imperiale – set the last record of HK$4.9 million at a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong.
The value of Macallans 18 years and older has doubled in value over the past year, Mr Lam said in an interview.
While new whisky tends to be more industrialised, in the ’80s and before that it was handcrafted, Mr Lam said, adding that well-kept whisky can last forever.
In April, two other 60-year-old Macallans from 1926 were sold at a Dubai airport retailer for US$600,000 each, breaking the record for the most expensive whisky sold in retail.
“The other bottle, whose label was designed by Italian artist Valerio Adami, went for HK$8.63 million, a new world record for whisky sold at auction.”
There is growing interest in whisky in Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, as well as in China, Bonhams said, especially among a younger generation of collectors.
“Whisky is more like a young generation drink now, compared to cognac or even red or white wines,” Christopher Pong, wine and whisky specialist at Bonhams said.
Wealthy Asian buyers have shown frenzied interest and deep pockets at art auctions in recent years, with sales of paintings, diamonds and ancient ceramics shattering world records.
Questions & Answers
Q.What made these particular Macallan bottles so rare and valuable at the Hong Kong auction?
What made these particular Macallan bottles so rare and valuable at the Hong Kong auction?
Only twelve of each 750-milliliter vintage bottle, distilled in 1926 and bottled in 1986, were ever produced. Their labels were designed by famous artists Peter Blake and Valerio Adami.
Q.How did the recent auction prices for these Macallan bottles compare to the previous world record for whisky?
How did the recent auction prices for these Macallan bottles compare to the previous world record for whisky?
Both bottles shattered the previous world auction record. The bottle with the Valerio Adami label fetched HK$8.63 million, setting a new world record for whisky sold at auction.
Q.What factors are contributing to the rising interest and value of rare whiskies in the market?
What factors are contributing to the rising interest and value of rare whiskies in the market?
Buyers are shifting attention to rare bottles from Scotland and Japan, with Macallans 18 years and older doubling in value. There's also growing interest among a younger generation of collectors in Asia.