Rare Last Drop headlines Sotheby’s auction

A rare 50-year-old bottle of Scotch and rare vintages from Burgundy producer Maison Camille Giroud will headline Sotheby’s “Finest and Rarest” auction in Hong Kong this month.

The auction will feature 421 lots estimated at HK$10‑14 million (US$1.3‑1.8m) including 66 lots of red and white Burgundies coming directly from Camille Giroud — a first in Asia — which also incorporates two lots of the very rare 1976 Musigny.

There will also be top vintages of Corton Charlemagne, Chambertin, Charmes Chambertin Corton “Le Rognet,” Chassagne Montrachet “les Vergers,” Volnay “les Lurets,” and Gevrey Chambertin “Lavaux St. Jacques.”

Camille Giroud has long been a “great source for mature Burgundies, having built its reputation on producing long-lived wines that were not released until the owners deemed them ready to drink,” said Robert Sleigh, head of Sotheby’s Wine, Asia, adding that even with a change of ownership in 2001, the wine producer has kept true to its origins, combining modern vineyard methods with traditional winemaking techniques.

Named “Blended Scotch Whisky of the Year in 2014” by The Whisky Advocate Awards, The Last Drop 50-year-old is composed of 82 different whiskies — 70 malts and 12 grains — many of which are from distilleries that no longer exist. In 1972, the majority was bottled and sold as a premium 12-year-old, but three barrels were said to have been overlooked in the warehouse and only rediscovered in 2008. By then, much of the whisky had evaporated, leaving enough to produce just 388 bottles.

The bottle on offer at auction has been donated by Crown Wine Cellars to benefit Hong Kong-based hardship charity, Sunshine Action and is estimated at HK$50,000‑100,000.