Japanese malt tops Sotheby’s HK sales weekend

Sotheby’s wine and spirits department hosted a HK$150 million (US$19m) auction, with a bottle of Japanese whisky making just over HK$2m.

So far this year the department has made HK$462m (US$59m) from its sales in Asia, the highest-ever annual total and with further sales to go annual results could surpass US$100m.

The top lot was a bottle of 50 Year Old Yamazaki which went for HK$2.3m, the most valuable bottle of Japanese whisky yet sold by Sotheby’s in Asia.

A collection of Moutai was also sold for HK$2m and the final collection from the cellar of Park Smith realised over HK$5m.

Elsewhere, bottles of Domaine e la Romanée-Conti and Chevalier Montrachet from Domaine d’Auvernay were in high demand.

Adam Bilbey, head of Sotheby’s Wine in Asia, said: “Continuing our record-setting trend, with this season’s three extraordinary auctions we are thrilled to have achieved our highest ever annual total for wines and spirits sales in Asia – making Sotheby’s the clear market leader in the region.

“Collectors responded to top drawer wines from single-cellar collections, testament to their sophisticated palates and a desire to acquire the very best the market has to offer.

“These results put Sotheby’s Wine on track for annual global sales to surpass $100 million for a second consecutive year and we are now looking forward to our sales in London of The Ultimate Whisky Collection and Rare Wines and Spirits from the Cellar of Graham Lyons.”