Macallan and Black Bowmore collection lead Sotheby’s sale this April

Auction house Sotheby’s is hosting two online sales this month, one dedicated to rare spirits, and the other to fine wine.

Bidding on the whiskies began on 6 April and will remain open until 19 April. There are 30 bottles in total, all from The Macallan’s ‘Fine & Rare series and all consigned from specialty retailer Wing Hop Fung in Los Angeles.

The whiskies span five decades from 1937 to 1972, each bottle in its original wooden case. They were purchased as a set from The Macallan in 2005 and have certification to prove their provenance.

The highlight of the collection is the highly sought-after 1945 56 year-old malt which has a pre-sale estimate of US$38,000 – $50,000.

Other highlights from the spirit sale include The Macallan 50 year-old in Lalique from the Six Pillars collection and the 72 year-old ‘Genesis’ decanter, and an entire seven-bottle collection of Black Bowmore and Bowmore Trilogy, which is the first time a complete set of Black Bowmore and Bowmore Trilogy have ever been offered at auction.

Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s spirits specialist, said: “Macallan is, undoubtedly, the world’s most collectable whisky and at the core of its most coveted expressions is the Fine & Rare collection. This collection achieved its cult status due to a number of qualities: vintages that stretch back to before the Second World War, age statements that exceed half a century and undeniable quality throughout. It is only the most savvy and determined of whisky collectors who have been able to build a truly comprehensive collection of Fine & Rare bottlings over the years, and it is rare to find one with such provenance. It is not only an honour for Sotheby’s to bring these bottles to auction, but an exciting opportunity for any collector to be able to build and complete their own meaningful collection of The Macallan Fine & Rare.”

Then, taking place from 13-26 April, the auctioneer will host an online fine wine sale, at the heart of which is a collection from an important New England cellar”, featuring the great wines and vintages  from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine Leroy, Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé, Château Latour, Château Mouton Rothschild and Giacomo Conterno among others.

Other consignments include wines from Domaine Armand Rousseau spanning 1996-2002, more Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and assortment cases from Prieuré Roch; four decades worth of Sassicaia (1979-2006) and Napa’s Harlan Estate as well as more first growth and second growth Bordeaux.