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Macallan 1991 cask sold at Bonhams for world record price

26 August 2021 By Alice Liang

Auction house Bonhams rounded up its Fine and Rare Whisky Sale in Hong Kong with a world-record auction price of HK$4,464,000 for a Macallan 1991 cask.

The Fine and Rare Whisky sale was held in Hong Kong on 20 August. The sale achieved a total of HK$24.5 million, crowned by Macallan-1991 Cask which sold at a record-breaking price HK$4,464,000. Additionally, 100% of Japanese whisky Karuizawa and Yamazaki on offer were sold.

Commenting on the result, Daniel Lam, Bonhams director of wine and spirits, Asia, said: “In terms of both buying and selling, 2021 has been a strong and resilient market for whisky. Our year-to-date total has surpassed that for the same period before Covid in 2019.”

“Cask collecting is fast growing as a trend and one which has become a Bonhams speciality. In 2019, we set a world record when we sold a Macallan 1989 cask for a per-bottle price of HK$17,103. The cask in this sale has achieved a per-bottle price of HK$22,099 – and a new world record – a very strong increase in just two years.”

“Meanwhile, Japanese whisky continues to be a hotly-contested field, with Yamazaki and Karuizawa lots 100% sold in our sale. The announcement that the final editions of Karuizawa whisky will be released later this year has fuelled demand.”

Distilled by Macallan in December 1991, this 1991 cask was re-racked in 2017 with sherry. Its high alcohol content at around 51.5% ABV makes it a highly desirable choice for long-term collecting. As the cask can yield around 202 bottles, it ranks the highest per-bottle price (HK$22,099) for any whisky cask at auction.

The auction house also announced the whisky sale year-to-date total, including wine, hit HK$80.5milion, surpassing the same period in 2019, which was HK$67million.

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