Top 25 Most Expensive Whiskey Ever Sold on Auction as of 2024

October 30, 2023

 

In this post we will be covering most expensive whiskey, bourbon, cask, and scotch,  ever sold as of 2024 – background, prices, and more. Without further ado, let’s get straight into it.

 

1. Arbeg sets new record with most expensive

whisky ever sold ($19.3 mill)

The most expensive whisky ever sold at auction as of 2024 is a cask of Arbeg single malt scotch, which went for a staggering $19.3 million.

The whisky was distilled in 1975 and has survived two distillery closures, with the cask remaining intact. It was bought by a private collector based in Asia. The bottle preserves Arbeg’s past with its signature taste and aromas. 

While the Arbeg Cask is the most expensive whiskey ever sold (at the time of this writing in 2024), it has something of an unfair advantage over other bottles because the cask holds around 440 bottles.

 

2. MACALLAN VALERIO ADAMI 1926 60 YEAR OLD: $2.7M

The honor of the most costliest bottles of whisky in the world, by bottle, goes to the Macallan Valeria Adami 1926. Bottled after spending 60-years in a Sherry cask, this rare gem went to auction at Sotheby’s in November 2023. 

Macallan bottled 40 bottles of whisky in 1926. Twelve of these bottles were given a label that was designed by pop artist Valerio Adami. The bottles never went on sale to the public, and instead, they were sent to some of Macallan’s best clients. When this classic piece saw the light of day, it was snapped up for a cool $2.7 million. 

 

3. THE MACALLAN FINE & RARE AGED 60 YEARS: $1.9M

The next item on our 2024 list of the priciest whiskey, bourbon and scotch, is another Macallan fine and rare from 1926. It briefly became the most expensive whisky ever sold in 2019 when it fetched an at the time record $1.9 million. Expectations at Sotheby’s were that the bottle would fetch a maximum of around $570,000 or so. However, bids soon blew past that number.

Macalland is widely-regarded as the holy grail of whisky, and the post-sale press release describes a frantic and fervent atmosphere at Sotheby’s as bidding reached almost $2 million. 

While the entry above is not the highest prices whisky in the world, it sold for $700,000 more, partly based on the art. So, if you have a spare couple of million, and you’re buying actually to drink the whisky, you can save a chunk of money for going for this bottle.

 

4. THE MACALLAN MICHAEL DILLON 1926 60 YEAR OLD – $1.53M

Another entry, another 1926 Macallan, this time featuring beautiful hand-drawn art from Irish creative Michael Dillon. Christie’s auction house put this bottle up for sale in late November 2018 and fetched an incredible $1.53 million for the whisky that was bottled in 1986 after sitting in an ex-sherry cask for 60 years.

While Valerio Adami (entry no.2) and Peter Blake, the artist who illustrated the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover designed most of the 40 bottles; Dillion’s version is far rarer. It was commissioned through premier London Department store Fortnam & Mason in 1999 and depicts the Easter Elchies House of The Macallan and the Scottish Highlands.

At one point, it was the most costly whisky in the world and the first bottle to sell for more than $1 million. It’s a one-off, so considering the evolution of the market, it could fetch a lot should it return to the auction once more.

 

5. MACALLAN THE INTREPID – $1.4M

While it may not be the costliest whiskey in the world, the Macallan Intrepid is most certainly the largest. Coming in at just an inch below size foot, the bottle contains over 300 liters of single malt whisky. The whisky was matured for 32 years before being bottled in 2021. 

The Intrepid project was the brainchild of Thai business Fah Mai and a London-based whiskey investment firm, Rosewin Holdings. Fah Mai employee Daniel Monk designed the bottle in remembrance of his late father, Captain Stanley Monk. It was put up for auction on what would have been the Captain’s birthday.

The bottle features 11 intrepid explores, which is where this expensive whisky gets it name. The project was undertaken to raise money for various charities. Thankfully, if you want to taste the product, you don’t need to find the $1.4 million large bottle fetched at charity. There were also 12 50 cl bottles.

 

6. GLENFIDDICH, THE 1950S COLLECTION – $1.4M

Glenfiddich is a Scottish single-malt whisky distillery that was founded in the late 19th century. The distillery is located in the Valley of the Deer (which is where it gets its name) and is the single malt Scotch whisky with the biggest sales worldwide. 

Smooth, mellow, and very smokey, it has become a favorite of people all across the globe. The Glenfiddich 1950s collection is made up of four different bottles distilled in 1955, 1957, 1958, and 1959. These bottles are housed in a tailor-made maple and mahogany cabinet with a thermometer and hygrometer.

The pieces went on sale at Soteby’s in late December 2022 and were purchased for $1.4 million. Which seems like one of the greatest Christmas presents of all time.

 

7. Macallan Fine and Rare 1926

Macallan Fine and Rare lived up to its name in a Sotheby’s 2019 auction. The bottle sold for £1,452,000 although estimated for presale at only £350,000 to £450,000. This bottle was from the same batch which sold the previous record holder of £1.2 million back in 2018.

Distilled 85-years ago and aged for more than 60-years in European oak casks, in 2023, this whisky is considered a prize among collectors and investors alike.

The bottle that sold at auction had some interesting details, including a “ slightly scuffed vintage slip label,” and a somewhat worn Russian importer slip. What also set this bottle apart is that it was one of 12 bottles that were given the Fine & Rare label. 

The Macallan Fine and Rare 60 Year Old 1926 has been the Holy Grail of whisky collectors since around the 1980s. Indeed, in made its way into the Guiness Book of Records as the worlds most expensive whickey when it sold for $5,000 in 1987 at a New York Auction house. A considerable amount of money at the time, it now seems like an absolute bargain in light of six-figure purchases of similar bottles.

 

8) THE DALMORE DECADES NO.6 COLLECTION – $1.24M

The Dalmore Decade is a stunning collection of six bottles of whiskey. Each bottle represents a decade in the companies work, running from the 1950s all the way to the 2000s. 

Personally selected by Richard Paterson, a much-revered master distiller, each bottle is a work of art. Made from crystal and adorned with a sterling silver Dalmore stag emblem, Indeed, the aesthetic appeal is important, and each bottle comes with an illuminated pedestal. The collection also comes with a book celebrating the history of the Scottish distrillery.

The No.6 Collection went to auction in 2021 at Sotheby’s Hong Kong. The rare collection was snapped up by a private Asian collector for over $1.2 million.

 

9. The Macallan Red Collection: $960,000

The Macallan Red Collection is a celebration of the iconic brand’s red-hued whisky. This collection of six bottles spans the years of the company’s operation and includes bottles aged 40, 50, and 60 years old. However, three of the bottles are more senior, and come in at 71, 74, and a scarcely believable 78, when it became not just one of the most costliest whisky in the world but also the oldest sold at auction at the time.

The bottles came up for auction in October 2020 at Sotheby’s London. The items were donated by the Macallen company itself, with the proceeds going to Harvest London, a London food charity. Despite an original estimate of about $250,000, the Collection went for close to $1 million. 

While the Red Collection bottles can be bought separately, it’s important to note that the ones sold at Sotheby’s are different from the standard release. They have exclusive labels drawn by the Spanish Artist Javi Aznarez, who also designed the posters for Wes Anderson’s movie The French Dispatchers. 

There are two sets of the Macallan Red Collection. The company will hold on to the first set and keep it within its archives. The second set is the one that was sold at auction. As far as the market is concerned, this will be the only opportunity to buy this set. Should it appear at auction again, the price will likely be in excess of $1 million.

 

10. The Macallan Lalique Six Pillars Collection – $993,000 

The Macallan in Lalique Six Pillars Collection was released between 2005 and 2016. The collaboration with famed French crystal maker Lalique was comprised of six decanters filled with Macallan whisky of various ages. 

Over the course of eleven years, Macallan released a limited-edition pillar, starting with a 50-year-old whisky in a cask-influenced crystal decanter. The sixth and final pillar was a 65-year-old bottle.

The bottles are the height of luxury and soon became a collector’s item. Each bottle went for high prices at auction, but when put together as a collection, interest exceeded all expectations. 

In 2017, a Macallan Lalique Six Pillars Collection went to auction in Sotheby’s Hong Kong. In addition to the six rare bottles, the lot also included six Macallan Fine and Rare miniatures and six pairs of beautifully crafted Lalique Macallan glasses contained in a handcrafted cabinet made of natural ebony.

The stunning collection sold for US$993,000, with proceeds of the sale donated to charity.

 

11. Suntory Yamazaki 55-Year-Old – $795,000

Suntory is one of the most well-known names in Japanese whisky. This bottle comes from their Yamazaki distillery, which was the brand’s first. 

The story behind this 55-year-old whisky is wonderful. Aged in Mizunara Oak casks by master blender and Suntory founder Shinjiro Torii in 1960, further components were distilled by his son, Keizo Saji, in 1961 and 1964. In 2020, Shingo Torii, the founder’s grandson blended the three bottles to create this masterwork.

With only 100 bottles in existence, the Yamazaki 55 is a rare and treasured piece. However, they come to auction from time to time. Released in 2020 and sold by lottery, the original price was a mere $31,000. Since then, bottles have multiplied in price, with a Bohman’s Hong Kong auction fetching close to $800,000, making it the most expensive whisky in the world as of 2024, made by a Japanese manufacturer.

Each bottle comes in a Mizunara box with a plaited cord; the whisky is the realization of a pain-staking process combined with Japanese craft. According to Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo, “I used as inspiration the passage of time and ‘Wabi-sabi’—the Japanese belief that imperfections can help to ultimately contribute to perfection. While I often view other extra-aged whiskies as art, I consider Yamazaki 55 to be more like a Buddhist statue: calm and mysterious, requiring time to truly enjoy the inner beauty.”

 

12. BLACK BOWMORE ARCHIVE CABINET – $563,000

A Black Bowmore cabinet containing five of the beloved brand’s best bottles went to auction in April 2021 at Sotheby’s Hong Kong. It sold for over $560,000 in large part due to the rarity of each bottle and the incredible presentation.

The cabinet itself is beautiful and works as a domestic bar. However, its construction materials are what really make it a unique piece that’s worth talking about. Made from items that have been repurposed from the Bowman distillery is Islay, including brass from the distillery’s original spirit safe. 

What’s more, the cabinet also features a book, steel coasters, handmade glasses, and a jug. The five whiskeys were bottled between 1993 and 2016, with run numbers between 159 and 2000.

Finally, the unnamed buyer will also get to avail of a private guided tour of the factory in Islay. There, they can learn all about the ingredients and the processes that have gone into making the rare and wonderful bottles.

 

 13. Karuizawa Single Malt Whiskey Daikoku God Aged 52 Years 1960: $460,000

This delightful Karuizawa Single Malt Whiskey is the oldest expression from the famed Japanese distillery. Called Daikoku God, the bottles were distilled in 1960 and bottled 52 years later. They are also ultra-rare, with only 14 bottles ever made before the factory closed in 2000. 

Each of the 14 bottles comes with a netsuke carving. In 2022, Sotheby’s in London offered a bottle with a unique Daikoku God netsuks. Bidding was fierce, and the bottle sold for $460,000, surpassing a similar bottle with a dragon netsuke that sold for around $310,000 in a Hong Kong auction. 

A dark whiskey with a proof exceeding 50%, the bottle comes with an intricate wooden box with calligraphy by Soji Noshimoto. Instead of being numbered, each box features a unique character carved from the oak cask head. It’s the height of Japanese workmanship and a relic of a bygone era.

 

14. BOWMORE 54-YEAR-OLD WITH GLASSES: $460,000

2019 also saw a Sotheby’s London sale of a 54-year-old Bowmore.

The finely aged expensive whisky was 1 of only 12 bottles released from the batch. The sale included a 5ml sample, three crystal whisky glasses from 1957, and a signed certificate of authenticity.

Complete with an information booklet, platinum neck collar, and vintage stopper, the bottle sold for £363,000. This far outshined the original sale estimate of only £85,000 to £110,000.

 

 

 

15. MACALLAN 64 YEAR IN DECANTER: $464,000

Luxury and elegance is the first thing you think with this unique, crystal decanter whisky. Macallan is already a big name when it comes to rare and some of the most expensive whisky casks in the world – but this particular tipple is one the oldest in the books.

Presentation is an important part of an auction worthy whisky, and this 64 year’s one-of-a-kind decanter by the French designer Lalique is the height of sophistication. 

Created from casks dating back to 1942, 45 and 46, a single decanter fetched an incredible €464,000 at auction in 2010. for charitable causes. The bottle actually went on a world tour taking in twelve different cities to build up a buzz before the auction. The sale of the whisky was in honor of the charity called Water, which provides clean drinking water for developing countries.

16. MACALLAN’M’ WHISKY: $350,000

There’s little more exclusive in the world of whisky invest direct opportunities than the Macallan’M’ whisky. So limited that only two bottles exist, a single bottle of this extensively crafted and worked whisky went for €350,000 at auction.

It’s no whisky barrel investment, but this bottle fetches a higher price than the contents of a standard distillery in one single bottle.

It’s no surprise that the Macallan ‘M’ went for such a huge number, cementing the distillery place in the top most expensive and valuable whisky bottles and casks worldwide. It was a six litre decanter, and the only one that was available to the public. The other bottle was acquired by a private Asian investor, so when this one came up at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, demand was incredible.

image source: https://www.catawiki.com/stories/4443-10-of-the-most-unique-whiskies-sold-at-auction

17. 81-year-old Macallan whisky sells for $380,000

 

A single malt whisky by Macallan sold for £300,000 at auction in October 2022. The 81-year-old whisky, which was put up by a private collector, was only unveiled in February this year and is crafted from a single, sherry-seasoned oak cask in a hot glass decanter. Only 288 bottles have been produced worldwide.

The decanter also sits on a bronze sculpture of hands, which represents Macallan’s rich history. This was the oldest whisky ever sold at auction, so it’s no surprise that it was full of competitive bids. Whisky auctions are becoming more and more common as unique casks are being discovered with more investment in pricey whisky taking place.

18. Springbank 1919: $338,000

Complete with a 2001 letter of authenticity, the Springbank 1919 sold at Sotheby’s for £266,200 in October 2019. This whisky was bottled in 1970 and sold in a wooden display box.

With an estimated price of £100,000 to £140,000, the bottle of Springbank was one of the most successful and costly whiskey sales at the auction.

 

19. MACALLAN 60-YEAR-OLD IN LALIQUE – $318,500

A 2021 Sotheby’s sale saw a 60-year old bottle of Macallan high-end investment whisky go for £68,750. However, it could not match the price reached at Hong Kong Sotheby’s in 2013 where a similar bottle was sold for $318,500.

The Lalique bottle was a 4th edition of the 6 Pillars Whisky Collection. It was sold in the original packaging with a crystal topper and gift box.

With so many Macallan collectible whisky taking top spots in auction values, the brand is one of the best whisky to invest in 2024 (and the most expensive by far, as we have already seen).

 

20. Glenlivet Gordon & MacPhail Generations 80 Year Old

The Glenlivet whisky aged 80 years was decanted in a bottle, especially designed by master architect, Sir David Adjaye. The case and bottle alone were valued at up to £140,000. The lot was sold in October 2021 for 1,500,000 HKD. While not the highest investment price fetched at a Sotheby’s whisky auction, the piece turned heads for its priceless vintage.

 

21. KARUIZAWA 51-YEAR-OLD CASK – $150,000

Bottled in 1964 in Japan, this Karuizawa whisky sold at Sotheby’s in London for £96,800 in March 2020. As part of the “Finest and Rarest Spirits” auction, the piece had an estimated value of £50,000 to £90,000. It included its original wooden presentation case.

22. BOWMORE 1957 54 YEAR 2015: $147,000

Islay whisky is exceptionally popular, and Bowmore is king when it comes to exquisite, luxury whiskies from the area. The Bowman 1957 54 Year bottle is in a league of its own, with a limited run of just 12 bottles in total ever being created. With that level of exclusivity, it’s entry on our most expensive whiskey, scotch and bourbon in 2024 came naturally– with an incredible auction sale price of €136,000.

Image source: https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2017/10/most-expensive-whiskies-sold-at-auction/5/

 

23. 52 YEAR KARUIZAMA 1960: $120,000

When it comes to premium and costly whisky, you don’t get much more premium than Karuizawa. Known for being the single most expensive bottle of Japanese whisky to be sold at auction, only 41 one of the bottles were produced in total.

As a rare whisky investment, it’s top of the charts – and with a worth of €111,000, it’s a worthy investment indeed.

24. Yamakazi 50 Year Single Malt: $119,000

Sweet, mature and incredibly rare, this 2005 first edition by high-end distillery Suntory is amongst the holy grail of whisky investment in 2024, and beyond.

Simple, stylish, and with gold accents, this unassuming bottle sold for an impressive €110,000 at auction, making it amongst the costliest whisky to invest in 2024 and for years to come as it becomes even scarcer.

Image source: https://en.thevalue.com/articles/japanese-whisky-record-yamazaki-50-year-old

 

25. The Old Ingledew Whiskey

 

According to the Skinner Auction House in Georgia, U.S., the oldest bourbon whisky in existence was also sold in 2021.

The 250-year-old batch was thought to have been bottled in the 1860’s. After carbon dating, it was found to have been distilled sometime between 1762 and 1802.

It sold for auction in June, 2021 for $137,000 USD. Another rare find, this whisky is the most expensive whisky from America sold in 2019 by Sotheby’s. These 2021 finds suggest investing in rare whisky in the coming year could pose more surprises for collectors. 

A quick overview of some of the most expensive whisky in the world….

 

New Bond Street Pawnbrokers is a high-end pawnshop in Central London, we manage multiple portfolios of valuable collections, and recently we achieved a sale on behalf of a client at Bonham’s that was particularly memorable.

If you’re looking to pawn fine wines, get in touch with us today. Our Blenheim Street shop is based in the heart of Mayfair. Appointments can be made, but are not 100% necessary; we’re always happy to take walk-ins. We look forward to seeing you – and your fine wines – very soon. Some of the wine we loan against includes Chateau Petrus, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Lafite, and Chateau Mouton to name just a few.

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