Karuizawa Geisha Series auctions for first time

A complete set of Karuizawa Geisha Series Japanese whisky will head to auction for the first time ever, estimated to fetch more than HK$1 million (£98,000) at Bonhams Hong Kong.

The full 27 bottles in the Karuizawa Geisha Series will auction for the first time next month

Taking place on 19 August, the auction will see the 27 bottles that make up the extremely rare Geisha Series go under the hammer, with an pre-sale estimate of HK$1,000,000-HK$1,300,000.

Aged for 29, 30, 31 and 50 years and bottled in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, the series contains liquid from the Karuizawa distillery, which was closed in 2000.

“This is an exciting opportunity to acquire a legendary whisky,” said Bonhams whisky specialist Daniel Lam. “The Geisha Series has never been offered at auction before and I am expecting great interest from collectors around the world.”

The Geisha Series will be part of an auction featuring more than 260 lots of rare Japanese and Scotch whiskies.

In Japanese whisky, this includes the Clubs Flush of malts and Hearts flush of malts (both estimated to fetch HK$120,000-150,000) in the coveted Hanyu Ichiro’s Card Series, as well as a collection of vintage Sherry cask-aged Yamazaki whiskies from 1982 to 1986 (HK$140,000-HK$180,000).

From Scotland, a vertical selection of 29 bottles of The Macallan from 1958-1986 is estimated to fetch HK$420,000-HK$460,000, while a bottle of The Macallan 50 Year Old in Lalique crystal will also feature alongside a bottle of Royal Salute 50 Year Old created to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 50 years on the throne.

In September last year, a full 54-bottle range of Hanyu Playing Cards was sold for HK$3.8 million (£319,000) at a Bonhams Hong Kong auction last Friday, shattering its HK$1.8m-HK$2.4m pre-sale estimate and setting a new world record for the most expensive range of Japanese whisky.