Bonhams NY brings back whisky auctions

Bonhams New York has reintroduced its Fine and Rare Wine and Whisky auction more than one year after the site suspended all whisky sales due to concerns over “profitability”.

Bonhams New York is once again selling whisky with the return of its Fine and Rare Wine and Whisky auction

The auction house will host the event on 20 November at the 580 Madison Avenue saleroom and will also broadcast to Bonhams in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

In August 2014, Bonhams suspended all future whisky auctions at its New York site pending a valuation of their profitability.

At the time, Mariam Cebalo, director of business management at Bonhams, said the move was “business decision” and did not necessarily reflect demand for rare expressions in the secondary market.

It was thought that Bonhams New York was unable to generate sufficient revenue to justify the storage, appraisal, display and human resources costs associated with rare whisky auctions.

On the return of the Fine and Rare Wine and Whisky to the site, Gary D’Urso, Bonhams rare and fine wines specialist, said: “On behalf of Bonhams I’m pleased to announce our return to the New York whisky auction market. A section that will lead off our 20 November sale will feature an important American collection highlighted by unique single malt bottlings, some of which have never been offered for sale in the US.

Leading the lots offered will be a Macallan 1928 50 Year Old Anniversary Malt, featuring a wooden presentation case and letter from the chairman of Macallan-Glenlivet, which is estimated to fetch US$42,000-US$48,000.

Another bottled of 50-year-old Macallan – Macallan 1949 50 Year Old Millennium Decanter – will also feature and is expected to fetch US$20,000-US$25,000.

A full set of Black, White and Gold Bowmore 1964, featuring rare 44-, 43- and 42-year-old whisky, will be offered in presentation cases and is estimated to sell for US$22,000-US$25,000.

Meanwhile, a range of single casks of different vintages from Islay distillery Ardbeg is expected to fetch US$3,800-US$4,200, and a single bottle of Ardbeg 40 year Old 1965 is estimated to sell for US$6,500-US$7,000.

Despite an overall decline in the Scotch whisky market, demand for rare whisky continues to soar around the world. Figures released by Rare Whisky 101 (RW101) show that in the first six months of 2015, the number of rare Scotch whisky bottles sold in UK auctions reached a record high.