‘Oldest’ Karuizawa could reach HK$1.4m at auction

A bottle of Karuizawa 1960 52-year-old Japanese whisky – said to be the distillery’s oldest expression – is forecast to fetch up to HK$1.4 million (US$178,585) at auction.

Bonhams will auction a 52-year-old Karuizawa in Hong Kong next month

The rare whisky was sampled and kept by Osami Uchibori, the former malt master of the closed Karuizawa distillery.

It is due to go under the hammer at the Bonhams Fine and Rare Wine and Whisky auction on 16 November in Hong Kong, and is expected to sell for at least HK$1m (US$127,564).

There are more than 70 Karuizawa bottles due to be sold at the auction, including a third edition of Yamazaki 50-year-old, which is also estimated to sell for between HK$1m and HK$1.4m.

A selection of Scotch whiskies will also feature in the sale, including first and second editions of Black Bowmore 1964, estimated to sell for HK$130,000-HK$180,000 (US$16,583-US$22,961).

The “largest” Macallan Fine & Rare offering will also be up for grabs, with more than 20 vintages from 1937 and 1991. It is expected to reach HK$55,000-HK$260,000 (US$7,016-US$33,167).

Earlier this month, a bottle of The Macallan Valerio Adami 1926 60-year-old Scotch whisky set a new world record after selling for £848,750 (US$1.1m) at a Bonhams auction in Edinburgh.

The only bottle of The Macallan 1926 60-year-old Scotch to have been hand-painted by Irish artist Michael Dillon is expected to become the first whisky to sell for £1 million (US$1.3m) when it is auctioned next month