‘Exceedingly rare’ Macallan cask heads to auction

One of the oldest casks of Macallan whisky on the market is expected to fetch up to US$600,000 when it goes under the hammer at auction next month.

The cask of Macallan is said to be “one of the finest of its kind”

The 30-year-old Sherry hogshead will feature in an auction hosted by Bonhams in Hong Kong on 15 November. The cask contains liquid distilled in 1989 and can be stored by The Macallan for as long as the buyer wishes. It would currently yield 261 bottles.

Bonhams estimates the cask will fetch between HK$3.6 million and HK$4.6m (approximately US$460,000-US$590,000).

“Whisky casks are trending because they offer much flexibility for collectors,” said Daniel Lam, Bonhams’ director of wine and spirits, Asia.

“Getting a good cask means that one can gain more quality bottles at a competitive price, or let it mature further to yield a higher value. The current 30-year Macallan cask is no doubt one of the finest of its kind available in the market yet.”

In November 2018, Bonhams Hong Kong set the world record for the most expensive whisky cask sale after an American hogshead containing 22-year-old Macallan sold for HK$3.4m (approximately US$440,000).

Two months ago, Bonhams Hong Kong sold what was believed to be the final Hanyu Ichiro’s Full Card Series for HK$7.2m (US$917,000), setting a new record for a Japanese whisky collection sale.

A number of rare Japanese whiskies will feature in the auction house’s upcoming sale, including a 52-year-old Karuizawa and 35-year-old Yamazaki matured in a Spanish Sherry butt.

Scotch whisky highlights include a trio of Bowmore single malts, the ‘Dreams’ series by famous bottler Samaroli and a complete set of cask-strength Macallans from 1981-1990.