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‘Largest’ American whiskey collection heads to auction
The “world’s largest” private collection of American whiskey has gone on sale, comprising 25 bottles of Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon and a near-complete Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.
The collection of American whiskeys includes a 23-year-old Pappy Van Winkle
Pat’s Whiskey Collection comprises more than 9,000 bottles in its entirety and is expected to sell for around US$5 million when it concludes in June 2021.
The second part of Pat’s Whiskey Collection, dubbed the “world’s largest” private whisky collection to be offered at auction, will feature more than 630 lots of American whiskeys. The collection went live today (9 October) on Whisky Auctioneer and will run until 7pm BST on 19 October.
The auction will include a near-complete collection of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, much-coveted Pappy Van Winkle bottlings and the 1974 AH Hirsch Reserve Bourbon.
The collection of Pappy Van Winkle bottles will include the 23 Year Old Pappy Van Winkle, one of the most highly-collected Bourbons in the world. The auction will also offer a collection of Old Fitzgerald bottlings, produced using rare liquid stocks from the Stitzel-Weller distillery.
Nearly 100 bottles of Jack Daniel’s including Sinatra Century, Old No.7 Inaugural Bottle and the Gold Medal series will also feature in the sale, along with collections from Very Olde St Nick, Willett Family Estate, Michter’s and Orphan Barrel.
‘One of a kind’ opportunity
Joe Wilson, head of content at Whisky Auctioneer, said: “The American whiskey segment of Pat’s collection is undoubtedly one of its most important and impressive components.
“The collection is a staggeringly complete forensic examination of the prestige and collectable Bourbon that commands our market today, and how we got there. It is both retrospective as well as modern, encompassing careful selections of the revered output from historic Stitzel-Weller distillery, with a dutifully curated library of 21st century classics from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection and beyond.
“The ‘heart and soul’ of Pat’s collection is confidently the most comprehensive record of American whiskey to be offered by a single owner in a single auction.
“We are honoured to work with Pat in bringing this truly ‘one of a kind’ opportunity to a global audience of Bourbon and American whiskey aficionados.”
The rest of Pat’s Whiskey Collection will be sold in phases over the next nine months.
The owner of the collection, who is known only as ‘Pat’, said: “Bourbon and American whiskey is the absolute heart and soul of my collection. It defined for me what the journey of whisky discovery was supposed to look like, akin to a historic drinking game to be played over a decade or more.
“The history of US American whiskey is fascinating and complex. Untangling the threads and putting the pieces back together is a true journey of exploration and discovery. One you should embark on without preconceived ideas of whisk(e)y snobbery and a preparedness to have your palate awed at every twist and turn.
“Today marks an emotional milestone for me as I prepare to say goodbye to some stand out bottles. However I will certainly be holding back a few favourites, for my own consumption.”