Springbank 1919 to lead Christie’s auction

A 50-year-old bottle of Springbank Scotch whisky is forecast to fetch up to £280,000 (US$375,000) at auction next month.

Auction house Christie’s will host its Finest and Rarest Wines and Spirits sale on 2 and 3 December.

Leading the lots will be a bottle of Springbank 1919, 50 Years Old. One of only 24 bottles ever made, the hammer is expected to come down anywhere between £200,000 (US$268,000) and £280,000.

The bottle comes from the collection of Le Clos (Dubai International Airport).

Further notable lots that will be on sale during the auction include Samaroli bottlings, including The Macallan whiskies spanning 1954-1986, The Dalmore Constellation range, and Brora annual releases.

Noah May, Christie’s head of department, wine and spirits, said: “We are delighted to offer this superlative selection of whiskies in our upcoming sale of finest and rarest wines and spirits.

“The scope is varied and marked by the singular characteristics and quality of the bottles and casks on offer.

“We are honoured to collaborate with Le Clos (Dubai International Airport) to offer a bottle of Springbank 1919, 50 Years Old, one of the rarest whiskies ever to be bottled, into a buoyant market, where sophisticated collectors can be observed competing for the rarest items.”

Christie’s will also offer three casks of single malt whisky from the Ardross Distillery in the Highlands, Scotland.

The casks will be: The Ardross First-Fill Ex-Bourbon Cask (around 200 litres), The Ardross Sherry Cask (approximately 500 litres), and The Ardross Japanese Mizunara Oak Cask (around  450 litres).

The casks are collectively expected to sell for between £80,000 and £130,000 (US$107,000-US$174,000).

Earlier this year, The Spirits Business spoke to Johnny Fowle, spirits specialist for auction house Sotheby’s, to find out what it’s like to sell the world’s rarest whiskies.