Bonhams launches its first spirits sale in Paris

Auction house Bonhams will hold its inaugural spirits sale in Paris on Tuesday 10 May.

The 189-lot sale will take place at Bonhams, 4 Rue de la Paix, Paris, featuring ‘exceptional’ whiskies and other spirits.

Diego Lanza, senior whisky specialist at Bonhams, said: “For our first whisky sale in Paris we have selected rare bottles, notably from Italian collections, that will delight international whisky enthusiasts.

“[Silvano] Samaroli, one of the last Italian whisky trading companies, is represented here with rare bottles including the now coveted 15-year-old Laphroaig, 1967. It has an estimate of €28,000 – €38,000 (US$29,000 – $40,000). Not only does it score 98 points on Whiskyfun.com, but it’s also ranked as the best whisky on Whiskybase.com. A truly legendary whisky, which we are very proud to offer at our first spirits auction in our Paris sale room.”

Other key lots from the inaugural sale will include a 12-year-old Springbank. Interest in the brand among collectors has increased in recent years and this bottling is considered by connoisseurs to be ‘the best ever produced’ by Springbank, Bonhams said.

Selected by Italian bottler Samaroli, it was part of a small batch produced and imported exclusively for the Italian market. It is expected to receive bids between €15,000-€20,000 (US$15,800-US$21,000).

Estimated to achieve a sale of €1,600-€2,000 (US$1,684-US$2,100) is a 19-year-old Highland Park. This whisky was exclusively distributed on the Italian market and produced in small quantities. It is from a limited edition run of 60 bottles and is accompanied by a numbered Edinburgh crystal decanter.

Bottled at 57% ABV by Gordon & MacPhail, The Macallan 10-year-old is estimated to reach between €1,100 to €1,400 (US$1,157-US$1,473).

Distilled in the 1960s, Longmorn 1974 celebrated the 20th anniversary of Samaroli and is estimated to sell for €2,200-€3,000 (US$2,315-US$3,157). It offers notes of coffee, soy and grapefruit on both the palate and the nose.

The lots will also include a Hardy 1914 Cognac. This rare Cognac Hardy 1914 Grande Champagne comes directly from the personal collection of Jacques Hardy.

It was aged for several decades before being found in a demijohn by Hardy. Purchased for his personal collection of eaux-de-vie, he then sold it to a handful of private clients over the years. The estimated value of this bottle is €5,500-€6,500 (US$5,790-US$6,840).

The auction house is also preparing to sell a selection of rare Japanese whiskies at its Bonhams Fine and Rare Wine and Whisky Sale, including a bottle of Yamazaki 50-Year-Old First Release.