Auction Update: 20 Highest Single Bottle Hammer Prices for February

February’s 20-highest hammer prices totaled $418,152, just under 60% compared to February 2025; the lowest monthly total since July 2025. The Port Ellen 12 year old The Queen’s Visit 1980, covered in our mid-month update, took the highest hammer price of the month. Macallan in Lalique 50 year old generated a hammer price of $40,000 at Bonhams Skinner, though a bottle sold for more than $100,000 in 2025. Three bottles of Macallan made the list, generating the highest combined hammer price for any brand, helping it to climb into second place behind Van Winkle. Eagle Rare 25 year old made the list for the first time, having come perilously close on many occasions. Glenrothes The 51 year old, with its made-for-Instagram smashable outer shell, was another brand debut. It launched in April 2025 for $46,500, and sold at Whisky Auctioneer for a hammer price of $21,866.

The highest bid at Grand Whisky Auction was $27,060 for the Macallan Exceptional Cask 1950 67 year old, but it failed to sell, though a lot comprising six 500-ml bottles of cask strength Macallan sold for $12,854, each with hand-written tasting notes.

Coming up in March, attention turns to Asia as Bonhams and Sotheby’s host their first whisky sales of the year in Hong Kong, with Sotheby’s returning to New York at the end of the month.

February 2026’s 20 Highest Single Bottle Hammer Prices

Results converted to dollars using xe.com

20. Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond Distilled Spring 1967 One Gallon
Sold on: February 22^nd at Unicorn Auctions
Hammer price: $11,000

19. Samaroli Glen Garioch 1971
Sold on: February 9^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $11,206

18. Dalmore 1926 50 year old
Sold on: February 8^th at Scotch Whisky Auctions
Hammer price: $11,562

17. Brora Rare Malts Selection 1972 22 year old
Sold on: February 9^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $11,753

16. Dalmore 45 year old (2023 Release)
Sold on: February 17^th at Whisky.Auction
Hammer price: $12,185

15. Macallan The Red Collection 40 year old (2025 Release)
Sold on: February 22^nd at Whisky Hammer
Hammer price: $12,270

14. Glenlivet The Winchester Collection 1967 50 year old
Sold on: February 9^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $12,436

13. Eagle Rare 25 year old
Sold on: February 1^st at Unicorn Auctions
Hammer price: $12,600

12. Bowmore 1969 Sherry Cask Full Proof 20^th Anniversary of Edoardo Giaccone’s
Sold on: February 9^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $13,120

11. Gold Bowmore 1964 44 year old
Sold on: February 18^th at Whisky Online Auctions
Hammer price: $13,807

10. Buffalo Trace O.F.C. 1985
Sold on: February 22^nd at Unicorn Auctions
Hammer price: $16,100

9. Old Rip Van Winkle 23 year old Decanter
Sold on: February 1^st at Unicorn Auctions
Hammer price: $17,600

8. Samaroli Tormore 1966 Matured in Sherry Wood
Sold on: February 9^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $18,450

7. Samaroli Tormore 1966 Matured in Sherry Wood
Sold on: February 9^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $19,133

6. Glenrothes The 51 year old
Sold on: February 9^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $21,866

5. Samaroli Laphroaig 1970 Natural Strength
Sold on: February 9^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $21,866

4. Buffalo Trace O.F.C. 1982
Sold on: February 1^st at Unicorn Auctions
Hammer price: $22,300

3. Macallan The Red Collection 50 year old
Sold on: February 9^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $34,166

2. Macallan in Lalique 50 year old
Sold on: February 24^th at Bonhams Skinner
Hammer price: $40,000

1. Port Ellen 12 year old The Queen’s Visit 1980
Sold on: February 9^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $84,732

Each month, we publish the 20-highest hammer prices for single bottles of whisky. This table ranks the 20 brands by the sum of their hammer price sales and shows the latest month’s results.