Whisky Auction Update: 20 Highest Single Bottle Hammer Prices in July

Single malt dominated the million-dollar list of the 20-highest hammer prices at auction in July, which produced a combined value of $1,017,291. For the second month in a row, this total outperformed the equivalent period from last year. With impressive performances from Macallan and Yamazaki in particular, the value of the 20 hammer prices was up 8.2% compared to July 2023. As noted in our mid-month report, July also produced a new highest single bottle hammer price for 2024 with the sale of a bottle of Yamazaki 55 year old at Sotheby’s, Hong Kong. It could have been even higher, however, as Whisky Hammer had another bottle of the Yamazaki for sale at the end of July. Despite bids exceeding $225,000, it failed to reach its reserve price.

While only one bourbon made July’s list, the prospects for August look better. This week’s Unicorn Auctions is a big one, with a huge array of dusties including over 1,000 bottles of bourbon. The list includes deep selections from Stitzel-Weller, a variety of Japanese export bourbons, and vintage bottlings of Wild Turkey, Old Grand-Dad, and W.L Weller among other classic expressions.

July 2024 – 20 Highest Single Bottle Hammer Prices

Results converted to dollars using xe.com

20. Macallan Red Collection 40 year old
Sold on: July 8^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $18,596

19. Glenfiddich 50 year old First Release
Sold on: July 8^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $20,520

18. Hakushu First Class
Sold on: July 11^th at Sotheby’s, Hong Kong
Hammer price: $23,055

17. Bowmore 1964 37 year old Fino Cask
Sold on: July 8^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $23,085

16. Glendronach 1971 50 year old
Sold on: July 9^th at the Grand Whisky Auction
Hammer price: $23,331

15. Balvenie 1963 50 year old Cask No. 4567
Sold on: July 8^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $23,741

14. Old Rip Van Winkle 23 year old
Sold on: July 14^th at Unicorn Auctions
Hammer price: $24,000

13. Yamazaki Junshin
Sold on: July 11^th at Sotheby’s, Hong Kong
Hammer price: $24,335

12. Gordon & MacPhail Generations Mortlach 1938 70 year old
Sold on: July 18^th at Bonhams, Edinburgh
Hammer price: $24,649

11. Macallan Millennium 50 year old
Sold on: July 9^th at Sotheby’s, Paris
Hammer price: $25,950

10. Macallan Down to Work 1967
Sold on: July 18^th at Bonhams, Edinburgh
Hammer price: $25,946

9. Macallan Exceptional Single Cask 1950 No. 1683–13
Sold on: July 18^th at Bonhams, Edinburgh
Hammer price: $28,541

8. Bowmore 1965 52 year old
Sold on: July 18^th at Bonhams, Edinburgh
Hammer price: $28,541

7. Macallan The Red Collection 50 year old
Sold on: July 18^th at Bonhams, Edinburgh
Hammer price: $36,325

6. Macallan 1946 56 year old Masters of Photography Albert Watson
Sold on July 22^nd at Just Whisky
Hammer price: $45,503

5. Yamazaki 35 year old
Sold on: July 8^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $53,289

4. Macallan The Red Collection 78 year old
Sold on: July 8^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $53,866

3. Macallan The Red Collection 74 year old
Sold on: July 8^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $65,479

2. Macallan The Reach 81 year old
Sold on: July 8^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $192,377

1. Yamazaki 55 year old
Sold on: July 11^th at Sotheby’s, Hong Kong
Hammer price: $256,162

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 20-highest hammer prices and shows the latest month’s results.