Sotheby's Latest Sale Features Some Unexpected Rarities

Bidding opened this morning on Sotheby's March whisky sale in New York, called The Camouflage Collection Part 1. It’s a 1,500-bottle array loaded with rare expressions of Pappy Van Winkle, Michter’s, Buffalo Trace, and Willett, as well as Macallan and Yamazaki. It also features some unusual surprises, such as a 36 year old Redemption rye (one of only 18 bottles released) carrying an estimate of $10,000-$15,000.

The rarities from Old Rip Van Winkle include a 23 year old decanter distilled in 1986, one of 1,200 produced. Others are bottles of Van Winkle dating back to the 2008 release, including a 23 Family Reserve. A similar bottle valued at $3,000-$4,000 recently sold for a hammer price of $42,000.

The collection also includes:

•More than 40 bottles of Michter’s running from its entry-level Toasted Barrel (estimate of $450-$600) to its Single Barrel rye, which has an estimate of $9,000-$12,000.

•Over 40 bottles from the Willett Family Estate range, both bourbon and rye, ranging in age from 4 to 26 years old.

•Buffalo Trace’s first releases of George T. Stagg and Eagle Rare, as well as numerous other expressions from all five whiskeys in the collection.

All the whiskeys in this sale originate from a single collector. The offerings include full original cases, first editions, and some rarely seen whiskeys. Scotch and Japanese whiskies include Macallan Fine & Rare 32 year old 1969, Macallan 40 year old The Red Collection, and Yamazaki 18 year old Mizunara Cask.

A total of 470 lots are on offer, and the sale carries a combined pre-sale estimate of $670,000. You can view the online catalog here. The auction closes on March 17th.