Whisky Auction Update: 20 Highest Single Bottle Hammer Prices August 2024

With fewer auctions scheduled during August, the lazy days of summer resulted in a lower-than-normal 20-highest hammer price list, with a combined value of just $366,515. While the list broke $1 million in July, August delivered a lack of high-value whiskies, mainly due to no major auction events. Macallan and Van Winkle both managed five bottles each on the list, while the absence of Yamazaki 55 year old and Macallan The Reach 81 year old, the highest value bottles of the year so far, enabled bottles of 50 year old scotch distilled at Tamdhu, Loch Lomond, and Fettercairn to make their first appearances on the list. Meanwhile, other brands, such as Bowmore and Dalmore, picked up further sales to solidify their positions in the 2024 rankings.

September is packed with a full schedule of auctions. Look out for the bottle of Gordon & MacPhail Generations 80 year old distilled at Glenlivet Distillery going under the hammer at Zachy’s, New York. Sotheby’s sale of Exceptional Scotch and Epic Rye in New York is open for bidding and includes a bottle of Macallan Anniversary Malt 1928 50 year old and a bottle of LeNell’s Red Hook Rye Barrel No. 1. With a full roster of auctions and a wide choice of high-value bottles, it’s looking unlikely that hammer prices of $10,000 will be enough to earn a place on September’s list of the 20-highest hammer prices.

August 2024 – 20 Highest Single Bottle Hammer Prices

Results converted to dollars using xe.com

20. Bowmore 1955 40 year old
Sold on: August 5^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $10,724

19. Karuizawa 34 year old Ruby Geisha Cask No. 3668
Sold on: August 25^th at Whisky Hammer
Hammer price: $10,834

18. The Last Drop 1980 Buffalo Trace
Sold on: August 12^th at Unicorn Auctions
Hammer price: $11,300

17. Dalmore 45 year old
Sold on: August 11^th at Scotch Whisky Auctions
Hammer price: $11,481

16. Macallan Select Reserve 1946 52 year old
Sold on August 19^th at Just Whisky
Hammer price: $11,684

15. Dalmore 45 year old
Sold on: August 5^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $11,490

14. Macallan Select Reserve 1946 52 year old
Sold on: August 25^th at Whisky Hammer
Hammer price: $12,155

13. Fettercairn 1966 50 year old
Sold on: August 25^th at Whisky Hammer
Hammer price: $12,815

12. Old Rip Van Winkle 15 year old Sam’s Wine & Spirits Private Barrel
Sold on: August 5^th at Unicorn Auctions
Hammer price: $13,300

11. Loch Lomond 1967 50 year old
Sold on: August 25^th at Whisky Hammer
Hammer price: $13,344

10. Tamdhu 1963 50 year old Cask No. 4678
Sold on: August 25^th at Whisky Hammer
Hammer price: $13,344

9. Springbank 12 year old Sherry Wood 100 proof
Sold on: August 5^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $13,404

8. Pappy Van Winkle 23 year old
Sold on: August 5^th at Unicorn Auctions
Hammer price: $16,500

7. Twisted Spoke 16 year old
Sold on: August 5^th at Unicorn Auctions
Hammer price: $16,600

6. Hibiki Arita 35 year old
Sold on: August 16^th at Spink, China
Hammer price: $21,806

5. Old Rip Van Winkle 23 year old
Sold on: August 5^th at Unicorn Auctions
Hammer price: $22,000

4. Macallan Fine & Rare 1979 40 year old
Sold on: August 5^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $22,341

3. Macallan Fine & Rare 1937 37 year old
Sold on: August 11^th at Scotch Whisky Auctions
Hammer price: $22,962

2. Old Rip Van Winkle 25 year old
Sold on: August 5^th at Unicorn Auctions
Hammer price: $37,200

1. Macallan 1950 Tales of the Macallan Volume I
Sold on: August 11^th at Scotch Whisky Auctions
Hammer price: $61,231

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 price sales and shows the latest month’s results.