Whisky Auction Update August 4th 2023: The 20 Highest Single Bottle Hammer Prices in July

Macallan, Karuizawa, and Hanyu dominated July’s highest-selling bottles with Macallan The Reach 81 year old taking the top spot again. Macallan also produced the oldest distillation year on this month’s list, with Macallan Anniversary Malt 1928 50 year old. Unicorn Auction’s sale of an Old Rip Van Winkle 25 year old was the second-highest value American whiskey auctioned this year so far. The combined value this month was up considerably compared to last, reaching nearly $1 million, with the precise total ringing in at $939,805.

July 2023 – Top 20 Highest Single Bottle Hammer Prices

Results converted to dollars using xe.com

20. Black Bowmore 1964 42 year old
Sold on: July 5^th 2023 at Whisky-Online Auctions
Hammer price: $22,876

19. Black Bowmore 1964 29 year old First Edition
Sold on: July 5^th 2023 at Whisky-Online Auctions
Hammer price: $23,003

18. Macallan 40 year old (2017 release)
Sold on: July 9^th at Scotch Whisky Auctions
Hammer price: $23,109

17. Macallan Fine & Rare 1938 31 year old
Sold on July 10^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $26,957

16. Macallan 40 year old (2016 release)
Sold on: July 5^th 2023 at Whisky-Online Auctions
Hammer price: $27,959

15. Macallan Fine & Rare 1952 49 year old
Sold on July 10^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $29,525

14. Macallan Fine & Rare 1950 52 year old
Sold on July 10^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $30,808

13. Macallan Fine & Rare 1949 53 year old
Sold on July 10^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $30,808

12. Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt Card Series Two of Clubs Cask No. 9500
Sold on July 10^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $32,092

11. Karuizawa Aqua of Life 1969 50 year old Cask No. 538
Sold on: July 18th at Sotheby’s
Hammer price: $35,839

10. Karuizawa Aqua of Life 1968 50 year old Cask No. 6223
Sold on: July 18th at Sotheby’s
Hammer price: $35,839

9. Midelton Very Rare Silent Distillery Collection Release 3 1973 47 year old
Sold on: July 23^rd at Whisky Hammer
Hammer price: $36,000

8. Old Rip Van Winkle 25 year old
Sold on: July 2^nd 2023 at Unicorn Auctions
Hammer price: $36,100

7. Brora 40 year old
Sold on: July 5^th 2023 at Whisky-Online Auctions
Hammer price: $38,126

6. Hanyu 1985 The Joker Monochrome Edition Cask No. 1024
Sold on July 10^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $41,720

5. Karuizawa Noh Whisky 1971 41 year old Cask No. 1842
Sold on: July 10^th 2023 at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $51,347

4. Karuizawa 1963 50 year old Cask No. 5132
Sold on: July 18th at Sotheby’s
Hammer price: $57,599

3. Macallan Anniversary Malt 1928 50 year old
Sold on: July 13th at Sotheby’s
Hammer price: $65,472

2. Macallan Tales of the Macallan Volume 1 1950 71 year old
Sold on: July 13th at Sotheby’s
Hammer price: $72,020

1. Macallan The Reach 81 year old 1940
Sold on: July 13th at Sotheby’s
Hammer price: $222,606

Year to Date Auction Values By Whisky Brand

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