Whisky Auction Update March 3, 2023: 20 Highest Single Bottle Hammer Prices of February

Sotheby’s and Whisky Auctioneer dominated February’s highest hammer prices, with Whisky Auctioneer continuing its lead as the top seller of the month with eight entries. The sale of two expressions of Midleton at Irish Whiskey Auctions and a bottle of Old Rip Van Winkle by Unicorn Auctions led to these auction houses' first appearance on the list. The combined value of this month’s 20 bottles is $979,685, a 25% increase from January. The list includes 10 bottles of single malt scotch, including six Macallan, three Bowmore, and one Springbank. Additionally, five American, three Japanese, and two Irish whiskeys made February’s list.

February 2023 – Top 20 Highest Single Bottle Hammer Prices

Results converted to dollars using xe.com

20. Springbank 1919 50 year old
Sold on: February 6th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $25,815

19. Midleton Very Rare 30^th Anniversary Pearl Edition
Sold on: February 12th at Irish Whiskey Auctions
Hammer price: $26,134

18. Bowmore 1964 35 year old Cask No. 3709
Sold on February 26th at Whisky Hammer
Hammer price: $26,278

17. Michter’s 25 year old Single Barrel Rye (2012 Release)
Sold On: February 6^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $27,016

16. Old Rip Van Winkle 23 Year Old Family Selection
Sold on: February 12th at Unicorn Auctions
Hammer price: $27,600

15. Bowmore 1965 52 year old
Sold on: February 21st at Grand Whisky Auction
Hammer price: $28,162

14. LeNell’s Red Hook Rye 23 year old Barrel No. 3
Sold on: February 10th at Sotheby’s
Hammer price: $30,000

13. Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 23 year old (StraightBourbon.com 2007 release)
Sold on: February 10th at Sotheby’s
Hammer price: $30,000

12. Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 23 year old (Kentucky Barrel Society 2007 release)
Sold on: February 10th at Sotheby’s
Hammer price: $30,000

11. Macallan 40 year old (2016 Release)
Sold on: February 10^th at Sotheby’s
Hammer price: $30,000

10. Karuizawa Emerald Geisha 35 year old Cask No. 8518
Sold on: February 6^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $30,162

9. Hanyu 1990 Ichiro’s Malt Card Queen of Hearts 2^nd Release Cask No. 9102
Sold on: February 6^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $34,820

8. Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Chapter 2 46 year old
Sold on: February 12^th at Irish Whiskey Auctions
Hammer price: $45,334

7. Macallan 55 year old Six Pillars Collection Japan Exclusive
Sold on: February 6^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $46,827

6. Macallan 52 year old (2018 Release)
Sold on: February 10^th at Sotheby’s
Hammer price: $50,000

5. Hibiki 35 year old Kutani Decanter
Sold on: February 6^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $54,031

4. Macallan 50 year old (2016 Release)
Sold on: February 10^th at Sotheby’s
Hammer price: $55,000

3. Macallan The Red Collection 78 year old
Sold on: February 6^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $79,846

2. Bowmore ARC–52
Sold on: February 6^th at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer price: $102,660

1. Macallan Distil Your World New York Single Cask Edition
Sold on: February 10^th at Sotheby’s
Hammer price: $200,000

Whisky Advocate’s International Auction House League 2023 Season - Round Two Results

Auction houses earn 1 point for each bottle they place in the monthly list of the 20 highest hammer prices, but we award extra points for landing a bottle in the top three places. Just like winning a gold, silver, or bronze medal, first place earns an extra 3 points, second place collects an extra 2 points, while third place gets a 1 point bonus. Over 12 rounds, these extra points could make all the difference to winning the league.