Auction Update: Black Bowmore Grabs The Spotlight

Bowmore’s legendary ’64s, Ardbeg’s deep-sea marvel, and Springbank’s ready-to-pour cask

October 16, 2026 –––––– Jonny McCormick, , , ,

The $2.8 million Macallan may have stolen the headlines last week, but it isn’t the only whisky brand making waves at auction this month. Whisky Auctioneer sold a beautiful Bowmore collection, which included every Black Bowmore ever released. From the original trio released in the mid-1990s, the Bowmore Trilogy of Black, White, and Gold, plus the final Black Bowmore 1964 50 year old The Last Cask release, took $47,580. Technically, one was missing: the Black Bowmore DB5 1964, but it wasn’t a unique whisky; it was a rebottling of the liquid from the Black Bowmore Final Edition made in collaboration with Aston Martin in 1995. The sale did have a Bowmore x Aston Martin 1968 Arc-54, which made $42,294, and Bowmore Bourbon Cask 1964 38 year old, which took $15,199. Bowmore also secured the highest three hammer prices at Scotch Whisky Auctions this month, led by Bowmore 1964 35 year old Cask No. 3709 for $25,153.

Whisky Auctioneer had a couple of Macallan TIME:SPACE Sherry Cask 20 year old bottles for sale; the highest price achieved was $1,520. This recent release had a $1,400 recommended retail price when it hit the market in September 2026. After commission and lot fees, the flipper of this bottle will have taken home $1,419. A day later, another bottle sold at Grand Whisky Auctions but only made $1,361. After commission and lot fees, that seller will only have received $1,271. It’s a reminder that in the world of collectible scotch, a high-profile release no longer guarantees flippers a quick profit.

Unicorn Auctions has been led by Eagle Rare 25 and 30 year olds this month, with $17,600 being their top price for Eagle Rare 30 year old so far. Whether any American whiskey makes the list of highest hammer prices of the month depends on the outcome of October’s remaining auctions, as competition looks fierce. Bonhams, Edinburgh has a wealth of scotch options to choose from, with four Glenfarclas Pagoda bottlings, a Highland Park 56 year old, and some classic Glenlivet Cellar Collection bottlings. One of the most interesting lots is a private cask of Springbank 1994 sold in a manner we’ve not seen before: bottled, labeled, duty paid, and ready to go. The cask produced 265 bottles, and the owner is selling 204 in one lot, keeping the remainder for themselves. Hot on the heels of their historic auction at the Macallan Estate, Sotheby’s switched its focus to Hong Kong for two back-to-back sales; one focused on scotch, the other on Japanese whisky. The Japanese whisky auction is the one to watch, as it includes all three releases of Yamazaki 50 year old. The sale also includes two Karuizawa 1960 vintage bottlings, one of which was drawn from Cask No. 5627 at 47 years old and solves the mystery of the final bottle from this cask. The prototype bottling fetched a hammer price of $500,000 last month.

It’s already a million-dollar month for October’s 20 highest hammer prices, but with so many fine bottles appearing at every auction, there are bound to be a few more tricks and treats in store before the month draws to a close.

Good Bottle Auctions – Online Whiskey, Wine & Spirits

Auction ended October 4^th

Islands: Talisker Glacial Edge 45 year old, $1,810. Aged in ice fractured casks, this release was part of the distillery’s collaboration with Parley to support ocean conservation.
Rye: Mount Vernon Pure Rye Whiskey Bottled in Bond, $1,270. Distilled in Spring 1921 and bottled in 1931 by the American Medicinal Spirits Co., strictly for medicinal use.
Islay: Laphroaig Strong Characters Series 33 year old, $475. The debut in the new series honors Laphroaig's co-founder Donald Johnston (1810–1847), and was matured in a combination of bourbon casks and sherry-seasoned European oak hogsheads.

Whisky Auctioneer – September 2026 Auction

Auction ended October 5^th

Islay: Black Bowmore 1964 50 year old The Last Cask, $47,580. This expression spent 50 years maturing in the No.1 Vaults at Bowmore Distillery.
Speyside: Glenlivet Eternal Collection 56 year old, $25,112. One of 60 bottles from the second edition of the Eternal Collection, released in 2025 for $56,000. The one-of-one edition of Glenlivet 56 year old was the second-highest Glenlivet hammer price in November 2025.
Japan: Karuizawa Aqua of Life 1969 50 year old Cask No. 538, $17,843. Karuizawa was at the top of the table in September 2026, but it’s unlikely they’ll hold on to the lead following Sotheby’s Macallan sale.

Scotch Whisky Auctions – 184^th Auction

Auction ended October 11^th

Islay: Bowmore 1964 35 year old Cask No. 3709, $25,153. One of only 99 bottles released from a single oloroso sherry hogshead for a UK retailer.
Speyside: Macallan Select Reserve 1946 52 year old, $10,591. A slightly smoky Macallan distilled just after the end of World War II. This purchase looks a great bargain, as Sotheby’s set a record price recently when a Macallan Select Reserve 1946 52 year old sold for $26,455.
Highland: Brora 1978 40 year old 200^th Anniversary, $3,972. Released to mark the distillery’s bicentenary in 2019.

Lot of the Week

One of the best-designed pieces of whisky packaging ever, Ardbeg The Abyss was a 34 year old expression released in 2024. Scoring 97 points, this sale marked its auction debut, and while it fell short of its $27,500 retail price, it remains the highest Ardbeg auction price this year. Only 400 bottles were created, and the whisky was distilled in 1989 and finished in heavily toasted French oak casks. These were destined for the original limited-edition release of Ardbeg Corryvreckan in 2008, but a small number of casks were held back and allowed to mature for another 16 years. The bottle is housed within a silver diving chamber which is accessed by a top hatch opened by turning a locking wheel mechanism. Included with the bottle is an exclusive Planet Ardbeg comic book created by American comic book artist Tradd Moore.