4-17 July | Finest Whisky and Spirits | Online, Edinburgh
4-18 July |The Auld Alliance: Rare Whiskies and Cognacs from a Distinguished Collector | Online, Edinburgh
14-27 June | Finest and Rarest Whisky Sale | Online, Paris

London – This summer Bonhams will hold a series of exceptional Finest and Rarest Whisky sales in both Edinburgh and Paris celebrating the greatest names in whisky as well as a showcasing some of Scotland's oldest independent bottlers.

The Finest Whisky and Spirits sale running online from 4-17 July at bonhams.com leads with a selection of seven bottles of exceptional Irish whiskey from the celebrated Redbreast Dream Cask series. Redbreast has stayed true to the Irish pot still whiskey making tradition for more than a century now and is considered to be the definitive expression of this quintessential style of Irish whiskey making. Also included in this lot is a luxury whiskey experience, visiting the home of Redbreast in Midleton, Co. Cork, Ireland, including tutored tastings, a personalised bottle of Redbreast, gourmet lunch and a 2-night stay in the 5-star Castlemartyr resort, a 17th-century manor house in East Cork. The Redbreast Dream Cask series is offered with an estimate of £8,000-14,000.

Georgia Porteous, Bonhams Whisky Specialist, comments: "Redbreast's highly acclaimed Dream Cask collection has always been about sharing its most rare and special casks. Recognised as one of the finest Irish whiskeys in the world, we are delighted to be offering this extraordinary collection in the sale. Some exquisite whiskies from Cadenhead's, Scotland's oldest independent bottler of whiskies will also feature."

The Dream Cask series of seven bottles of the finest Irish whiskey includes:

• Redbreast Dream Cask-32-year-old, Cask # 41207, one of 816 bottles.
• Redbreast Dream Cask-20-year-old, Pedro Ximenez Edition, Cask # 374932,
one of 924 bottles
• Redbreast Dream Cask-28-year-old, Ruby Port Cask Edition, Cask # 400295, one of 912 bottles
• Redbreast Dream Cask-29-year-old, Oloroso Sherry Edition, Cask #400294, one of 924 bottles.
• Redbreast Dream Cask-30-year-old, Double Cask Edition, Cask # 33794 and # 48656, one of 714 bottles.
• Redbreast Dream Cast -27-year-old, Port to Port Edition, Casks # 700008 and

• Redbreast Dream Cask-38-year-old, Zenith Edition, Cask # 38404, one of 882 bottles.

A collection of whiskies from Scotland's oldest independent bottler

Alongside the Dream Cask series will be a collection of whiskies from Cadenhead's, Scotland's oldest independent bottler, where the whiskies are matured and bottled in Campbeltown, the original home to whisky. Founded in 1842, Cadenhead's specialise in bottling single cask or small batch whisky from across Scotland and the rest of the world, adhering to an ethos that keeps the whisky making as natural as possible, allowing the true distillery character to shine through.

While Cadenhead's has been operating for over 175 years, none of their bottlings are as sought after as the 'dumpy' style bottles offered in this sale. Produced during the 1970s and 80s, the series is instantly recognisable by the iconic short brown glass bottles, each featuring their own letterpress font according to the distillery, in homage to William Cadenhead's early career in the printing business.

Highlights from Cadenhead's 'dumpy' bottle collection include:

• Bowmore-23-year-old-1964, distilled in March 1964 and bottled in April 1987. Estimate: £2,000-3,000
• Glenlivet-26-year-old-1959, distilled in November 1959 and bottled in December 1985. Estimate: £1,800-2,500
• Jura-18-year-old-1966, distilled on the Isle of Jura in 1966 and bottled in March 1984. Estimate: £1,800-2,500
• Ord-22-year-old-1962, distilled in November 1962 and bottled in August 1985. Estimate: £1,600-2,400

The Auld Alliance: Rare Whiskies and Cognacs from a Distinguished Collector sale 4-18 July, Edinburgh, online

Amassed over 20 years this Single Owner collection was curated by an avid collector who travelled the world seeking out the rarest and most desirable bottles of single malts, Cognac and Armagnac. The sale, taking place on bonhams.com, will feature some outstanding Remy Martin cognacs including Rémy Martin Louis XIII Grande Champagne Cognac - Le Mathusalem, Baccarat crystal decanter No. M037; 6 litre, 40% vol. (1 methuselah) with an estimate of £20,000-30,000. The Louis XIII Mathusalem is testament to the pioneering spirit and innovation of Remy Martin and is both precious and rare with only 50 produced each year.

Some exceptional Macallan whiskies also feature in the collection including:

• The Macallan Exceptional Single Cask-1950, Distilled 9th November 1950, bottled 19th October 2018. Distilled and bottled by The Macallan Distillers Ltd. American oak 1st fill sherry butt 1683/13. Limited edition, 336 bottles. In original carton. 750ml. Single malt, 53.4% volume, 1 bottle. Estimate: £20,000-30,000.

• The Macallan Down to Work-1967
Sir Peter Blake, Anecdotes of the Ages. Distilled and bottled by The Macallan Distillers Ltd. 1 of 322 Limited Edition Print. In original wooden presentation case, accompanied by booklet. Together with original wooden transit packaging wooden crate. 750ml. Single malt, 46.7% volume, 1 bottle. The Macallan Anecdotes of Ages 1967 sees for the third time the Speyside distillery collaborating with world-famous pop artist, Sir Peter Black and designed to celebrate The Macallan's long history and the prestigious career of Sir Peter Blake. Estimate: £20,000-30,000.

• The Macallan Red Collection-50-year-old
Bottled 2020. Distilled and bottled by The Macallan Distillers Ltd.
Bottle No. 37. In original oak and Bridge of Weir leather-lined presentation case. Good labelling. Level: into neck. 700ml. Single malt, 45.1% volume,1 bottle. Presented in October 2020, The Macallan Red collection comprises of six single malt of exceptional age – starting at 40 and finishing at a breath taking 78 years of age. Presented by Kirsteen Campbell, the first female Whisky Maker at the Speyside Distillery, the series lays on emphasis on the traditional values of The Macallan – tradition, craftsmanship and quality. Estimate: £20,000-30,000.

Finest and Rarest Whisky Sale,14-27 June, Paris, online

Meanwhile in Paris, the Finest and Rarest Whisky Sale running online until 27 June features a bottle of Black Bowmore 42-Year-Old 1964 and a bottle of Gold Bowmore 44-Year-old 1964, both offered with individual estimates of €10,000-14,000. A further addition is a Karuizawa 30-Year-Old 1984 Noh Whisky with an estimate of €7,000-10,000 together with some impressive Macallans including a bottle of The Macallan 30 Masters of Photography Rankin with an estimate of €5,000-7,500 as well as a bottle of The Macallan 1957 Red Ribbon with an estimate of € 3,200 – 4,200.

Other highlights of the 102-lot sale include:

• Rémy Martin Louis XIII La Collection Cognac Diamant, bottled in 2003. Bottle No. CH9072. In original presentation case with certificate of authenticity, booklet & stopper adorned with a natural coloured round brilliant 1.28 Carat diamond, certified by the International Gemological Information. Filled to 70cl. Cognac Grande Champagne, 40 abv. 1 Baccarat crystal decanter. Estimate: €6,000-8,000.

• Hibiki 30-Year-Old Kacho Fugetsu, distilled and bottled by Suntory Whisky, in original presentation case. Engraved labelling. Filled to 70cl. Blended, 43 abv, 1 crystal decanter. Estimate: €3,000-4,000.

Bonhams Whisky and Spirits

Bonhams Whisky and Spirits Department pioneered international whisky auctions. The department offers exceptional old, rare and commemorative bottlings, ranging from Scotch whiskies including The Macallan, Glenfiddich and Bowmore to Japanese Whiskies such as Yamazaki, Karuizawa and Hanyu, as well as whiskies from Ireland and America. Bonhams holds multiple auctions a year in Edinburgh, Hong Kong, United States, France, London and online.

2 July 2024