On 20 May 2022, Bonhams Hong Kong held a spring auction entitled "Rare Wines & Whiskies". The auction featured 825 lots, including rare treasures such as whiskey, cognac, wine and more.
One of the most eye-catching lots was the yamazaki 50s first edition, which sold for HK$4.75 million (about RMB4.04 million), while Yamazaki 55 was sold for HK$4.375 million (about RMB3.724 million). In addition, the first NFT lot in the history of whisky auction, the Grand Crown 72-year NFT, sold for nearly HK$940,000 (about 800,000 yuan), and Laforger Osteria Apostoli 1970 sold for nearly HK$190,000 (about 160,000 yuan).
The first edition of Yamazaki 50 was sold for HK$4.75 million
The first edition of Yamazaki 50 and Yamazaki 55 are the two major lots that cannot be ignored in the audience.
Yamazaki has launched three versions in 50 years, and this auction is the first version launched in 2005, which is the oldest of the highly respected Yamazaki Distillery bottled wines, and in 2005, it was bottled with only 50 bottles, which is a rare treasure. The auction was estimated to be HK$3.5 million to HK$5 million (approximately RMB2.98 to RMB4.26 million) and ended up selling for HK$4.75 million (approximately RMB4.04 million), making it the highest-priced lot at the auction.
Yamazaki 55 years in 1960 and 1964, respectively, in the water lintel barrel and white oak barrel, the wine body is dark red amber, there are complex agarwood and sandalwood aromas, fruity, sweet aftertaste. The estimated transaction price of the auction is HK$4 million to HK$4.8 million (about RMB3.40 to RMB4.09 million), and it will eventually be sold for HK$4.375 million (about RMB3.724 million).
Grand Crown 72 years NFT, sold for HK$940,000
In addition, among the rare whiskies auctioned, the most eye-catching is the 72-year-old Grand Crown 1948 bottled by Gordon MacPhail, which was the first NFT lot in the history of whisky auctions.
The auction, the Grand Crown 72 years also accompanied the painting Year of the Dram (Drama Year) and its NFT to commemorate the auction in Hong Kong and the first brewing of whisky in 1948, estimated at HK$700,000 to HK$900,000 (about RMB600,770,000), and finally sold for nearly HK$940,000 (about RMB800,000).
Not only was this whisky named "Scotch of the Year" and "Scottish Single Barrel Single Wheat Whisky of the Year" by Whisky Bible, but it also broke the record for the highest rating ever recorded by the Whisky Bible, receiving a high score of 97.5!
In addition, the Laforger Osteria Apostoli1970 is also very eye-catching. Part of the personal collection of Asian whisky collector Mr. Aaron Chan, this whisky is arguably the finest Laforgue ever. It was estimated at HK$180,000 to HK$250,000 (about RMB150,000 to RMB210,000) and was finally sold for nearly HK$190,000 (about RMB160,000).