Bonhams Sets Whisky Auction Record in Hong Kong

Bonhams said on Monday that it set a new world auction record for a bottle of Japanese whisky after a unique Yamazaki 50-Year-Old created exclusively for Club Natsume sold in Hong Kong for HK$8,250,000, or about US$1,050,000.

The sale took place at The Legendary Japanese Whisky auction and drew bidding from collectors in the room and on the phone, according to the auction house. Bonhams said the price nearly doubled the bottle’s high estimate of HK$4,200,000 and surpassed the previous record of HK$6,200,000 set in Hong Kong in 2020 for a Yamazaki 55-Year-Old.

A second rare bottle, a Karuizawa 52-Year-Old Cask #5627 from 1960 known as Treasure Ship, sold for HK$6,250,000, or about US$797,000. Bonhams said the two bottles together brought in HK$14.5 million.

Amayès Aouli, Bonhams’ global head of wine and spirits, said the result reflected strong demand for ultra-rare Japanese whisky and the auction house’s role in that market. He said the sale was an important milestone and thanked bidders, the consignor and Bonhams staff.

Bonhams said it now holds the top three prices ever achieved at international auction for a bottle of Japanese whisky. The company said the Yamazaki 50-Year-Old is among the rarest Japanese whiskies in existence and is the distillery’s second-oldest expression. This example was made for Club Natsume in Nagoya to mark its 50th anniversary and carries a washi label signed by Suntory chief blender Shinji Fukuyo.

The whisky sale followed another live auction earlier in the day, Masterpiece Cellar of a Prescient Collector - Finest & Rarest Wines, where Bonhams said all 350 lots sold for more than HK$23 million. The house also said three online sales are open through June 3 and June 4, including collections of wine and spirits aimed at collectors seeking rare bottles.