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Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

Bonhams Hong Kong First Whisky Auction Success

Bonhams pioneering rare vintage whisky auction on 27 November 2009, the first in Hong Kong, was a resounding success with 100% sold by lot, achieving a sale total of HK$609,990.

Aficionados of fine and rare whiskies had the unparalleled opportunity to bid for some of the most prized single malt whiskies to go to block when Bonhams Hong Kong offered over 150 lots from the Willard S. Folsom Collection of Old and Rare Whiskies.

“As with the first ever wine auction in Asia, we have looked carefully at the local buying market before we decided what to sell here. Whisky drinkers are a different breed from wine drinkers and the whisky market is sophisticated and established in the west. Our aim is to identify which whiskies we should bring from this world famous collection from America. And by selling 100%, I reckon our single malt whiskies were blended just right!

“As we thought, the Asia market differentiates even down to individual distilleries, just as in Europe and America. Therefore, the international favourites such as Bowmore, Macallan and Glenfiddich dominated our top 10 list just as they would in London and New York. Local collectors are willing to pay the 100% duty to secure fine and rare vintages. If the Hong Kong government creates a brilliant market development initiative as they did with fine wines a year ago, the whisky market could grow equally dramatically in Hong Kong,” says Colin Sheaf, Chairman of Bonhams Asia.

Whisky Top 10 lots

Black BowmoreLot 156
Black Bowmore-1964
Price: HK$30,940
Estimate: HK$19,000 – $23,000

Lot 137
Black Bowmore-1964
Price: HK$23,800
Estimate: HK$19,000 – $23,000

Lot 54
Macallan Speymalt-1938
Price: HK$22,610
Estimate: HK$10,000 – $13,000

Lot 140
Glenury Royal-50 year old-1953
Price: HK$19,040
Estimate: HK$9,100 – $12,000

Lot 40
Glenfiddich-40 year old
Price: HK$15,470
Estimate: HK$10,000 – $13,000

Lot 110
Bowmore-38 year old – 1957
Price: HK$15,470
Estimate: HK$12,000 – $14,000

Lot 114
Glenfiddich-40 year old
Price: HK$14,280
Estimate: HK$10,000 – $13,000

Lot 44
Laphroaig-40 year old
Price: HK$11,900
Estimate: HK$9,100 – $12,000

Lot 81
Macallan Speymalt-1940
Price: HK$11,305
Estimate: HK$5,200 – $7,800

Lot 1
Ben Wyvis-37 year old
Price: HK$10,710
Estimate: HK$6,500 – $9,100

Continuing the successful run, the auction of 510 lots of Fine and Rare Wines that took place immediately after the whisky auction was supported by equally enthusiastic wine connoisseurs, culminating in a spectacular result of 92.4% sold by lot and a sale total of HK$10,469,500. The most popular vintages all sold above their estimates. Strong bidding was recorded for several local collectors’ wines including remarkable Clarets from years 1982, 1986, 1989 and 2000, as well as the most sought-after wines from Lafite, Latour, Mouton, Haut Brion, La Mission Haut Brion and Petrus all stored in original wooden cases. The sumptuous Bordeaux wines from vintages stretching from 1959 to 2005 from great collections from various American cellars fared equally well, as did top-flight Californian cult wines.

Wine Top 10 Lots:

1314
Chateau Lafite Rothschild 2000, Pauillac (12)
Price: HK$154,700
Estimate: HK$100,750 – $124,000

1137
DRC Assortment 1996 (12)Price: HK$148,750
Estimate: HK$124,000 – $155,000

1306
La Tache 1999 (6) HK$142,800
Estimate: HK$116,250 – $155,000

1286
Chateau Haut Brion 1989 Graves (12)
Price: HK$136,850
Estimate: HK$77,500 – $100,850

1140
La Tache 1996 (12)
Price: HK$130,900
Estimate: HK$108,500 – $139,500

1290
Chateau Latour 1982, Pauillac (12)
Price: HK$130,900
Estimate: HK$116,250 – $155,000

1303
Chateau Petrus 1989, Pomerol (6)
Price: HK$130,900
Estimate: HK$108,500 – $147,250

1310
Chateau Ausone 2000, St.Emilion (12)
Price: HK$130,900
Estimate: HK$124,000 – $155,000

1141
La Tache 1996 (12)
Price: HK$124,950
Estimate: HK$108,500 – $139,500

1000
Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1959, Pauillac (1 Jeroboam)
Price: HK$107,100
Estimate: HK$93,600 – $117,000

For more information and/or images, please contact:
Mabel Au-Yeung on +852 9038 8939 or [email protected]

www.bonhams.com/hongkong