“The Perfect Collection” has set the record for the highest value private collection sold at auction from a single collector, going for $9.1 million — with a bottle of The Macallan 1926 Fine and Rare also setting a new record for most expensive bottle of Whisky, or any spirit, as it went for $1.4 million. The Speyside Distillery grabbed 10 of the top 11 spots at the auction.
American private collector Richard Gooding built up “The Perfect Collection,” which was made up of 3,900 bottles of Whisky, mostly single malt Scotch. Whisky Auctioneer split the collection into two separate auctions, with the second part closing on Monday, February 22. Last year, the frist part of the collection pulled in $4.2 million, with a Macallan 1926 Valerio Adami bottle setting a new record at the time when it sold for$1m. The second part of the collection sold for a total of $4.9 million dollars, while attracting 1,557 bidders from 54 countries. In total, The Perfect Collection sold for $9.1 million.
When The Macallan 1926 Fine & Rare 60 Year Old set the auction record, it also became the first Whisk sold at an online-only auction for £1 million ($1.4m USD).
“This auction was solely dedicated to one collector’s magnificent library of whisky – a man who was dedicated to building The Perfect Collection,” explained Iain McClune, founder of Whisky Auctioneer. “As enthusiasts of whisky ourselves, we knew that this collection deserved its own spotlight to allow us to truly convey the rarity and sheer scale of something so historic. In total, Mr Gooding’s collection has sold for over US$9m at hammer price, with two bottles breaking US$1m each.
“With so many incredible bottles attracting the attention of high value investors and passionate collectors across the world, the sale is one for the record books – not just for Whisky Auctioneer but for the whisky industry as a whole.”
Other highlights of the sale included record prices for closed Scottish distilleries, including a Dallas Dhu 1921 Private Cask 64 Year Old #296 bottle, which sold for $21,855. A 29-year-old bottle from the Macallan Fine and Rare range sold for $42,300, while a 37-year-old from the same range nabbed $39,480. In addition, a Bowmore 1967 Largiemeanoch 12 Year Old bottle sold for $32,430.
Checkout the top 11 most expensive Whiskies from the auction below:
- Macallan 1926 Fine and Rare 60 Year Old 75cl / US Import – £1,000,000 ($1.3 million USD)
- Macallan 1928 Anniversary Malt 50 Year Old / Berman Import, US – £43,500 ($61,510)
- Macallan 1972 Fine and Rare 29 Year Old #4041 – £30,000 ($42,420)
- Macallan 1940 Fine and Rare 37 Year Old – £28,000 ($39,590)
- Macallan 1948 Fine and Rare 53 Year Old #609 – £26,000 ($36770)
- Macallan 1949 Millennium Decanter 50 Year Old – £26,000 ($36770)
- Macallan 1938 Fine and Rare 35 Year Old – £25,750 ($36,410)
- Macallan 1937 Fine and Rare 37 Year Old – £23,750 ($33,580)
- Bowmore 1967 Largiemeanoch 12 Year Old – £23,000 ($32,520)
- Macallan 1945 Fine and Rare 56 Year Old #262 – £23,000 ($32,520)
- Macallan 1959 Fine and Rare 43 Year Old #360 – £23,000 ($32,520)