S otheby’s Whisky & Spirits final auction of 2023 led by the world’s oldest whiskies from both Japan and Scotland. Marking the first time that these bottles have been seen together, this combines the very best in whisky making and long maturation from the Eastern and Western Hemisphere.
The Yamazaki 55 Year Old needs little introduction. It sits at the pinnacle of collectible Japanese Whisky as not only the oldest but also the most valuable bottle in the country’s history.
The story begins almost 100 years ago when Shinjiro Torii opened The Yamazaki Distillery, Japan’s first ever Single Malt producer, on the outskirts of Kyoto. At this time nobody could have anticipated the quality of the whiskies Suntory would go on to produce, nor the values that their bottles would command at auction. The distillery has gone on to be recognized worldwide and garner critical acclaim for its range of whiskies, particularly its 18 and 25 Year Old malts. Due to foresight and careful stock management under the watchful eye of the Chief Blenders at Yamazaki, some casks have left to mature further still, with the distillery having released both 35 and 50 Year Old expressions in recent years.
The Yamazki 55 Year Old, the oldest Japanese Single Malt ever released, was vatted from Mizunara and American White Oak casks distilled by Shinjiro Torii in 1960 and 1964 respectively, and laid down over half a century ago for three generations, until current Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo, Grandson of the founder, selected and blended these casks to create a true masterpiece. Housed in an immaculate black Mizunara box, reflecting the casks used to age this historic whisky, the bottle is wrapped in layers of ink-black handmade echizen washi paper and fastened with a plaited cord made up of 24 individual strands.
Official Tasting Notes:
COLOR
Deep amber distinctive of Mizunara casks
NOSE
A robust aroma redolent of sandal wood. A sweet, mature bouquet like well-ripened fruit
PALATE
A soft, smooth first sip that blossoms in the mouth with flavor. A mixture of sweet and slightly bitter, followed by a woody note from the Mizunara cask
FINISH
Slightly bitter, a fragrance like scented wood and a hint of smokiness. A sweet, rich, lingering finish
The Macallan The Reach 81 Year Old, the oldest whisky in the world, is a precious whisky encased in a decanter created from mouth-blown, hot glass, cradled on a bronze sculpture of three hands. Sculptor Saskia Robinson created the timeless sculpture featuring three hands, representing characters in The Macallan’s history to house the decanter. One commemorates the Distillery workers of 1940 who crafted the spirit into existence, and another is the hand of one-time chairman, Allan Shiach, whose grandfather headed the company when the spirit was consigned to its cask. The third is that of today’s Master Whisky Maker, Kirsteen Campbell, who carefully selected the 1940 cask used to create The Reach. An exceptional cabinet crafted using wood from a fallen elm tree which is thought to have been on The Macallan Estate in 1940, the year the spirit was distilled, houses the decanter. Reflecting its rarity and significance, the handcrafted quartet of liquid, glass, bronze and wood was brought together by Scottish artisan craftspeople as a fitting tribute to this very special whisky.
COLOUR
Deep Auburn
NOSE
Dark chocolate, sweet cinnamon, aromatic peat, plums, leather, pink grapefruit, redcurrant jelly and a rich resinous note
PALATE
Treacle toffee, bramble jam, liquorice, crystalised ginger, nutmeg, charred pineapple, pecans, woodsmoke
FINISH
Intensely rich, sweet and smoky
The following lots are sold with no reserve, giving anyone the easiest access to building a collection of their own, whether new to the whisky market or a seasoned collector.
