Bonhams’ Encyclopedia Whisky Collection Features Over 300 Rare Bottles, from Macallan to Pappy’s

Any time significant bottles from The Macallan or Old Rip Van Winkle surface at auctions, we like to put a spotlight on important bottles kept in pristine condition by enthusiastic collectors. But to collect hundreds of rare whisky bottles for decades, and then release them all at once? That takes a different kind of dedication entirely. The Encyclopedic Whisky Collection coming to Bonhams Skinner later this month represents exactly this type of collector commitment.

When Passion Meets Time

It took one American collector 25 years to assemble what Bonhams is calling the largest single-owner spirits collection in their history. Over 300 lots spanning (mostly) Scotch single malts, American bourbon, and Japanese whisky, with many bottles purchased directly from distilleries during pilgrimages to Scotland. But the sheer numbers only scratch the surface of what makes this collection remarkable.

The real story lies in the curation. If you have the money, it’s quite easy to simply buy expensive bottles over the years, but judging by the assortment, this was someone who understood the narrative threads that connect great whisky across continents and decades. Take the complete Macallan Six Pillars collection, for instance. Housed in gorgeous Lalique decanters, ranging from 50 to 65 years old, these single malts are physical manifestations of the legendary distillery’s foundational philosophy, with each pillar representing a core tenet of its craft. 

While the priciest bottle in the Six Pillars range is expected to sell for $50,000 or more, it’s the 72-year Macallan that tops the auction. Perhaps getting upwards of $75k, this beautiful rounded pyramid bottle (also from Lalique) came out in 2018 and was the oldest the distillery had made at the time. Only 600 were ever made.

Also expected to hit the $50k mark is the collection of all five DCS Compendium chapters from Balvenie. David C. Stewart’s legendary career gets its due here, with each chapter exploring different themes across decades of whisky-making. Chapter 3 alone contains what’s believed to be the oldest Balvenie ever produced: a 1961 aged for 55 years with just 62 bottles ever filled.

The Ghosts and Legends

If you’re a fan of Japanese whisky, the representation here is pretty solid too. It’s highlighted by a Karuizawa 29-Year-Old Aika Geisha from a distillery that exists now only in memory and whose stock is just continuing to deplete. Bottled around 2014, this was the first in the Geisha series to feature the iconic mirror-image labels. Estimates for this range from $9,000 to $14,000.

Oftentimes in these high-profile auctions, American whiskey gets overshadowed by the pricier lots from Scotland or Japan. But leave it to Pappy’s to keep us in the conversation. The most expensive bourbon bottle in the catalog is the Old Rip Van Winkle 25 Year from 1989, and rightly so. Distilled at Stitzel-Weller before their Buffalo Trace partnership, this represents bourbon royalty right before the boom commenced. Only 710 bottles exist, each housed in custom wooden cases crafted from repurposed bourbon barrels. It’s expected to hit as high as $30,000 or more.

Whichever bottle you have your eye on, get ready to break out your checkbook. The least expensive lots are still upwards of $3,000 a bottle. 

Spec Sheet

Pricing & Availability

The live auction kicks off June 26 at the brand-new Bonhams Skinner Boston location, marking their inaugural live sale in the space. Estimates range from the mid-four figures up to $75,000 for the Macallan Genesis 72 Year. The online component runs through June 30, with all 250 lots offered without reserve, meaning every bottle will sell regardless of final bid price. Registration is open now through Bonhams’ website for both the live and online portions of the sale.

Recap

Bonhams Skinner The Encyclopedia Whiskey Collection Auction

Featuring over 300 rare spirits, from The Macallan to Pappy’s, Bonham-Skinner’s Encyclopedia Collection is the largest single-owner whisky auction they’ve ever had.

Learn More: Bonhmans Skinner