A 2007 bottle of Kentucky Bourbon has set an auction record for a post-prohibition American whiskey, achieving $125,000 in New York.
The Old Rip Van Winkle limited-edition ‘Van Winkle Selection’ Kentucky Bourbon Festival Master Distiller’s Auction was a 125.6 Proof one-off.
It was created by Julian Van Winkle by blending 15- and 20-year-old whiskeys for a special auction in 2007.
A rush to prepare it for the festival has bequeathed a rather rustic label, prepared by the blender’s son on his home computer.
The bottle went into Sotheby’s Whisky and Whiskey sale on March 21 with a predicted $30,000 to $50,000 price tag.
In the event it sailed past that to become the auction’s headline lot, realising $125,000.
Lawrenceburg in Kentucky is the “distilling capital of the world” and the original home of Rip Van Winkle bourbon.
Zev Glesta, whiskey specialist at Sotheby’s, told Decanter magazine: “This sale marks a defining moment in the history of American whiskey, underscoring the legendary status of Van Winkle bottlings and the continued strength of the fine and rare whiskey market.
“Bringing such a remarkable piece of American whiskey history to auction is a testament to the growing appreciation for the craft and heritage of American distilling.”
The price sets a new benchmark for a post-Prohibition American whiskey at auction.
It puts in the shade the $107,715 paid for a Van Winkle 18-year-old “Bourbon for Binny’s”.
Van Winkle dates to 1893, when Julian ‘Pappy’ Van Winkle Sr. founded the company, which is currently producing at the Buffalo Trace Distillery, via a joint venture with the Sazerac Company.
Whisky, whiskey and other spirits are highly collectible and are attracting attention as an investment asset. Calculating the value of the actual liquid can be complicated by extravagant presentations, such as the Emerald Isle whiskey that sold for $2.8 million in 2024 – with a Fabergé egg in the package.
In the Sotheby’s sale, a The Macallan special edition “Distil Your World Mexico” also performed exceptionally to sell for $82,250.
What everyone reading wants to know is, will the new owners drink their spirits?
We’ll find out only if the bottles come back up for auction.
