ARTS & COLLECTIBLES

WHISKY CONNOISSEURS

A private collector grabs the ultra-rare, The Dalmore Decades No.6 Collection of ultra-rare whiskies for $1,124,000 at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong with 15% to be donated to V&A Dundee, Scotland’s design museum.

JESSICA HALL

I t’s 6 pm on October 8th, 2021, in Hong Kong, and serious spirits’ collectors from Asia and the United Kingdom have converged around their phones, iPads, laptops; a few are actually in the Sotheby’s building. This gathering is for one lot - one unique, rare collection of six extraordinary whiskies - The Dalmore Decades No 6. Collection. This collection brings together milestone releases from 1951, 1967, 1979, 1980, 1995, and 2000 for the first and only time. “The Dalmore offers some of Scotland’s most rare and precious whisky stocks, remarkable in their desirability to collectors, investors, and drinkers alike,” explains Gerry Tosh, The Damore’s Private Client Director. “The Dalmore Decades No.6 Collection is a truly singular celebration of our remarkable history, a once-in-a-lifetime collector’s opportunity to capture the spirit of the Highlands.”

The bidding frenzy has begun, and Sotheby’s reps handle the phone bidders. At the same time, the internet does its thing, and shortly thereafter, the hammer drops, and the auctioneer declares SOLD. The winning bid goes to an online bidder who happens to be an Asian private collector. The hammer price was an astonishing HK$8,750,000 / US$1,124,000, of which 15% from the sale will be donated to Scotland’s first design museum, V&A Dundee, as part of a four-year partnership between the prestigious cultural institution and the fastest growing single malt whisky worldwide.

“The Dalmore is truly an icon of the whisky world, and this collection encapsulates everything that the Distillery stands for,” adds Johnny Fowle, Sotheby’s Spirits Specialist. “In today’s premium whisky market, it also encapsulates the key elements sought after by collectors. Representing yet another benchmark, the result speaks volumes of the strong global demand we have seen over the past two years.”

The Dalmore No. 4 Collection contains four Decades whiskies (1979,1980,1995,2000). Sold exclusively through retailers including Selfridges (UK), Annabel’s (UK), La Grande Épicerie (FR) and to view at Fairmont Pacific Rim Vancouver (CA), Waldorf Astoria (NL) with an RSP of £100,000.

The Dalmore’s rare whiskies are in vogue right now, and the market is more significant than ever. Milestone sales over the last decade have proved there is a growing appetite for acquiring the most refined selections. To name a few: The Dalmore 64 Trinitas was the first to sell for six figures in 2010. With only three bottles produced, today’s value is said to be more than $160,000. In 2017, a young collector bought the Dalmore Paterson Collection for £1m. The same year, The Dalmore Drew Sinclair 62 Year Old resold at auction for £91,650 - more than double its preauction estimate. A rare whisky investment such as The Dalmore is almost entirely risk-free. A 582% increase in value makes rare whiskies one of the most lucrative investments for consumers, according to the 2020 Knight Frank Wealth Report.

Collectors, no need to fret; the Dalmore Decades offers two additional collections via retail. One can acquire the No.5 Collection, limited to 15 releases, containing five masterpiece Decades whiskies (1967, 1979, 1980, 1995, 2000) and/or the limited to 25 releases, the No.4 Collection containing four Decades whiskies (1979, 1980, 1995, 2000). The collections, mirroring their predecessors, are engraved with an exclusive set number and stunning black collar and stopper. Each is presented with an enchanting pedestal with individual compartments to house each decanter and with each whisky’s unique story engraved upon the door that owners will take home to display as their masterpiece. Priced at an RSP of £200,000 of £100,000, respectively, the collections are available exclusively through the finest retailers in the world.

For more details, explore thedalmoredecades.com.