Sotheby’s Bottles the American Dream

The most prestigious private collection of American Whiskey and Bourbon ever to come to auction

In January, Sotheby’s will write a new chapter in the history of fine spirits with the unveiling of The Great American Whiskey Collection, the most valuable single-owner collection of American Whiskey and Bourbon ever offered at auction. A first in more ways than one, the sale will mark the inaugural live auction dedicated exclusively to a privately assembled American Whiskey collection. It will take place on 24 Januaryat the iconic Breuer Building on Madison Avenue, as part of Visions of America, a week-long series of auctions and events celebrating the United States’ 250th anniversary.

Estimated at $1.17 to $1.68 million, the collection comprises 360 bottles across 320 lots, meticulously assembled over several decades by a dedicated collector. Stored in a purpose-built private home bar, the bottles form an unparalleled panorama of the greatest Whiskeys and Bourbons ever bottled, with production dates reaching back to the very beginning of the 20th century.

At the heart of the sale lies an extraordinary concentration of Old Rip Van Winkle bottlings, which account for the majorityof the collection’s total value. Numerous single-barrel selections, bottled for legendary retailers such as Sam’s and Binny’s, are appearing at auction for the very first time. Produced in extremely limited quantities and largelyconsumed shortly after release, these bottles have sinceattained near-mythical status. They reflect both the highestlevels of craftsmanship and the resilience of the American Whiskey and Bourbon industry through periods of profound challenge.

The collection extends well beyond the Van Winkle universe, featuring landmark bottlings from Old Fitzgerald, includingthe legendary “Blackhawk” releases, alongside rarities fromBuffalo Trace, Michter’s and Wild Turkey. Among the most anticipated lots are iconic Red Hook Rye bottlings, emblematic of New York’s craft revival and now firmly enshrined in American Whiskey history.

For Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s Global Head of Whisky and Spirits, the sale transcends the notion of a great collection. It represents the ultimate pursuit of rarity, quality and coherence. A view echoed by Zev Glesta, Whiskey Specialist at Sotheby’s, for whom each bottle acts as a time capsule, preserving the memory, craftsmanship and cultural identity of American Whiskey and Bourbon.

With this historic auction, Sotheby’s confirms the definitive entry of American Whiskey and Bourbon into the pantheon of the world’s most important collectible categories.