A bottle of Pappy Van Winkle broke records for the most expensive American whiskey ever sold, according to Robb Report on Monday. The bottle was a 20-year-old expression of Old Rip Van Winkle, and a part of Sotheby’s Great American Whiskey Collection.
The entire collection brought in $2.5 million. According to Robb Report, the shocking figure well-exceeded what the 360 bottle collection was estimated to be worth.
The 20-year-old expression of Old Rip Van Winkle Single Barrel was distilled at Stitzel-Weller in 1982. According to Robb Report, this was before Buffalo Trace got involved with the historic brand. The whiskey clocks in at 133.4 proof, and breaks another record: it is the highest proof Van Winkle expression.
“This was a landmark moment for American whiskey,” Sotheby’s Global Head of Spirits Johnny Fowle said in a statement. “Breaking the record for the most valuable American whiskey collection ever sold is a testament to the extraordinary rarity and quality of this collection, as well as the passion and expertise of collectors worldwide. The enthusiasm from bidders was phenomenal, reflecting a global appreciation for American whiskey that continues to grow year after year.”
More About Sotheby’s Great American Whiskey Collection
Sotheby’s Great American Whiskey Collection consists of over 350 bottles, some of which date back to 1900. Aside from the most expensive bottle of Pappy Van Winkle ever sold, other gems include offerings from Stitzel-Weller, Blanton’s and more.
Some gems include two bottles of Very Very Old Fitzgerald “Blackhawk.” The lots listed include an 18 year old bottle that the team distilled in 1950, the other a 15 year old bottle distilled in the same year and a third, 12-year-old expression distilled in 1951.
For rye whiskey enthusiasts, the collection included a bottle of LeNell’s Red Hook Rye. This expression of rye whiskey dates back to 1984, and LeNell chose it from Willett Distillery in Kentucky in 2006. According to Sotheby’s, the expression is markedly sweeter than the majority of rye whiskeys, and it is one of 852 bottles.
The collection also featured some Pre-Prohibition bottles, including a bottle of Herman Berghoff 10 Year Old 120 Proof and Old W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 Year Old 100 Proof, which dates back to 1936.
“The Great American Whiskey Collection stands as a testament to the collectability of truly rare Bourbon and Rye Whiskey,” said Sotheby’s Global Head of Whisky & Spirits Johnny Fowle in a statement. “Never before have we witnessed a collection of such sought-after bottles come to market from a single owner. This is not just the most valuable American whiskey collection ever to be offered at auction, it is the most meticulously curated, featuring the hardest to find bottles in the industry. This collection is truly a first in the world of American whiskey.”
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