Heute am Nachmittag startet bei Sotheby’s die Auktion „The Great American Whiskey Collection“ – die Versteigerung von 320 Lots (insgesamt 360 Flaschen) mit einem Schätzwert von bis zu 1,68 Millionen Dollar. Sie ist damit die Auktion mit dem bislang höchsten erwarteten Erlös. Alle Flaschen stammen übrigens von einem einzigen Sammler.
In der Auktion finden sich ausschließlich seltene und schwer erhältliche Flaschen, vornehmlich von Old Rip Van Winkle (diese stellen den Hauptwert der Sammlung), Old Fitzgerald, Red Hook Rye, Buffalo Trace, Michter’s und Wild Turkey. Die Produktionszeiten der Flaschen reichen bis ins Jahr 1900 zuruck.
Der wohl teuerste Whiskey in der Auktion ist der Old Rip Van Winkle 20 Year Old Single Barrel “Sam’s” aus dem Jahr 1982, der stärkste jemals produzierte Van Vinkle mit 66,7% vol. Alkoholstärke. Sein erwarteter Verkaufspreis liegt bei 70.000 bis 100.000 Dollar. Sollte er diese Schätzung übertreffen, könnte er zum bislang wertvollsten US-Whiskey in einer Auktion werden – die Messlatte liegt dabei bei 125.000 Dollar, ebenfalls bei Sotheby’s erzielt.
Mehr über die Auktion und die Verlinkung zum Online-Katalog finden Sie nachstehend.
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SOTHEBY’S UNVEILS ‘The Great American Whiskey Collection’
The Most Valuable Single-Owner American Whiskey Collection Ever Offered at Auction
“The Great American Whiskey Collection stands as a testament to the collectability of truly rare Bourbon and Rye Whiskey. 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.”
JONNY FOWL E , SOT HEBY ’ S GL OBAL HEAD O F WHISKY & SPIRIT S
NEW YORK, 7 January 2026 – Later this month, Sotheby’s will present The Great AmericanWhiskey Collection, its first-ever live, single-owner American whiskey auction, offering the most valuable collection of its kind ever to come to market. The monumental sale will take place at the iconic Breuer Building on Madison Avenue. Estimated between $1.17–1.68 million, the collection comprises 360 bottles offered across 320 lots from a meticulously curated private holding. The landmark auction is part of Visions of America, a week-long auction and event series celebrating American art, objects, and innovation, marking the nation’s 250th anniversary this year.
Assembled over many years by a dedicated collector, The Great American Whiskey Collection features an extraordinary selection of some of the rarest and most sought-after bottles of Bourbon and Rye ever bottled. The sale includes numerous private labels, exclusive single barrels, and historic bottlings that are now virtually impossible to source, with several appearing at auction for the very first time and many making their debut at Sotheby’s.
Spanning production dates as early as 1900, the collection is anchored by exceptional examples from Old Rip Van Winkle, which account for most of the collection’s value, alongside landmark bottles from Old Fitzgerald, Red Hook Rye, Buffalo Trace, Michter’s, and Wild Turkey. Sotheby’s currently holds the auction record for a bottle of post-Prohibition American whiskey at $125,000, and the sale’s top lot is expected to challenge—or surpass—that benchmark.
This collection stands as a testament to the Van Winkle legacy, offering the strongest representation of the family’s heritage and lineage ever presented at auction. Many of the Van Winkle single-barrel selections—bottled for Sam’s, Binny’s, Blue Smoke, Delilah’s, and Old Advocate—were produced in extremely limited quantities, with most being consumed in the subsequent years, leaving only the rarest remnants. These bottles capture both the artistry of their time and the resilience of the American whiskey industry during periods of challenge. Today, they rank among the most prized and valuable American whiskeys in existence.
The bottles in this auction come directly from the cellar of a single owner who meticulously assembled the collection over a period of many years, and stored them in his own custom-built home bar
Among the highlights:
- Old Rip Van Winkle 20 Year Old Single Barrel “Sam’s” (1G82, 133.4 proof): $70,000– 100,000: Bottled exclusively for Sam’s Wines C Spirits in Chicago, only 60 bottles were produced, the highest-proof Van Winkle ever released
- Van Winkle 18 Year Old “Binny’s” (1G85, 121.6 proof): $60,000–80,000: Exclusive single- barrel bottling
- Very Very Old Fitzgerald “Blackhawk” 18 Year Old (1G50, 121.0 proof): $50,000–80,000: Private bottling for the Wirtz family of Chicago Blackhawks fame
- LeNell’s Red Hook Rye Barrels #1–4: $24,000–35,000 each: Only 852 bottles exist across all four, among the most celebrated rye whiskeys in the world
Alongside Van Winkle, the collection features historic Old Fitzgerald Blackhawk bottlings and rarities from Buffalo Trace, Michter’s, and Wild Turkey. These thumbprints of American whiskey represent not only the apex of craftsmanship but also the preservation of history and community within the category.
“The value, quality, and rarity of these bottles are unparalleled,” added Zev Glesta, Sotheby’s Whiskey Specialist, AVP. “This is not just a great American whiskey collection—it is the collection, bringing together the very finest examples ever produced. Each bottle tells a story, captures a moment in history, and preserves the lineage of a craft that continues to grow and evolve today.”
Selected highlights from the sale will be available to view from today on Sothebys.com, opening for advanced online bidding on 8 January. The complete catalogue can be viewed here.
