A bottle of 50-year-old Yamazaki has broken a world record after selling for HK$2,695,000 ($343,318) in the Bonhams Whisky Sale held at One Pacific Place, Hong Kong on Friday (17 August), smashing its pre-sale estimate of HK$1,800,000-HK$2,400,000 (US$229,310-US$305,749).
The oldest expression of Yamazaki available, the whisky had been produced as part of a limited run, with only 50 bottles in existence which was bottled and released in 2005. Matured in mizunara oak casks, the expression is thought to be the oldest Yamazaki on the market.
“This new world record for a bottle of Japanese whisky just a few months after we set the previous one – and the world record we set for Scotch whisky in May demonstrate that the auction market for single malt whisky is in good health,” Daniel Lam, Bonhams head of fine wine and whisky, said.
The world record for Scotch whisky was set in May when a Macallan Valerio Adami 1926 60-year-old sold for HK$8,636,250 (US$1,100,197).