Sotheby’s to Host a Record-Breaking Whiskey auction: "the Hardest-to-Find Bottles

Monday, 12 January 2026 at 09:15

Sotheby’s regularly hosts whisky auctions, but the one underway now is truly special. The Great American Whiskey Collection is expected to fetch more than one and a half million dollars. The whiskeys up for auction are nothing short of extraordinary.

This month, Sotheby’s is once again putting a number of rare whiskeys and bourbons under the hammer. The auction is part of the prestigious Visions of America series, created in honor of the United States’ 250th anniversary.

Whiskey is an inseparable part of that story, and the expected proceeds reflect it. The bottles on offer are estimated to bring in between $1.17 and $1.68 million.

Over 300 bourbons at a landmark whiskey auction

Sotheby’s has divided the sale into 320 lots. In total, 360 bottles will find new owners, including rare bourbon and rye whiskey.

Jonny Fowle, global head of whisky & spirits at Sotheby’s, says the collection highlights the collectible value of rare bourbon and whiskey.

“Never before have we seen a collection of such sought-after bottles from a single owner come to market. This is not only the most valuable American whiskey collection ever offered at auction, it’s also the most carefully curated—featuring the hardest-to-find bottles in the industry. This collection is truly a first in the world of American whiskey.”

- Jonny Fowle

What whiskeys are up for auction?

The most valuable bottles come from Old Rip Van Winkle, including some of the oldest examples ever released.

Beyond Van Winkle, the collection features whiskeys such as Old Fitzgerald, Red Hook Rye, Buffalo Trace, Michter’s, and Wild Turkey. Many of these whiskeys are appearing at auction for the very first time.

The absolute crown jewel Sotheby’s is offering is an Old Rip Van Winkle 20 Year Old Single Barrel “Sam’s” from 1982, bottled at 133.4 proof. It’s the highest-proof Van Winkle ever bottled, with only 60 bottles worldwide. The estimate is between $70,000 and $100,000.